Patent ID: 8453510

Claim:
A system for evaluating a rock specimen by ultrasonic evaluation comprising: a first housing having a first chamber, the first housing having a first axis therethrough; wherein the first chamber is accessible by way of a first removable end cap; a second housing having a second chamber, the second housing having a second axis therethrough; wherein the second chamber is accessible by way of a second removable end cap; wherein the first housing and the second housing are arranged such that the first axis is coaxial with the second axis; wherein the first housing and the second housing are arranged with a gap therebetween configure to receive a rock sample for ultrasonic evaluation; a sleeve disposed between the first housing and second housing enclosing the gap, wherein the sleeve is configure to enclose the rock sample; wherein the first chamber comprises a plurality of surface areas defined therein, a first platen defined as the surface area nearest the rock sample, the first platen being perpendicular to the first axis; a first p-wave piezoelectric element mounted on the first platen; a first s-wave piezoelectric element mounted on the first platen adjacent to the first p-wave piezoelectric element; wherein the second chamber comprises a plurality of surface areas defined therein, a second platen defined as the surface area nearest the rock sample, the second platen being perpendicular to the second axis; a second p-wave piezoelectric element mounted on the second platen; a second s-wave piezoelectric element mounted on the second platen adjacent to the second p-wave piezoelectric element; a first channel passing through the first housing arranged to allow pressurized fluid to be supplied through the first channel; a second channel passing through the second housing arranged to allow pressurized fluid to be withdrawn from the second channel; wherein the first channel and the second channel are arranged to allow pressurized fluid to flow through the rock sample in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first and second axis; and wherein each of the piezoelectric elements of the first chamber is arranged substantially opposite to one of the piezoelectric elements of the second chamber.