US 12,435,626 B2
System and method for acoustic isolators
Stefan Schimschal, Celle (DE); Anna Swiatek, Celle (DE); and Theodorus W. Geerits, Nienhagen (DE)
Assigned to Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/869,551.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/223,722, filed on Jul. 20, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0026433 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 47/16 (2006.01); G01V 1/52 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 47/16 (2013.01) [G01V 1/523 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An acoustic logging tool for a wellbore, comprising:
an acoustic source for generating one or more acoustic waves;
an acoustic receiver for receiving at least a portion of or a reflection of the one or more acoustic waves; and
an isolator, comprising:
a housing having an outer housing surface;
a bore defined within the housing and configured to conduct a drilling fluid through the isolator, the bore having an outer bore surface; and
a first isolator feature positioned between the outer housing surface and the outer bore surface such that the first isolator feature is physically separated from the bore and the outer housing surface, the first isolator feature configured to reduce a collar wave transmitted by the acoustic source.
 
13. A method for logging a wellbore, comprising:
positioning an acoustic logging tool within the wellbore, the acoustic logging tool comprising:
an acoustic source for generating one or more acoustic waves;
an acoustic receiver for receiving at least a portion of or a reflection of the one or more acoustic waves; and
an isolator, comprising:
a housing having an outer housing surface;
a bore defined within the housing and configured to conduct a drilling fluid through the isolator, the bore having an outer bore surface; and
a first isolator feature positioned between the outer housing surface and the outer bore surface such that the first isolator feature is physically separated from the bore and the outer housing surface, the first isolator feature configured to reduce a collar wave transmitted by the acoustic source;
emitting the one or more acoustic waves, using the acoustic source; and
receiving, via the acoustic receiver, acoustic data corresponding to the one or more acoustic waves.