IP Library Granted Patent US 11,086,045
Granted Patent B2
US 11,086,045 · App. 16/233,286 · Granted Aug 10, 2021

System and method of mapping topology

Inventors: Laura Pyrak-Nolte (Lafayette, IN); David Nolte (Lafayette, IN); Nicholas Nolte (Lafayette, IN)
Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
G01V9/00E21B47/095G01V1/001G01V1/02G01V1/288G01V1/30G01V1/301G01V1/306G01V1/42G01V9/007G01V2210/1234
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,086,045
App. No.
16/233,286
Granted
Aug 10, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for determining a fingerprint of a structure is provided. The system includes a plurality of granules inserted in a structure having a plurality of fissures, fractures, and cracks (collectively apertures), each granule comprising a membrane, and at least one bubble of compressed gas formed in the membrane, the membrane selectively dissolving in presence of a predetermined fluid and thereby selectively bursting the at least one bubble, thereby generating a concussing vibration, at least at least i) three detection devices for two-dimensional mapping or ii) four detection devices for three-dimensional mapping placed proximate to the structure according to a predetermined placement schedule, and a computing device comprising a processor configured to receive data from the at least three or four detection devices and to determine location of the at least one bubble of each of the plurality of the granules at the time of bursting by triangulating the concussive vibration in order to determine location of the at least one bubble.

Claims (32)

1. A system for determining a fingerprint of a structure, comprising:

a plurality of granules inserted in a structure having a plurality of fissures, fractures, and cracks (collectively apertures), each granule comprising

a membrane, and

at least one bubble of compressed gas formed in the membrane, the membrane selectively dissolving in a presence of a determined fluid and thereby selectively bursting the at least one bubble, thereby generating a concussing vibration;

at least i) three detection devices for two-dimensional mapping or ii) four detection devices for three-dimensional mapping placed proximate to the structure according to a predetermined placement schedule; and

a computing device comprising

a processor configured to receive data from the at least three or four detection devices and to determine a location of the at least one bubble of each of the plurality of the granules at the time of bursting by triangulating the concussive vibration in order to determine the location of the at least one bubble.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bubble is between about 2,000 to about 90,000 bubbles in each of the plurality of granules.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bubble in each of the plurality of granules is sized between from about 3 μm to about 1 mm.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the average bubble size ranges from about 18 μm to about 100 μm.

5. The system of claim 1 , the processor further configured to discriminate between concussive vibrations associated with the at least one bubble of each of the plurality of the granules by using a Hilbert transform.

6. The system of claim 5 , the processor further configured to apply a Broyden nonlinear solver to determine depth, lateral location, and travel time from the at least one bubble of each of the plurality of granules at the time of busting.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the structure is subterranean.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the structure is a hydrocarbon sequestration field.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the structure is above-ground.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the structure is road-way structure.

11. A method for determining a fingerprint of a structure, comprising:

inserting a plurality of granules in a structure having a plurality of fissures, fractures, and cracks (collectively apertures), each granule comprising

a membrane, and

at least one bubble of compressed gas formed in the membrane, the membrane selectively dissolving in a presence of a determined fluid and thereby selectively bursting the at least one bubble, thereby generating a concussing vibration;

detecting the concussing vibration associated with bursting of the at least one bubble by at least i) three detection devices for two-dimensional mapping or ii) four detection devices for three-dimensional mapping placed proximate to the structure according to a predetermined placement schedule; and

receiving data from the at least three or four detection devices; and

triangulating the concussive vibrations by a processor in order to determine a location of the at least one bubble.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one bubble is between about 2,000 to about 90,000 bubbles in each of the plurality of granules.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one bubble in each of the plurality of granules is sized between from about 3 μm to about 200 μm.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the average bubble size ranges from about 18 μm to about 40 μm.

15. The method of claim 11 , the processor further configured to discriminate between concussive vibrations associated with the at least one bubble of each of the plurality of the granules by using a Hilbert transform.

16. The method of claim 15 , the processor further configured to apply a Broyden nonlinear solver to determine depth, lateral location, and travel time from the at least one bubble of each of the plurality of granules at the time of busting.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the structure is subterranean.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the structure is a hydrocarbon sequestration field.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the structure is above-ground.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the structure is road-way structure.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jun 9, 2022
From: PURDUE UNIVERSITY
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 060319/0416 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2021
From: PYRAK-NOLTE, LAURA J.; NOLTE, DAVID D.; NOLTE, NICHOLAS
To: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 056800/0423 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62612524 · Dec 31, 2017
Related Publication 20190204474A1 · Jul 4, 2019