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US4105993A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for determining elastic constants of geological formations

Assignee: Services et Instruments de Geophysique
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Filing: 1976-09-07
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Granted: 1978-08-08
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Expires: 1996-09-07
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to a method of determining the "P" and "S" wave propagation velocities and the Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio in geological formations. An acoustic transmitter is placed in a borehole, and receivers in another borehole at predetermined heights. The differences in the propagation times of "P" waves and the exact distance between receivers and transmitter enable the velocities of the "P" and "S" waves to be obtained with sufficient accuracy to calculate the constants. The invention is useful in civil engineering.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert Grassy
  • 👤 Dominique Apert
  • 👤 Arnaud Etchecopar

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 14:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01H; G01H5/00; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/28; G01V1/40; G01V1/42

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 184 words
A method for determing the wave propagation velocities of "P" waves and "S" waves through a geological formation from a first bore hole to a second bore hole, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning in the first bore hole a single transmitter for transmitting both "P" and "S" waves, (b) positioning in the second bore hole a series of receivers for receiving "P" waves, at least one of said receivers being arranged to also receive "S" waves, the receivers being positioned in vertical arrangement at known distances from each other, (c) transmitting at least one "P" wave from the transmitter and measuring the time for propagation of the "P" wave from the transmitter to each receiver, (d) calculating the distance between the transmitter and the at least one receiver arranged to also receive "S" waves, (e) transmitting at least one "S" wave from the transmitter and measuring the time for propagation of the "S" wave from the transmitter to the at least one receiver arranged to also receive "S" waves, and (f) calculating the propagation velocities of the "P" and "S" waves.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 184 words
A method for determing the wave propagation velocities of "P" waves and "S" waves through a geological formation from a first bore hole to a second bore hole, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning in the first bore hole a single transmitter for transmitting both "P" and "S" waves, (b) positioning in the second bore hole a series of receivers for receiving "P" waves, at least one of said receivers being arranged to also receive "S" waves, the receivers being positioned in vertical arrangement at known distances from each other, (c) transmitting at least one "P" wave from the transmitter and measuring the time for propagation of the "P" wave from the transmitter to each receiver, (d) calculating the distance between the transmitter and the at least one receiver arranged to also receive "S" waves, (e) transmitting at least one "S" wave from the transmitter and measuring the time for propagation of the "S" wave from the transmitter to the at least one receiver arranged to also receive "S" waves, and (f) calculating the propagation velocities of the "P" and "S" waves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 1 where in Steps (c) and (e) the transmitter emits a first signal for determining the "P" wave propagation velocity and a second signal weaker than the first signal for determining the "S" wave propagation velocity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of digitally printing a table of the propagation times of the "P" waves to the receivers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of digitally printing a table of the propagation times of the "P" and "S" waves to said at least one receiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying the signal received at said at least one receiver on an oscilloscope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of photographically recording the displayed signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of magnetically recording the signal received at said at least one receiver on a tape recorder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of computing the Young's modulus and the Poisson's ratio of the geological formation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 1 where in Step (b) a portion of said series of receivers is positioned above, while the remaining portion of said series of receivers is positioned below, the horizontal plane in which the transmitter is positioned.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 219 words
A method for determining the Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of a geological formation between a first bore hole and a second bore hole, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning in the first bore hole a single transmitter for transmitting both "P" and "S" waves, (b) positioning in the second bore hole a series of receivers for receiving "P" waves, at least one of said receivers being arranged to also receive "S" waves, the receivers being positioned in vertical arrangement at known distances from each other, a portion of the series of receivers being positioned above, and the remaining portion of the series being positioned below, a horizontal plane in which the transmitter is positioned, (c) transmitting a first signal from the transmitter and measuring the time for propagation of a "P" wave from the transmitter to each receiver, (d) calculating the distance between the transmitter and the at least receiver arranged to also receive "S" waves, (e) transmitting a second signal, weaker than the first signal, and measuring the time for propagation of an "S" wave from the transmitter to the at least one receiver arranged to also receive "S" waves, (f) calculating the propagation velocities of the "P" and "S" waves, and (g) computing the Young's modulus and the Poisson's ratio of the geological formation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 219 words
A method for determining the Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of a geological formation between a first bore hole and a second bore hole, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning in the first bore hole a single transmitter for transmitting both "P" and "S" waves, (b) positioning in the second bore hole a series of receivers for receiving "P" waves, at least one of said receivers being arranged to also receive "S" waves, the receivers being positioned in vertical arrangement at known distances from each other, a portion of the series of receivers being positioned above, and the remaining portion of the series being positioned below, a horizontal plane in which the transmitter is positioned, (c) transmitting a first signal from the transmitter and measuring the time for propagation of a "P" wave from the transmitter to each receiver, (d) calculating the distance between the transmitter and the at least receiver arranged to also receive "S" waves, (e) transmitting a second signal, weaker than the first signal, and measuring the time for propagation of an "S" wave from the transmitter to the at least one receiver arranged to also receive "S" waves, (f) calculating the propagation velocities of the "P" and "S" waves, and (g) computing the Young's modulus and the Poisson's ratio of the geological formation.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USRE18565E Cited
US2062151A Cited
US2276335A Cited
US3208549A Cited
US4003017A Cited
US3876016A Cited
US3979724A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-08-07 1982-02-06 1982-08-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-08-07 1986-02-06 1986-08-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-08-07 1990-02-06 1990-08-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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