Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method and to a device for testing a partly conductive medium to determine a characteristic thereof. A signal generator generates a periodic excitation signal in a resonant circuit, including a coil which produces a magnetic field, which is coupled to the partially conductive medium. Eddy currents induced in the partially conductive medium cause the current flowing in the resonant circuit to vary. The amplitude of the envelope of the current flowing in the resonant circuit is measured and processed to determine the characteristic of the medium.
Abstract:
A tubular piezo-electric sensor has at least one sensitive element disposed against an outer surface of a tubular support. A substance whose acoustic impedance is very different from that of the material forming the tubular support is disposed therein and a remaining volume of the tubular support is filled with liquid. Glass fiber cords or open cell foams, for example, are used as the substance, and the liquid may, for example, be that which fills a seismic streamer and, in this case, the tubular support is left open. The tubular support may also be closed at both ends by sealed caps and included in a protective sheath. The dimensions of the tubular support and the material from which it is made are chosen so as to optimize the sensitivity of the piezo-electric sensor.
Abstract:
System for interconnecting elements of a receiving device of great length, for example a seismic streamer, comprising a plurality of data aquisition apparatuses, each of which is adapted to collect 12 separate signals generated by receiver groups distributed in the different elements.The 12 groups of separate receivers (R.sub.1, R.sub.2 . . . R.sub.12) are regularly distributed in each element (T.sub.1, T.sub.2 . . . ), forming 6 pairs of groups. A first group of each pair (R.sub.1, R.sub.3, R.sub.5) is connected to an input of an acquisition apparatus (B.sub.2). The second group of each pair is connected either to an input of another acquistion apparatus, or to inactive electric connection means (B.sub.1, B.sub.3) adapted to connect in parallel the second and the first groups of each pair.This system can be used in seismic prospecting.
Abstract:
A device for supplying electric power to electronic apparatuses of a seismic streamer of great length, comprises an electric feeding assembly associated with each electronic apparatus and including three voltage transformers whose primary windings are respectively fed from a generator with a different phase of a three-phase current, and whose secondary windings are respectively connected to three rectifier bridges supplying the required DC voltage to the electronic apparatus.
Abstract:
Water inflow inside a seismic streamer may create parasitic electric connections between lines supplying current to the electronic devices of the streamer and lines transmitting seismic informations, thus damaging the electronic apparatus and making these informations inaccurate. In accordance with the invention streamer sections including sections of supply lines and transmission lines are provided with water inflow detection assemblies, each comprising a closed circuit element surrounding the supply lines, a conducting line connected to a DC voltage generator, and means for detecting any DC voltage therebetween resulting from parasitic connections between the supply lines and the closed circuit element, created by a water inflow.
Abstract:
A device for the sequential transmission of information elements from a sensor arrangement receiving acoustic waves at different locations and a system for recording or processing these information elements. The device includes means for generating information signals representative of the instant of reception at one of said sensor means of a directly transmitted acoustic wave emanating from a source, in the form of at least two discrete values of a continuously varying voltage which begins to be generated at the instant of reception of the direct wave, and means for determining the instant of reception from said discrete values are provided, after their transmission to the recording or processing system by a sequential transmission of the discrete values.
Abstract:
A process and device for measuring the velocity of flow of a fluid stream by measuring the difference between the respective traveltimes of acoustic pulses emitted by means of a generator (G) respectively between two points (PA, PB) spaced out along the fluid stream, according to whether they are propagated upstream or downstream in relation to the direction of flow, a difference that is indicative of the displacement velocity of the fluid stream. Measurement of this traveltime difference comprises using an acquisition unit (A) coupled to a processing unit (P) allowing determination of the frequency spectrum of each pulse and measurement of the phase lag affecting at least part of the frequency spectrum of each pulse, resulting from the traveltime thereof. Measurement of the velocity of flow of the fluid stream and of the resulting flow rate is very accurate. The process can be applied in chemical industries, chromatography, etc.
Abstract:
The mobile seismic system according to the invention is made up by interconnecting reception sections (T1) and of anchoring sections (T2), and possibly emission sections, the assembly being suspended in the well by means of an electro-carrying cable (3). The first sections (T1), which are filled with liquid, are delimited at least partly by a wall transparent to acoustic waves. They contain each one or several hydrophones and an electronic module of acquisition of the signals picked up. The second sections (T2) comprise a body provided with retractable anchoring means (13) and with motor means, either autonomous, or connected, by a hydraulic line running along the reception system, to common motor means located preferably in a lower section so as to be used as a ballast weight. The reception system may be continuous or made up of several parts connected to each other by electric or electro-hydraulic linking means. The system is suitable for seismic prospecting in wells for example.
Abstract:
In order to measure for example the velocity of particles moving within various pipes or enclosures (1), such as catalyst balls circulating in continuous reforming plants, a channel (2) with a section suited to that of the particles, connected to a source of fluid of determined flow rate (4), opens therein and the pressure variations in this channel, resulting from the flow of the particles circulating past the end thereof, which modify the free flowing of the fluid towards the pipe, are measured. The particle velocity is notably determined through an auto-correlation of the signal translating the pressure variations by means of a processing system (6). Two fluid-fed channels (7, 8) may also open onto two different locations along the pipe and, through a crosscorrelation of the signals translating respectively the pressure variations, the velocity and the section of the circulating particles may for example be determined.
Abstract:
A device is provided for amplifying and sampling multiplexed analog signals so as to give them an optimum level before digitization thereof. It includes several amplification and sampling assemblies with fixed gains differing from one to another, an amplifier whose gain is able to take on several predetermined values, connection means for selectively connecting one of the assemblies to said amplifier, comparison means comparing the amplitude of the signals at the output of the amplifier with threshold voltages and a selection member for choosing the assembly and the gain of the amplifier as a function of the comparison. In each of the assemblies, the amplification function is provided either by amplifier stages and/or by sample and hold units.