System and method for providing dual distance transducers to image behind an ...

United States Patent

[19]

Birchak et al.

US006125079A [ii] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

6,125,079 Sep. 26,2000

[54] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DUAL DISTANCE TRANSDUCERS TO IMAGE BEHIND AN ACOUSTICALLY REFLECTIVE LAYER

[75] Inventors: James R. Birchak, Spring;

Batakrishna Mandal, Missouri City;
James E. Masino, Houston; John W.
Minear, Hudson; Thomas E. Ritter,

Katy, all ol Tex.

[73] Assignee: Gas Research Institute, Chicago, 111.

[21] Appl. No.: 08/856,113 [22] Filed: May 14, 1997

[51] Int. CI.7 G01V 1/40; G01V 1/00

[52] U.S. CI 367/35; 367/28; 181/104;

181/106

[58] Field of Search 367/28, 35, 69;

340/55; 181/176, 106, 104

[56] References Cited

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Primary Examiner—Christine Oda
Assistant Examiner—Anthony Jolly

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Pauley Peterson Kinne & Fejer [57] ABSTRACT

A transducer configuration for use in acoustically imaging a target region behind an acoustically reflective layer includes a sonde having a geometrical center and constructed and arranged to support a plurality ol transducers. The system includes a first transducer disposed within the sonde at a first distance from the geometrical center for generating a first acoustic pulse and for receiving a first acoustic signal. The acoustic signal comprises a first reflection from the reflective surface, a first set ol fluid multiples arising from reflections between the reflective layer and a surface ol the first transducer, and a first signal associated with the target area. The system also includes a second transducer disposed within the sonde at a second distance from the geometrical center for generating a second acoustic pulse and for receiving a second acoustic signal. The second acoustic comprises a second reflection from the reflective surface, a second set ol fluid multiples arising from reflections between the reflective layer and a surface ol the second transducer and a second signal associated with the target area. A mechanism for receiving and processing signals received by the first and second transducers at time intervals which occur between receipt ol the first and second sets ol fluid multiples, respectively, wherein signal values at time intervals between receipt ol fluid multiples provide acoustic waveforms associated with the target region. Each target region, therefore, has a time interval on at least one ol the two waveforms which is free ol fluid multiples.

21 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets

Page 2

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