Analyzing Fluid Release Properties of a Subterranean Area of the Earth
OwnerJoseph M. Evenseninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for estimating a fluid volume in a subterranean area of the earth. The method includes performing a preliminary analysis on a first geological sample and placing the first geological sample inside a chamber. The method may then include monitoring pressure change over time data inside the chamber and crushing the first geological sample. After crushing the first geological sample, the method may estimate the fluid volume based on the pressure change over time data and the preliminary analysis.
Claims67
A method for estimating a fluid volume in a subterranean area of the earth, comprising:
- (a) performing a preliminary analysis on a first geological sample;
- (b) placing the first geological sample inside a chamber;
- (c) monitoring pressure change over time data inside the chamber;
- (d) crushing the first geological sample;
- and
- (e) estimating the fluid volume based on the pressure change over time data and the preliminary analysis.
A method for determining an optimum drawdown pressure for extracting a fluid from a subterranean area of the earth, comprising:
- (a) performing a preliminary analysis on a first geological sample;
- (b) placing the first geological sample inside a chamber;
- (c) initializing a pressure inside the chamber to a first predetermined pressure value;
- (d) monitoring a first pressure change over time data inside the chamber;
- (e) crushing the first geological sample;
- (f) repeating steps (a)-(e) using a second geological sample initialized at a second predetermined pressure value to obtain a second pressure change over time data;
- (g) determining the optimum drawdown pressure based on the first and second pressure change over time data and the preliminary analysis.
A method for determining an optimum drawdown pressure for extracting a fluid volume from a subterranean area of the earth, comprising:
- (a) performing a preliminary analysis on a geological sample;
- (b) placing the geological sample inside a chamber;
- (c) initializing a pressure inside the chamber to a first predetermined pressure value;
- (d) monitoring a pressure change over time data inside the chamber;
- (e) simultaneously crushing the geological sample and modifying the pressure in the chamber a plurality of times;
- and
- (f) determining the optimum drawdown pressure based on the pressure change over time data and the preliminary analysis.
A method for determining an optimum drawdown pressure for extracting a fluid volume from a drilled zone in a subterranean area of the earth, comprising:
- (a) performing a preliminary analysis on a first plurality of geological samples that were acquired from a plurality of depths in the drilled zone;
- (b) placing the plurality of geological samples inside a chamber;
- (c) initializing a pressure inside the chamber to a first predetermined pressure value;
- (d) monitoring pressure change over time data inside the chamber;
- (e) crushing the plurality of geological samples;
- and
- (f) repeating steps (a)-(e) for a second plurality of geological samples acquired from the plurality of depths at a second predetermined pressure value;
- (g) determining the optimum drawdown pressure based on each pressure change over time data for the first predetermined pressure value and the second predetermined pressure value, and the preliminary analysis.
A method for determining an optimum drawdown pressure for extracting a fluid volume from a drilled zone in a subterranean area of the earth, comprising:
- (a) performing a preliminary analysis on a plurality of geological samples that were acquired from a plurality of depths in the drilled zone;
- (b) placing the plurality of geological samples inside a chamber;
- (c) monitoring pressure change over time data inside the chamber;
- (d) simultaneously crushing the plurality of geological samples and modifying the pressure inside the chamber a plurality of times;
- and
- (e) determining the optimum drawdown pressure based on the pressure change over time data and the preliminary analysis.
A method for determining a fluid type of a geological sample from a subterranean area of the earth, comprising:
- (a) placing the geological sample inside a chamber;
- (b) monitoring pressure change over time data inside the chamber;
- (c) crushing the geological sample;
- and
- (d) determining the fluid type of the geological sample based on the pressure change over time data.
A method for determining an optimum surface area for fluid yield in a subterranean area of the earth, comprising:
- (a) performing a preliminary analysis on a geological sample from the subterranean area;
- (b) placing the geological sample inside a chamber;
- (c) initializing a pressure inside the chamber to a predetermined pressure value;
- (d) monitoring pressure change over time data inside the chamber;
- (e) crushing the geological sample inside the chamber;
- and
- (f) determining an optimum surface area for fluid yield based on the pressure change over time data and the preliminary analysis.
A method for determining an optimum surface area for fluid yield in a subterranean area of the earth, comprising:
- (a) performing a preliminary analysis on a geological sample from the subterranean area;
- (b) placing the geological samples inside a chamber;
- (c) initializing a pressure inside the chamber to a predetermined pressure value;
- (d) monitoring pressure change over time data inside the chamber;
- (e) modifying the pressure inside the chamber at a constant or variable rate;
- (f) crushing the geological sample inside the chamber;
- and
- (g) determining an optimum surface area for fluid yield based on the pressure change over time data and the preliminary analysis.
A method for identifying potential fluid yield areas in a subterranean area of the earth, comprising:
- (a) receiving a plurality of fluids-in-place measurements for a plurality of depths in a first well;
- (b) generating a subterranean mapping of optimum fluid yield areas in the first well based on the plurality of fluids-in-place measurements;
- (c) repeating steps (a)-(b) for a plurality of depths in a second well to generate a subterranean mapping of optimum fluid yield areas in the second well;
- and
- (d) identifying the potential fluid yield areas based on the subterranean mapping of optimum fluid yield areas in the first well and in the second well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.