Asymmetric fluidic oscillator for generating a wellbore signal
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsMikko K. Jaaskelainen, Julian Drew, Benjamin Schaeffer
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Abstract
An asymmetric fluidic oscillator can generate acoustic signals in a wellbore. The asymmetric fluidic oscillator can include an inlet housing defining an inlet channel, a feedback system, and an outlet housing defining an outlet channel. The inlet channel can be sized to receive fluid from the wellbore. The feedback system can be coupled to the inlet channel to oscillate the fluid from the wellbore. The outlet channel can be coupled to the feedback system and can be sized to receive the oscillated fluid from the feedback system. The outlet channel can include an asymmetric feature to generate acoustic signals detectable in the wellbore.
Claims20
A fluidic oscillator comprising:
- an inlet housing defining an inlet channel sized to receive fluid from a wellbore;
- a feedback system coupled to the inlet channel to oscillate the fluid from the wellbore;
- and
- an outlet housing defining an outlet channel coupled to the feedback system and sized to receive the oscillated fluid from the feedback system, the outlet channel being asymmetric to generate acoustic signals detectable in the wellbore, the outlet housing comprising:
- a pair of sides comprising a first side and a second side opposite one another and extending along a path of flow of the fluid, the first side coupled with the feedback system;
- a third side coupled to the feedback system and to the second side;
- and
- a fourth side extending from the first side to the second side, the fourth side open to direct the fluid out of the fluidic oscillator.
A system comprising:
- a fluidic oscillator positionable in a wellbore, the fluidic oscillator comprising:
- an inlet housing defining an inlet channel sized to receive fluid from a wellbore;
- a feedback system coupled to the inlet channel to oscillate the fluid from the wellbore;
- and
- an outlet housing defining an outlet channel coupled to the feedback system and sized to receive the oscillated fluid from the feedback system, the outlet channel being asymmetric to generate acoustic signals detectable in the wellbore, the outlet housing comprising:
- a pair of sides comprising a first side and a second side opposite one another and extending along a path of flow of the fluid, the first side coupled with the feedback system;
- a third side coupled to the feedback system and to the second side;
- and
- a fourth side extending from the first side to the second side, the fourth side open to direct the fluid out of the fluidic oscillator;
- and
- a measurement device positionable proximate to the fluidic oscillator to receive the acoustic signals.
A method comprising:
- receiving fluid from a wellbore by an inlet channel of a fluidic oscillator;
- oscillating the fluid by a feedback system of the fluidic oscillator;
- outputting the fluid oscillated by the feedback system to an outlet channel that is asymmetric, the outlet channel comprising:
- a pair of sides comprising a first side and a second side opposite one another and extending along a path of flow of the fluid, the first side coupled with the feedback system;
- a third side coupled to the feedback system and to the second side;
- and
- a fourth side extending from the first side to the second side, the fourth side open to direct the fluid out of the fluidic oscillator;
- and
- generating, by the outlet channel, a signal in the fluid from the feedback system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.