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Monitoring Preferential Flow of Water in Sand Using Thermoacoustics Wave Imaging
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  • Chang Liu,
  • Xu Mao,
  • Chang Wang,
  • Rebecca Liyanage,
  • Juan Heredia-Juesas,
  • Ruben Juanes,
  • Jose Martinez-Lorenzo
Chang Liu
Northeastern University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Xu Mao
China Agricultural University
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Chang Wang
Northeastern University
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Rebecca Liyanage
MIT
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Juan Heredia-Juesas
Northeastern University
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Ruben Juanes
Massachusetts Institute of Techonology
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Jose Martinez-Lorenzo
Northeastern University
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Abstract

Accurate predictions of fluid flow, mass transport, and reaction rates critically impact the efficiency and reliability of subsurface exploration and sustainable use of subsurface resources. Quantitative dynamical sensing and imaging can play a pivotal role in the ability to make such predictions. Geophysical thermoacoustic technology has the potential to provide the aforementioned capabilities since it builds upon the principle that electromagnetic and mechanical wave fields can be coupled through a thermodynamic process. In this letter, we present laboratory experiments featuring the efficacy of thermoacustic imaging in the monitoring of preferential flow of water in porous media. Our laboratory experimental equipment can be readily packaged in a form factor that fits in a borehole, and the use of multiple acoustic transducers—which can be combined with volumetric coding techniques—has the potential to provide quasi-real-time imaging (0.5 Hertz video rate) of regions in close proximity (a few meters) of an open field well.