Method for oil sand exploration and development
US7874358B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V7/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention provides a method of locating, in terrain containing oil sand deposits and also containing shale, clean oil sands deposits (i.e. those not containing significant shale) which are large enough for economic exploitation. The method includes flying a high sensitivity gravity gradiometer over the terrain and measuring at least one component, preferably the vertical component, of the local gravity gradient field at a number of points in a grid pattern on the terrain. The densities of sand and shale are normally approximately the same, making it difficult to distinguish them. However in an oil sands environment, there can be a sufficient difference in bulk density such that by using a very sensitive gravity gradiometer, or by otherwise reducing the noise signal using appropriate surveying methods, large clean oil sand deposits can be distinguished from other oil sand deposits not large enough for economic exploitation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.