Method for determining permeability in hydrocarbon wells
US4961343A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 19, 1989 |
| Grant date | Oct 9, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 19, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B49/005
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
During oil and gas well drilling operations, at the wellsite surface the percentage by volume of hydrocarbon gas present in the return drilling fluid is monitored in order to determine the percentage of gas saturation in the formation. Rate of penetration of the drill bit is monitored as well. A pore saturation function is derived wherein anomalously low values thereof relative to expected values for productive zones indicate flushing ahead of the drill bit of hydrocarbons out of the pore volume of cuttings in the return fluid. A mud filtrate flow rate is then determined from the drilling rate, gas saturation, and formation porosity. Pressure differential in the vicinity of the drill bit is also determined, comprised of the difference between the drilling fluid column pressure and pore pressure. Formation permeability is then directly determined in real time during the drilling operation from a functional relationship between the filtrate flow rate, pressure differential, and viscosity of the drilling fluid.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.