Laboratory simulation on acoustic well-logging with phased array transmitter

Two small scale acoustic phased arrays with 4 elements have been designed and assembled in the laboratory. Experiments have been carried out with them. It is found that both directivity and radiation lobe width of the phased array can be regulated by changing the time delay between the input signals on neighboring elements. Results measured are in good agreement with those calculated. By using the phased array as an acoustic transmitter and hydrophone as a receiver, small scale acoustic well-logging simulations have been carried out both on an aluminum model well and on a concrete one. Experimental results show that, by increasing the time delay of the input signals on neighboring elements, the steered radiation angle of the phased array becomes larger and larger, and generation conditions of the refracted compressional wave and the refracted shear wave are reached successively, and the refracted compressional wave, the refracted shear wave and the Stoneley wave axe strengthened, respectively. Therefore, by choosing element spacing of a phased array and acoustic wave frequency appropriately, the main radiation lobe of the phased array can be widened to cover the first critical angle of all kinds of formations, which makes it possible to apply phased array acoustic well-logging in any formation continuously without regulating directivity of the phased array.