Measuring source rock potential using terahertz analysis
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorSebastian Csutak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure describes methods and systems for determining source rock potential in a subterranean region of a hydrocarbon reservoir. One method includes: receiving, a terahertz (THz) scanning image from an in-situ THz scanner that is attached to a wellbore at a first subterranean location, wherein the wellbore extends into the subterranean region of the hydrocarbon reservoir; identifying, components of a source rock in the first subterranean location based on the THz scanning image; and determining, the source rock potential at the first subterranean location based on the identified components of the source rock.
Claims21
A method for determining source rock potential in a subterranean region of a hydrocarbon reservoir, comprising:
- receiving, a terahertz (THz) scanning image from an in-situ THz scanner that is attached to a wellbore at a first subterranean location, wherein the wellbore extends into the subterranean region of the hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein THz scanning image is generated by irradiating THz waves at a rock formation in the first subterranean location and receiving THz waves that are reflected from the rock formation;
- identifying, components of a source rock in the first subterranean location based on the THz scanning image, wherein the identifying the components of a source rock in the rock formation comprises:
- determining a time domain response of the components based on the THz scanning image;
- comparing the time domain response to time domain signatures of a plurality of known components;
- and
- identifying the components based on the comparing;
- and
- determining, the source rock potential at the first subterranean location based on the identified components of the source rock.
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An in-situ terahertz (THz) scanner, comprising:
- a THz transmitter configured to irradiate THz waves to a rock formation in a first subterranean location of a hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein the THz transmitter is enclosed in a first pad constructed using non-conductive dielectric material;
- a THz receiver configured to generate THz scanning images based on the THz waves that are reflected from the rock formation, wherein the THz receiver is enclosed in a second pad constructed using non-conductive dielectric material;
- a scratcher configured to scratch a surface of the rock formation;
- and
- a communication interface configured to transmit the THz scanning image to a surface of the hydrocarbon reservoir.
A method for scanning a rock formation in a subterranean region of a hydrocarbon reservoir, comprising:
- scratching, by a scratcher of an in-situ terahertz (THz) scanner, a surface of the rock formation at a first subterranean location, wherein the in-situ THz scanner comprises a THz transmitter and a THz receiver, the THz transmitter and the THz receiver are attached to a wellbore, the wellbore extends into the subterranean region of the hydrocarbon reservoir, the THz transmitter is enclosed in a first pad constructed using non-conductive dielectric material, and the THz receiver is enclosed in a second pad constructed using non-conductive dielectric material;
- irradiating, by the THz scanner, THz waves to the rock formation;
- generating a THz scanning image based on the THz waves that are reflected from the rock formation;
- and
- transmitting the THz scanning image to a surface of the hydrocarbon reservoir.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.