Nano-level evaluation of kerogen-rich reservoir rock
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsKatherine Leigh Hull, Younane N. Abousleiman
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Abstract
Nano-level evaluation of kerogen-rich reservoir rock is described. A nano-scale beam is formed from kerogen-rich reservoir rock. The nano-scale beam includes reservoir rock and kerogen having polymeric properties. A maximum dimension of the nano-scale beam is at least 100 nanometer (nm) and at most 1000 nm. A tension test is performed on the nano-scale beam. The tension test is imaged using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). A material parameter of the kerogen in the nano-scale beam is determined based on results of the tension test and images obtained responsive to the imaging.
Claims12
A method comprising:
- forming a nano-scale beam from kerogen-rich reservoir rock, the nano-scale beam comprising reservoir rock and kerogen having polymeric properties, wherein a maximum dimension of the nano-scale beam is at least 100 nanometer (nm) and at most 1000 nm;
- performing a tension test on the nano-scale beam;
- imaging the tension test using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), wherein the tension test is a cantilever test;
- determining a material parameter of the kerogen in the nano-scale beam based on results of the tension test and images obtained responsive to the imaging;
- and
- applying heat to the nano-scale beam while performing the cantilever test.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.