Method for detecting hydrocarbons in geological strata
US7520166B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2004 |
| Grant date | Apr 21, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 19, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V9/007
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method analyzes the hydrocarbon composition of geological strata. The method includes an analysis of gaseous hydrocarbon concentrations contained in drilling muds. According to the method, for a given depth range, gaseous hydrocarbon concentration ratios are established in pairs at essentially-identical depths. Subsequently, a sub-set of the ratios is selected in order to form a signature that is representative of the gaseous hydrocarbon composition of the depth range. The aforementioned signature is defined by the at least one straight line representing the concentration of a first gaseous hydrocarbon in relation to the concentration of a second hydrocarbon. The signature is then compared to reference signatures in order to determine the hydrocarbon concentration of the geological stratum corresponding to the depth range.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.