Real time oil reservoir evaluation using nanotechnology

US7875455B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) · US

Inventors

• Jing Li · Houston, US
• Meyya Meyyappan · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 12, 2006
• Grant date: Jan 25, 2011
• Expiry date: Aug 28, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S977/957
• WIPO field: Civil engineering
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A method and system for evaluating status and response of a mineral-producing field (e.g., oil and/or gas) by monitoring selected chemical and physical properties in or adjacent to a wellsite headspace. Nanotechnology sensors and other sensors are provided for one or more underground (fluid) mineral-producing wellsites to determine presence/absence of each of two or more target molecules in the fluid, relative humidity, temperature and/or fluid pressure adjacent to the wellsite and flow direction and flow velocity for the fluid. A nanosensor measures an electrical parameter value and estimates a corresponding environmental parameter value, such as water content or hydrocarbon content. The system is small enough to be located down-hole in each mineral-producing horizon for the wellsite.