Spectral identification of proppant in subterranean fracture zones
US8648309B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 20, 2011 |
| Grant date | Feb 11, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V5/101
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Proppant placed in a subterranean fracture zone is detected with a spectral identification method in which capture gamma ray spectra are obtained during a logging run carried out with a logging tool having a neutron emitting source and at least one detector sensitive to thermal neutron capture gamma rays. Capture gamma rays from one or more high thermal neutron cross-section materials in the proppant are distinguished from capture gamma rays produced by thermal neutron capture reactions with other downhole formation and borehole constituents utilizing a spectral processing/deconvolution technique. The capture gammas rays from the high thermal neutron capture cross section material in the proppant are used to identify propped fracture zones either alone or in combination with other proppant identification methods which rely on measuring thermal neutron related count rates and/or thermal neutron capture cross-sections from neutron, compensated neutron, and/or pulsed neutron capture logging tools.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.