Patent · US Expired

Electromagnetic surveying for hydrocarbon reservoirs

US7307424B2 · kind B2 · utility

15Cited by
3References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 23, 2003
Grant dateDec 11, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 13, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01V3/083
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An electromagnetic survey method for surveying an area that potentially contains a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir. The method comprises detecting a detector signal in response to a source electromagnetic signal, resolving the detector signal along at least two orthogonal directions, and comparing phase measurements of the detector signal resolved along these directions to look for a phase separation anomaly indicative of the presence of a buried hydrocarbon layer. The invention also relates to planning a survey using this method, and to analysis of survey data taken using this survey method. The first and second data sets may be obtained concurrently with a single horizontal electric dipole source antenna. The method is also largely independent of a source-detector pair's relative orientation and so provides for good spatial coverage and easy-to-perform surveying.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.