Use of minor borehole obstructions as seismic sources
US6456566B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 21, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 20, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V1/40
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An acoustic system and method for investigating and monitoring a hydrocarbon or other mineral reservoir. Wellbore tube wave energy may be created by natural or ambient sources or tube waves may be excited intentionally. Wellbore tube wave energy is converted to body wave energy at minor borehole obstructions or irregularities that become point sources of seismic energy. A well bore may contain a plurality of minor obstructions or discontinuities. Each obstruction or discontinuity position along the borehole has an associated unique waveform source coda that may be measured for processing the body waves radiated into the earth formation surrounding the well bore. A plurality of sensors detects the radiated seismic energy after the seismic energy has transited intervening earth formations. The system may be employed for permanent monitoring of mineral resources and resource management. Measurements of reservoir characteristics may be acquired at many different times over the productive life of a reservoir. A time-lapse profile may be created that is representative of the temporal and areal changes in the petrophysical characteristics and mineral content or distribution of the interve…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.