In situ determination of total carbon and evaluation of source rock therefrom
US4686364A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 19, 1985 |
| Grant date | Aug 11, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 19, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B49/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for determining in situ the carbon content of a source rock comprises determining the carbon/oxygen elemental ratio of the formation via inelastic gamma spectroscopy, determining the porosity of the formation, obtaining the oxygen contents and densities of the fluid and minerals in said formation, and determining the carbon content from said carbon/oxygen ratio, and said oxygen contents and densities of the fluid and minerals. The density of the fluid may be assumed, as may the oxygen content of both the formation fluid and minerals. The mineral density may also be assigned a constant value based on lithology. An alternative total carbon content determination is made by additionally determining the fractional volume, density, and oxygen content of the organic matter in the formation, and the combined mineral-organic matter density, and combining this additional information with the previously-listed determinations. The oxygen content of the organic matter may be assumed and the density of the organic matter may be assigned a constant value. The fractional volume of organic matter is calculated by using the previously determined carbon content multiplied by a weight to volu…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.