Methods of identifying high neutron capture cross section doped proppant in induced subterranean formation fractures
US8234072B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 22, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jul 31, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 24, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V5/107
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods for determining the locations/heights of fractures in a subterranean formation use a post-fracture log obtained with a compensated neutron or pulsed neutron logging tool. Utilizing predetermined relationships between tool count rates and associated near/far count rate ratios, the methods detect the presence of proppant containing high thermal neutron capture cross-section material, substantially eliminating proppant determination uncertainty resulting from changes in formation hydrogen index. In an interval of a well with given borehole and formation conditions, and not containing proppant, a relationship is developed between detector count rate and near/far ratio. This relationship is used to compute count rate from the ratio in intervals of the well possibly containing proppant and which have similar formation and borehole conditions. The count rate computed from the ratio is compared with the observed detector count rate, with proppant indicated from suppression in observed count rate relative to count rate computed from the ratio.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.