A method of operating a pressure wave generator (1) with a pressure chamber (2), wherein the pressure wave generator (1) comprises a closure element (9) which, in a closed position, closes the pressure chamber (2) with respect to an outlet (15) and, in an open position, —allows a working medium to flow out of the pressure chamber (2) into the outlet (15); an actuator by means of which the closure element (9) can be brought from the closed position into the open position and, in particular, can also be brought from the open position into the closed position;
wherein the method comprises repeatedly performing the following steps: filling the pressure chamber (2) with a gaseous working medium at a pressure of over one hundred bar; moving the actuator and thereby moving the closure element (9) in an opening direction to open the pressure chamber (2) with respect to the outlet (15), and discharging the pressurized working medium from the pressure chamber (2) through the outlet (15) within a discharge time period of less than fifteen milliseconds.

Methods and systems for characterizing fractures in a subterranean formation are provided. The method includes introducing an encapsulated explosive unit into a casing located in a wellbore within the subterranean formation and maintaining the encapsulated explosive unit in a stage of the casing. The method also includes detonating the encapsulated explosive unit within the stage to generate a pressure wave that passes through a group of perforations and into the fractures and measuring a reflected pressure wave using a pressure sensor coupled to the bridge plug to produce a pressure measurement. The method further includes converting the pressure measurement into an acoustic signal correlated with the pressure measurement by an acoustic signal generator contained in the bridge plug and transmitting the acoustic signal to apply acoustic pressure on a fiber optic cable coupled to an exterior surface of the casing.

Methods and systems for characterizing fractures in a subterranean formation are provided. The method includes introducing an encapsulated explosive unit into a casing located in a wellbore within the subterranean formation and maintaining the encapsulated explosive unit in a stage of the casing. The method also includes detonating the encapsulated explosive unit within the stage to generate a pressure wave that passes through a group of perforations and into the fractures and measuring a reflected pressure wave using a pressure sensor coupled to the bridge plug to produce a pressure measurement. The method further includes converting the pressure measurement into an acoustic signal correlated with the pressure measurement by an acoustic signal generator contained in the bridge plug and transmitting the acoustic signal to apply acoustic pressure on a fiber optic cable coupled to an exterior surface of the casing.

A method of mapping micro-fractures of a fracture network comprising: introducing a capsule or coated capsule or containment into the fracture network, where in the capsules or containment comprise an explosive substance and a plurality of micro-proppant; allowing initiation of the explosive substance of some or all of the plurality of the capsules to occur, wherein initiation of the explosive substance causes detonation of the explosive substance, and wherein the detonation produces one or more micro-seismic events; and causing or allowing at least a portion of the micro-proppant to enter one or more of the micro-fractures.

A method of mapping micro-fractures of a fracture network comprising: introducing a capsule or coated capsule or containment into the fracture network, where in the capsules or containment comprise an explosive substance and a plurality of micro-proppant; allowing initiation of the explosive substance of some or all of the plurality of the capsules to occur, wherein initiation of the explosive substance causes detonation of the explosive substance, and wherein the detonation produces one or more micro-seismic events; and causing or allowing at least a portion of the micro-proppant to enter one or more of the micro-fractures.

Hybrid seismic inversion methods and apparatuses perform wave equation inversion and stochastic inversion to generate one or more final models for the reservoir characterization of the survey region. A method may include retrieving seismic data using seismic data recording sensors; storing the seismic data in the database; retrieving well data using the well born sensor in the wellbore; storing the seismic data in the database; storing geology integration information and one or more background models in the database; retrieving the seismic data and processing the seismic data to mitigate the seismic data for a seismic hybrid inversion; and performing the seismic hybrid inversion including performing wave equation inversion and stochastic inversion to generate the one or more final models for the reservoir characterization of the survey region.

Hybrid seismic inversion methods and apparatuses perform wave equation inversion and stochastic inversion to generate one or more final models for the reservoir characterization of the survey region. A method may include retrieving seismic data using seismic data recording sensors; storing the seismic data in the database; retrieving well data using the well born sensor in the wellbore; storing the seismic data in the database; storing geology integration information and one or more background models in the database; retrieving the seismic data and processing the seismic data to mitigate the seismic data for a seismic hybrid inversion; and performing the seismic hybrid inversion including performing wave equation inversion and stochastic inversion to generate the one or more final models for the reservoir characterization of the survey region.

Boreholes used for generating geothermal energy or other purposes are formed at least in part by accelerating projectiles toward geologic material. Interaction between a projectile and the geologic material may generate debris or other material. The temperature of this generated material may be used to determine the potential for generation of geothermal energy using the borehole. Based on the temperature of the material, a fluid having a different temperature than that of the material is provided into the borehole for generation of power using geothermal energy.

Boreholes used for generating geothermal energy or other purposes are formed at least in part by accelerating projectiles toward geologic material. Interaction between a projectile and the geologic material may generate debris or other material. The temperature of this generated material may be used to determine the potential for generation of geothermal energy using the borehole. Based on the temperature of the material, a fluid having a different temperature than that of the material is provided into the borehole for generation of power using geothermal energy.

Disclosed is a geophysical or seismic exploration system. The system comprises a set of explosive device magazines configured for carrying a plurality of explosive device components, wherein the explosive device components are configurable to form individual explosive devices, and wherein each explosive device carries a set of explosive compositions and is configured for collimating an explosive shock wave produced thereby into a quasi-planar shock wave output from a distal end of the explosive device to produce a geophysical or seismic exploration wave. The system also includes a set of unmanned explosive device deployment support vehicles, wherein each unmanned explosive device deployment support vehicle comprises an aerial or land-based unmanned vehicle configured for carrying an explosive device magazine and delivering the explosive device magazine to a first in-field location at which each explosive device is deployable for carrying out a geophysical or seismic exploration operation.