Hydrophone Having no Internal Leads
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsChung Chang, Yee Siang Teh, Ife Ogbunuju
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydrophone free from internal leads and further including a stabilizing jacket is described. The hydrophone uses the metallic end caps of the stabilizing jacket to complete the circuit thereby eliminating the need for internal leads. Further, the stabilizing jacket results in a hydrophone configuration that can withstand harsher conditions while nonetheless providing excellent detection capabilities.
Claims17
A hydrophone (300), comprising:
- a piezoelectric base (302);
- a first electrode (308) on an outside surface of the base (302) and along a first end of the base (302),
- a second electrode (304) on an inside surface of the base and along a second end of the base (302);
- wherein a first insulation area (310) exists between the first electrode on the outside surface and the second electrode along the second end of the base (302);
- and
- and wherein a second insulation area (310) exists between the second electrode on the inside surface and the first electrode along the first end of the cylindrical base (302).
A hydrophone stabilizing jacket (400) comprising:
- an insulating shell (410) for surrounding a hydrophone, metal end caps that close the insulating shell (410) after the hydrophone (300) is placed inside.
A jacketed hydrophone (400) comprising:
- a piezoelectric cylindrical base (302);
- a first electrode (308) plated on the outside surface of the cylindrical base (302) and along a first end of the cylindrical base (302),
- a second electrode (304) plated on the inside surface of the cylindrical base (302) and along a second end of the cylindrical base (302);
- wherein a first insulation area (310) exists between the first electrode (308) plating on the outside surface and the second electrode plating along the second end of the cylindrical base;
- and
- and wherein a second insulation area (310) exists between the second electrode plating (304) on the inside surface and the first electrode plating along the first end of the cylindrical base;
- an insulating shell (410) which surrounds the hydrophone (300);
- end caps (402) secured at each end of the insulating shell (410).
A method of detecting pressure differentials in a fluid comprising,
- passing a fluid over a hydrophone (300) wherein, the hydrophone (300) is encased in a stabilizing jacket (400) and thereby requires no internal leads;
- and
- passing the fluid through the stabilizing jacket (400) to reach the hydrophone (300).
A system for monitoring the conditions in a downhole environment comprising:
- a well tool including a sensor system comprising one or more hydrophones, wherein the hydrophones comprise:
- a piezoelectric cylindrical base (302);
- a first electrode (308) plated on the outside surface of the cylindrical base (302) and along a first end of the cylindrical base (302),
- a second electrode (304) plated on the inside surface of the cylindrical base (302) and along a second end of the cylindrical base;
- wherein a first insulation area (310) exists between the first electrode plating on the outside surface and the second electrode plating along the second end of the cylindrical base (302);
- and
- and wherein a second insulation area (310) exists between the second electrode plating on the inside surface and the first electrode plating along the first end of the cylindrical base;
- an insulating shell (410) which surrounds the hydrophone (300);
- end caps (402) secured at each end of the insulating shell (410).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.