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Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for producing powerful seismic energy impulses by implosion of an imploding free piston positioned in a container which is adapted to be lowered down into a well in the earth to facilitate the collection of well surveying information about the geological formations of the earth in the vicinity of the well. Holding means maintain the imploding free piston in an initial position or quiescent state, trigger means suddenly release the holding means to cause the free piston to accelerate rapidly from its quiescent state thereby producing a powerful impulse by implosion, damping means arrest the movement of the imploding free piston, and operating means return the imploding free piston to its initial position after completion of its rapid acceleration and damped deceleration. After the imploding free piston is returned to its initial position, the apparatus may be triggered again, as desired, to produce additional powerful impulses by implosion. The self-contained apparatus includes a reversible electric motor and reversible hydraulic pump with first and second hydraulic-liquid-containing bladders. The first bladder transmits the powerful implosions into the ambient liquid in the well, and the second bladder serves as an expansible hydraulic reservoir and as an ambient pressure compensator for all operating parts including the motor. The operating means and the trigger means are hydraulically actuated; the imploding free piston is decelerated by hydraulic damping, and hydraulic liquid cools the motor.

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First Claim