Patent ID: 6776255
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
An apparatus for attenuating tube waves within a bore hole containing a volume of fluid, comprising:a bladder formed of a soft, compliant material; a pressure vessel configured to store a volume of pressurized gas therein; a pressure regulating system operatively coupled between the bladder and the pressure vessel, wherein the pressure regulating system is configured to admit gas from the pressure vessel into the bladder at a reduced pressure relative to gas pressure in the pressure vessel in response to an increase in a hydrostatic pressure of a fluid within a bore hole proximate the apparatus and wherein the regulating system is configured to maintain the bladder at a substantially balanced pressure relative to the hydrostatic pressure of fluid in a bore hole proximate the apparatus; and a first valve operatively coupled with the pressure vessel and configured to admit a volume of bore hole fluid thereinto when the hydrostatic pressure of fluid within a bore hole proximate the apparatus is greater than a pressure of the volume of pressurized gas within the pressure vessel.