Method for estimating permeability of fractured rock formations from induced slow fluid pressure waves
US11098565B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 3, 2018 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 27, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V2210/6246
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An embodiment in accordance with the present invention includes a method for estimating the permeability of fractured rock formations from the analysis of a slow fluid pressure wave, which is generated by pressurization of a borehole. Wave propagation in the rock is recorded with TFI™. Poroelastic theory is used to estimate the permeability from the measured wave speed. The present invention offers the opportunity of measuring the reservoir-scale permeability of fractured rock, because the method relies on imaging a wave, which propagates through a large rock volume, on the order of kilometers in size. Traditional methods yield permeability for much smaller rock volumes: well logging tools only measure permeability in the vicinity of a borehole. Pressure transient testing accesses larger rock volumes; however, these volumes are much smaller than for the proposed method, particularly in low-permeability rock formations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.