System and method for gravity measurement in a subterranean environment
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorDean Homan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A technique facilitates the collection of improved gravitational acceleration measurements and enables use of those measurements in analyzing environmental characteristics of a subterranean region. In one embodiment, a downhole tool is constructed with a gravimeter having a quantum source and an associated detector. The quantum source and detector use a velocity of the quantum source for determining gravitational acceleration measurements that can be employed in evaluating subterranean characteristics.
Claims26
A method to determine a gravitational acceleration, comprising:
- (a) providing a quantum source and a detector, wherein the quantum source emits photons;
- (b) allowing one of the quantum source and the detector to fall in a gravitational field;
- (c) measuring the Doppler shifted frequencies of the emitted photons;
- (d) determining a velocity of the falling quantum source or falling detector based on the Doppler shifted frequencies of the emitted photons;
- and
- (e) determining the gravitational acceleration based on the determined velocity.
A method to determine a transverse component of a gravitational acceleration, comprising:
- (a) providing a quantum source and a detector, wherein the quantum source emits photons;
- (b) allowing the quantum source and the detector to move in the transverse direction relative to one another in a gravitational field;
- (c) measuring the Doppler shifted frequencies of the emitted photons;
- (d) determining a velocity of the moving quantum source or the moving detector based on the Doppler shifted frequencies of the emitted photons;
- and
- (e) determining the transverse gravitational acceleration based on the determined velocity.
A system, comprising:
- a quantum source that emits photons;
- a detector, wherein the quantum source and the detector are movable relative to one another;
- and
- a processor operatively connected to the detector and programmed to measure the Doppler shifted frequencies of the emitted photons and to determine a gravitational acceleration.
A system, comprising:
- a quantum source that emits photons;
- a detector, wherein the quantum source and the detector are transversely movable relative to one another;
- and
- a processor operatively connected to the detector and programmed to measure the Doppler shifted frequencies of the emitted photons and to determine a gravitational acceleration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.