Electricity: measuring and testing – Of geophysical surface or subsurface in situ – With radiant energy or nonconductive-type transmitter
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-07
2001-02-13
Patidar, Jay (Department: 2862)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Of geophysical surface or subsurface in situ
With radiant energy or nonconductive-type transmitter
C324S334000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188221
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the detection of underground fluids and, more particularly, to the detection of underground fluids by analysis of reflected electromagnetic (EM) waves from the earth's interior.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fluids, such as water, oil, and natural gas, are frequently exploited natural resources. These fluids may sometimes be found at the earth's surface, but are frequently located underground. Either way, it is typically advantageous to locate a source of the fluid near the point of its exploitation to minimize transportation costs, although production costs may influence this factor.
For instance, water is a relatively inexpensive resource to provide to a community providing that there is an abundance of the water located proximate to the community. The water may be supplied from surface sources, such as lakes or rivers, but may also be supplied from underground sources such as aquifers, which are water bearing, subterranean, geological formations. Typically, the further a community is located from a water supply, the more expensive it is to supply water to that community. Accordingly, it is advantageous to locate a water supply that is proximate to the community.
Although the existence of water on the earth's surface, such as lakes and rivers, can be easily located by mere visual sighting; acquifers cannot due to their presence beneath the earth's surface. The same is true for subterranean hydrocarbon deposits and other underground fluids.
Numerous prior art techniques have been employed to detect and locate subterranean fluids. Of these techniques, electromagnetic waves have been transmitted into the ground in order to conduct subsurface imaging to attempt to identify subterranean features. However, the systems implementing these techniques typically have been bulky and complex, and, thus, difficult to transport. Furthermore, these systems have typically been expensive due to their complexity.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus includes an electromagnetic pulse generator that generates a plurality of electromagnetic pulses and a transmit ground coupling transducer, coupled to the pulse generator, for delivering the plurality of electromagnetic pulses to the earth's interior. The apparatus also includes a data acquisition system for processing a plurality of reflected signals, with the reflected signals being the electromagnetic pulses reflected from the earth's interior and a receive ground coupling transducer, coupled to the data acquisition system, for receiving and supplying the reflected signals to the data acquisition system. The apparatus further includes a data processing system, coupled to the data acquisition system, for comparing the reflected signals to determine the existence of fluids in the earth's interior.
In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for determining the presence of fluids within the earth's interior. The method includes generating a series of electromagnetic pulses into the earth's interior; receiving a series of reflected signals from the earth's interior, the reflected signals being the electromagnetic pulses reflected from the earth's interior; passing the series of reflected signals through a filtering and amplification channel; converting the amplified reflected signals to digital signals; and comparing the reflected signals to determine the presence of fluids within the earth's interior.
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Van De Kop Andrew R.
Van de Kop Bridget M.
Van de Kop Franz
Gardere Wynne & Sewell LLP
Patidar Jay
Pramudji Ari O.
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