Method and apparatus for measuring pore pressure beyond the casing
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsLeonid L. Frumin, Joseph G. Barolak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Acoustic waves from a controllable downhole acoustic source in a cased borehole are focused into a region of an earth formation. A hydrophone is used to monitor acoustic signals for onset of cavitation. The estimated pressure from the source in the focus region provides an estimate of formation pore pressure.
Claims20
A method of estimating a formation pore pressure of an earth formation, the method comprising:
- using an acoustic source inside a borehole for producing an acoustic wave in the formation;
- using a sensor for producing a signal indicative of a cavitation in the earth formation resulting from the produced acoustic wave;
- and
- using a processor for estimating the formation pore pressure from the produced signal.
An apparatus configured to estimate a formation pore pressure of an earth formation, the apparatus comprising:
- an acoustic source configured to produce an acoustic wave in the earth formation from inside a borehole;
- a sensor configured to produce a signal of a cavitation in the earth formation resulting from the produced acoustic wave;
- and
- a processor configured to estimate the formation pore pressure from the produced signal.
A computer-readable medium product having stored thereon instructions that when read by at least one processor enable the at least one processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
- estimating a formation pore pressure of an earth formation using a signal responsive to a cavitation in the earth formation resulting from use of a focused acoustic source inside a borehole, and a power of the acoustic source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.