A well tool can be used in a wellbore that can measure characteristics of an object in the wellbore. The well tool includes an ultrasonic transducer for generating an ultrasonic wave in a medium of the wellbore. The ultrasonic transducer includes a front layer, a rear layer, backing material coupled to the rear layer, and piezoelectric material coupled to the front layer and to the backing material. The rear layer can improve signal-to-noise ratio of the transducer in applications such as imaging and caliper applications.

A method is provided for identifying and characterizing structures of interest in a formation traversed by a wellbore, which involves obtaining waveform data associated with received acoustic signals as a function of measured depth in the wellbore. A set of arrival events and corresponding time picks is identified by automatic and/or manual methods that analyze the waveform data. A ray tracing inversion is carried out for each arrival event (and corresponding time pick) over a number of possible raypath types to determine i) two-dimensional reflector positions corresponding to the arrival event for the number of possible raypath types and ii) predicted inclination angles of the reflected wavefield for the number of possible raypath types. The waveform data associated with each time pick (and corresponding arrival event) is processed to determine a three-dimensional slowness-time coherence representations of the waveform data for the number of possible raypath types, which is evaluated to determine azimuth position and orientation of a corresponding reflector, and determine the ray path type of the reflected wavefield. The method outputs a three-dimensional position and/or orientation for at least one reflector, wherein the three-dimensional position of the reflector is based on the two-dimensional position of the reflector determined from the ray tracing inversion and the azimuth position of the reflector determined from the three-dimensional slowness-time coherence representation. The information derived from the method can be conveyed in various displays and plots and structured formats for reservoir understanding and also output for use in reservoir analysis and other applications.

A method is provided for identifying and characterizing structures of interest in a formation traversed by a wellbore, which involves obtaining waveform data associated with received acoustic signals as a function of measured depth in the wellbore. A set of arrival events and corresponding time picks is identified by automatic and/or manual methods that analyze the waveform data. A ray tracing inversion is carried out for each arrival event (and corresponding time pick) over a number of possible raypath types to determine i) two-dimensional reflector positions corresponding to the arrival event for the number of possible raypath types and ii) predicted inclination angles of the reflected wavefield for the number of possible raypath types. The waveform data associated with each time pick (and corresponding arrival event) is processed to determine a three-dimensional slowness-time coherence representations of the waveform data for the number of possible raypath types, which is evaluated to determine azimuth position and orientation of a corresponding reflector, and determine the ray path type of the reflected wavefield. The method outputs a three-dimensional position and/or orientation for at least one reflector, wherein the three-dimensional position of the reflector is based on the two-dimensional position of the reflector determined from the ray tracing inversion and the azimuth position of the reflector determined from the three-dimensional slowness-time coherence representation. The information derived from the method can be conveyed in various displays and plots and structured formats for reservoir understanding and also output for use in reservoir analysis and other applications.

A control unit can comprise a housing and circuitry disposed within the housing. The circuitry can comprise a communications module, a memory, and a processor in communication with the memory and the communications module. A power source can be disposed within the housing. An input port that is configured to mate with a complementary output of a sensor unit that is external to the housing. The input port can be in communication with the circuitry. The input port can be configured to interface with the sensor unit.

A control unit can comprise a housing and circuitry disposed within the housing. The circuitry can comprise a communications module, a memory, and a processor in communication with the memory and the communications module. A power source can be disposed within the housing. An input port that is configured to mate with a complementary output of a sensor unit that is external to the housing. The input port can be in communication with the circuitry. The input port can be configured to interface with the sensor unit.

An apparatus for detecting a location of an optical fiber having an acoustic sensor disposed subsurface to the earth includes an acoustic emitter configured to emit a first signal having a first frequency and a second signal having a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency, the first and second emitted acoustic signals being azimuthally rotated around the borehole and an optical interrogator configured to interrogate the optical fiber to receive an acoustic measurement that provides a corresponding first received signal and a corresponding second received signal. The apparatus also includes a processor configured to (i) frequency-multiply the first received signal to provide a third signal having a third frequency within a selected range of the second frequency, (ii) estimate a phase difference between the second received signal and the third signal, and (iii) correlate the phase difference to the location of the optical fiber.

A data seismic sensing system and method for obtaining seismic refraction data and tomography data. The system may comprise a subsurface sensor array, wherein the subsurface sensor array is a fiber optic cable disposed near a wellbore, a seismic source, wherein the seismic source is a truck-mounted seismic vibrator comprising a base plate, and a surface sensor array, wherein the surface sensor array is coupled to the seismic source. The method may comprise disposing a surface sensor array on a surface, disposing a subsurface sensor array into a wellbore, activating a seismic source, wherein the seismic source is configured to create a seismic wave, recording a reflected seismic wave with the surface sensor array and the subsurface sensor array, and creating a seismic refraction data and a seismic tomography data from the reflected seismic wave.

A data seismic sensing system and method for obtaining seismic refraction data and tomography data. The system may comprise a subsurface sensor array, wherein the subsurface sensor array is a fiber optic cable disposed near a wellbore, a seismic source, wherein the seismic source is a truck-mounted seismic vibrator comprising a base plate, and a surface sensor array, wherein the surface sensor array is coupled to the seismic source. The method may comprise disposing a surface sensor array on a surface, disposing a subsurface sensor array into a wellbore, activating a seismic source, wherein the seismic source is configured to create a seismic wave, recording a reflected seismic wave with the surface sensor array and the subsurface sensor array, and creating a seismic refraction data and a seismic tomography data from the reflected seismic wave.

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.

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.