I-Corps: High-frequency ultrasound technology for the detection of micro and nano porosity, shale softening and anisotropy of materials

I-Corps项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发一种新型超声技术，以表征深层地质介质，用于能源勘探和废物处理。研究了结合高频超声技术对岩石孔隙度进行无损检测的方法。通过开发一种原位装置来确定岩石基质的孔隙度，该团队试图确定由于水力压裂而发生的软化程度。该技术具有广泛应用于各种基础设施应用的潜力。通过开发一种新的方法来确定岩石基质的孔隙度和原位岩石渗透率，直接在现场和更小的尺度（在纳米和微观范围内），该研究团队寻求提高需要（在）直接地震数据采集的公司的生产力（例如，钻井工程师，电缆工程师，地震采集工程师，地震处理工程师，石油物理学家和地球物理学家）。这个I-Corps项目是基于高频超声技术的发展。超声波技术是一种利用超声波换能器产生机械波的非破坏性技术。这项技术已越来越多地用于研究地球的岩性。在现场使用超声波与新的建模能力相结合，可以提供一种更快、更环保、更便宜的现场调查替代方案。这项新技术将用于确定岩石基质的孔隙度以及由于水力压裂而可能发生的软化。波速可以通过在岩石样品中发射高频超声波（200Hz）并将测量到的速度与微纳米尺度的空洞联系起来来确定。一旦确定了波速函数，研究小组将发射一段更高频率的波，其波长更接近岩石基质中微米和纳米级空隙的大小。将比较高频波的衰减、时间和速度来确定孔隙度。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a novel ultrasound technology to characterize deep geological media for energy exploration and waste disposal. The incorporation of high frequency ultrasound technology is investigated to non-destructively obtain the rock porosities. By developing an in situ device to determine the porosity of a rock matrix, the team seeks to determine the extent of softening that occurs due to fracking. This technology has potential for use in a wide variety of infrastructure applications. By developing a new method to determine the porosity of rock matrices and the in-situ rock permeabilities directly in the field and at a smaller scale (in the nano and micro ranges), this research team seeks to increase the productivity of companies that require (in)direct seismic data acquisition (e.g., Drilling Engineers, Wireline Engineers, Seismic Acquisition Engineers, Seismic Processing Engineers, Petro-Physicists and Geophysicists).This I-Corps project is based on the development of high-frequency ultrasound technology. Ultrasound technology is a non-destructive technology that generates mechanical waves from ultrasound transducers. The technique has been increasingly utilized in studying the lithology of the Earth. The in-situ use of ultrasound coupled with a new modelling capabilities, may provide a quicker, more environmentally friendly, and inexpensive alternative to field investigation. The new technology will be used ot determine the porosity of rock matricies as well as the possible softening that occurs due to fracking. The wave velocity can be determined by transmitting high-frequency ultrasound waves (200Hz) through the rock specimens and relating the measured velocity to micro- and nano-scale voids. Once the wave velocity function has been determined, the team will transmit a range of higher frequencies whose wavelengths are closer to the size or micro- and nano-scale voids in the rock matrix. The attenuation, time, and velocity of the waves at higher frequencies will be compared to determine the porosity.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.