# US 11,028,686 B2 · Sono tool and related systems and methods

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- Number: US 11,028,686 B2
- Document ID: US11028686B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/439,395
- Filed: 2019-06-12
- Published: 2020-12-17
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-06-12
- Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Inventors: Sameeh Issa Batarseh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028686B2

## CPC

- E21B 43/25: Methods for stimulating production {(by vibrating earth formations E21B43/003)}
- E21B 47/002: by visual inspection
- E21B 47/135: using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
- E21B 47/18: through the well fluid {, e.g. mud pressure pulse telemetry}
- E21B 49/10: using side-wall fluid samplers or testers
- G01N 29/2418: {using optoacoustic interaction with the material, e.g. laser radiation, photoacoustics (photoacoustic cells G01N21/1702; measuring characteristics of vibrations by using radiation-sensitive means G01H9/00; acousto-optical conversion techniques for short-range imaging G01S15/8965; sound-producing devices using laser bundle G10K15/046)}
- G01N 29/4436: {with a reference signal (amplitude comparison G01N29/48)}
- G01N 29/4472: {Mathematical theories or simulation}
- G01N 2021/9544: {with emitter and receiver on the probe}
- G01N 2021/9546: {with remote light transmitting, e.g. optical fibres}
- G01N 2291/0224: Mixtures of three or more liquids
- G01N 2291/02809: Concentration of a compound, e.g. measured by a surface mass change
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

This application relates to tools, systems, and methods for stimulating hydrocarbon bearing formations using energy from sonoluminescence.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tool for delivering energy generated by sonoluminescence to a wellbore in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the tool comprising:
an elongate body configured for placement within the wellbore;
one or more cavity containers disposed along a length of the tool and at least partially disposed within the elongate body, where each of the one or more cavity containers comprises:
a cavity defined by a housing;
a liquid port configured to introduce a liquid into the cavity;
a gas port configured to introduce one or more gases into the cavity;
one or more acoustic transducers disposed adjacent to the cavity and configured to generate a sound wave to induce sonoluminescence in the cavity; and
one or more acoustic mirrors disposed adjacent to the cavity and configured to reflect and direct the generated energy from the induced sonoluminescence toward the formation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1 further comprising at least one rotational device disposed along a length of the tool and configured to divide the elongate body into at least two segments.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The tool of claim 2, where at least one of the segments comprises a cavity container.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The tool of claim 2, where the at least one rotational device is disposed adjacent to the one or more cavity containers and configured to rotate the cavity container relative to a longitudinal axis of the tool.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The tool of claim 2, where the rotational device can be actuated hydraulically or electrically.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, where a single port can be used as the liquid port and as the gas port.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, where a position of the one or more acoustic transducers is adjustable relative to the cavity container.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, where a position of the one or more acoustic mirrors is adjustable relative to the cavity container.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, where the tool is configured to be lowered down the wellbore by coiled tubing, wireline, or tractors.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, where the acoustic transducers are also configured to evaluate the formation.

### Claim 11

A tool for delivering energy generated by sonoluminescence to a wellbore in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the tool comprising:
an elongate body configured for placement within the wellbore;
a liquid port disposed in the elongate body and configured to receive a liquid from a source of liquid;
a gas port disposed in the elongate body and configured to receive one or more gases from a source of gas;
a liquid nozzle disposed in the elongate body and configured to introduce a liquid into a cavity within the formation;
a gas nozzle disposed in the elongate body and configured to introduce one or more gases into the cavity;
one or more acoustic transducers disposed on the elongate body and configured to generate a sound wave; and
one or more acoustic mirrors disposed on the elongate body and configured to reflect and direct the sound wave towards the cavity to induce sonoluminescence in the cavity.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The tool of claim 11, where the cavity comprises one or more void spaces within the formation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The tool of claim 11, where the source of liquid is disposed within the elongate body or at a remote location.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The tool of claim 11, where the source of one or more gases is disposed within the elongate body or at a remote location.

### Claim 15

A system for delivering energy from sonoluminescence to a wellbore in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the system comprising:
a plurality of capsules; and
means for delivering the capsules down the wellbore, where each capsule comprises:
a housing that defines a cavity;
one or more acoustic transducers disposed adjacent to the cavity and configured to generate a sound wave to induce sonoluminescence in the cavity; and
one or more rupture disks disposed within the housing and configured to break and release the generated energy from the induced sonoluminescence.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, where a density of the plurality of capsules varies amongst individual capsules.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, where a density of one of the plurality of capsules is not uniform within the capsule.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, where the cavity comprises one or more gases.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, where the cavity comprises one or more liquids.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, where the housing comprises at least one pointed tip configured for engaging the formation.

### Claim 21

A method for delivering energy from sonoluminescence to a wellbore in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the method comprising the steps of:
introducing a cavity defined by a housing of a cavity container into the wellbore via a tool;
injecting a liquid into the cavity through a liquid port disposed adjacent to the cavity;
injecting one or more gases into the cavity through a gas port disposed adjacent to the cavity;
activating one or more acoustic transducers disposed adjacent to the cavity to generate a sound wave to induce sonoluminescence in the cavity; and
directing the generated energy toward the formation with one or more acoustic mirrors disposed adjacent to the cavity.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of introducing a plurality of cavity containers into the wellbore via the tool.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of connecting one or more of the plurality of cavity containers with a rotational device configured to orient the cavity container relative to a target in the formation.

### Claim 24

A method for delivering energy from sonoluminescence to a wellbore in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the method comprising the steps of:
delivering a plurality of capsules to the wellbore, where each of the plurality of capsules comprises:
a housing that defines a cavity,
one or more acoustic transducers disposed adjacent to the cavity, and
one or more rupture disks disposed within the housing;
activating the one or more acoustic transducers to generate a sound wave to induce sonoluminescence in the cavity; and
breaking the one or more rupture disks to release the generated energy from the induced sonoluminescence.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, where the plurality of capsules are oriented within the wellbore by varying a density of at least one of the plurality of capsules.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, where a density of at least one of the plurality of capsules is not uniform within the at least one capsule.