Electricity: measuring and testing – Particle precession resonance – Using well logging device
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-16
2003-06-03
Lefkowitz, Edward (Department: 2862)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Particle precession resonance
Using well logging device
C324S300000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06573715
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to locating subterranean formations of crude oil, and more particularly to determining porosity and permeability parameters of such formations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technological advances in crude oil exploration are permitting crude oil to be captured from locations previously considered to be impractical or unprofitable. For example, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology has been used for well logging applications to measure hydrogenous materials located a short distance into the earth's structure about the bore hole. NMR can simultaneously sense the hydrogen in water and in oil and other materials that may be present within the sensitive measurement region, and thereby indicate the presence and amount of those materials.
Sometimes the water and oil constituents contributing to the total NMR response signal can be resolved to the allow concentration of each to be determined. In other cases, separate measurements of the oil and water may not be feasible with NMR alone.
When the hydrogenous material is contained within an underground rock formation, NMR techniques may be used to determine pore size distribution and the porosity and the permeability of the rock. With this information, a decision can be made whether a particular rock formation contains a sufficient amount of recoverable fluid such that drilling is profitable. However, NMR porosity and permeability estimates do not typically attempt to differentiate between the effect of varying proportions of oil and water in the fluid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention uses a magnetic resonance technology, specifically electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), also known as electron spin resonance (ESR), to detect and measure the concentration of crude oil and certain other hydrocarbon solids and liquids contained within underground formations. Such detection and measurement may be obtained from the surface of the earth to appreciable depths below the surface. They may also be obtained from locations adjacent to the walls of natural openings in the earth's surface (such as caves, open faults, cliffs, sink holes, and hillsides) or in man made earth penetrations (such as tunnels, wells, trenches or boreholes).
The use of EPR data is particularly advantageous in that EPR response signals emanate only from unpaired electrons, such as those due to broken bonds in high molecular weight (MW) hydrocarbon compounds, in paramagnetic and ferromagnetic materials, and in a few metals. In naturally occurring materials, broken bonds and paramagnetic ions are commonly found in, but not limited to, many crude oils, asphalts, and coals. The presence of these materials in the earth, or elsewhere, may be detected and measured by the invention.
The invention provides rapid detection and measurement as compared to other magnetic resonance methods, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The time required to polarize and measure such electrons is commonly on the order of a few microseconds or less.
The invention also includes the use of EPR in combination with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to provide additional advantages, particularly in well logging applications.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3020469 (1962-02-01), O'Reilly
patent: 3060371 (1962-10-01), Townsend et al.
patent: 3096476 (1963-07-01), Poindexter et al.
patent: 4415671 (1983-11-01), Nicksie
patent: 4531093 (1985-07-01), Rollwitz et al.
patent: 4560663 (1985-12-01), Nicksie et al.
patent: 4719425 (1988-01-01), Ettinger
patent: 4804918 (1989-02-01), Vail, III
patent: 5122746 (1992-06-01), King et al.
patent: 5136243 (1992-08-01), Starewicz et al.
patent: 5302898 (1994-04-01), Pethig et al.
patent: 5389878 (1995-02-01), Nakagawa et al.
patent: 5465047 (1995-11-01), Nakanishi et al.
patent: 5475310 (1995-12-01), Pocachard et al.
patent: 5488950 (1996-02-01), Ehnholm
patent: 5564421 (1996-10-01), Ehnholm
patent: 5610522 (1997-03-01), Locatelli et al.
patent: 5684399 (1997-11-01), Bayer
patent: 6346813 (2002-02-01), Agrawal et al.
patent: 2310500 (1997-08-01), None
patent: WO 93/19475 (1993-09-01), None
patent: WO 97/14063 (1997-04-01), None
PCT International Search Report, Form PCT/ISA/210. Aug. 6, 1999.
C. Chardaire-Rivièe and J.C. Roussel,Principle and Potential of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Applied to the Study of Fluids in Porous Media, Revue De L'Institut Français Du Petrole, vol. 47 N°4, Juiilet-Aout 1992.
De Los Santos Armando
King James D.
Ni Qingwen
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Lefkowitz Edward
Shrivastav Brij B.
Southwest Research Institute
LandOfFree
Porosity and permeability measurement of underground... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Porosity and permeability measurement of underground..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Porosity and permeability measurement of underground... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3128864