Solid-state hydrophone with shielding
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsJing Jin, George David Goodman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solid-state hydrophone may include a piezoelectric rod positioned between at least two electrodes. The piezoelectric rod may be disposed within a metallic housing to shield the piezoelectric rod and its connections from acoustic and electromagnetic waves. The piezoelectric rod and the electrodes may be potted in the mechanical housing using a potting material that may be positioned adjacent to the piezoelectric rod. At least a layer of the potting material may be positioned between the piezoelectric rod and the metallic housing to physically separate the piezoelectric rod from the metallic housing.
Claims20
A solid-state hydrophone, comprising:
- a metallic housing;
- a piezoelectric rod disposed within the metallic housing and positioned between at least two electrodes that are substantially parallel to one another, the piezoelectric rod including a solid piezoelectric material forming a solid rod shape;
- and
- potting material positioned adjacent to the piezoelectric rod, wherein at least a layer of the potting material is positioned between the piezoelectric rod and the metallic housing.
A method, comprising:
- receiving, at a solid-state hydrophone, an acoustic wave, the solid-state hydrophone comprising:
- a metallic housing;
- a piezoelectric rod disposed within the metallic housing and positioned between at least two electrodes that are substantially parallel to one another, the piezoelectric rod including a solid piezoelectric material forming a solid rod shape;
- and
- potting material positioned adjacent to the piezoelectric rod, at least a layer of the potting material being positioned between the piezoelectric rod and the metallic housing;
- shielding, by the metallic housing, one or more surfaces of the piezoelectric rod from a second acoustic wave;
- generating, by the piezoelectric rod, an electric charge in response to a stress on the piezoelectric rod caused by the acoustic wave;
- and
- transmitting, by an electrode of the at least two electrodes, an electric signal corresponding to the electric charge to a measuring circuit electrically coupled to the electrode by an electrode wire attached to the electrode.
A wellbore tool positionable downhole in a wellbore, the wellbore tool comprising:
- a motor mechanically couplable to the wellbore tool and actuatable to rotate the wellbore tool in the wellbore;
- a cavity within a housing of the wellbore tool;
- and
- a hydrophone positionable in the cavity and electrically couplable to the wellbore tool, the hydrophone including:
- a piezoelectric rod positioned between at least two electrodes that are substantially parallel to one another, the at least two electrodes potted within a metallic housing by a potting material, the piezoelectric rod including a solid piezoelectric material forming a solid rod shape;
- and
- electrode wires extending from the at least two electrodes, the electrode wires electrically couplable to circuitry of the wellbore tool within the cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.