Log-inject-log in sand consolidation
AssigneeStandard Oil Company (Indiana)
InventorsRobert P. Murphy, James W. Spurlock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is described for gathering information for the determination of the adequacy of placement of sand consolidating plastic for sand control in oil and gas wells. The method uses a high neutron cross-section tracer which becomes part of the plastic and uses pulsed neutron logging before and after injection of the plastic. Preferably, the method uses lithium, boron, indium, and/or cadmium tracers. Boron oxide is especially useful and can be dissolved in alcohol and mixed with the plastic ingredients.
Claims6
A method for detecting the effect of a sand consolidation operation in a hydrocarbon formation penetrated by a well such that additional plastic injections can be used if required, said method comprising:
- a. logging an earth formation with a pulsed neutron log;
- b. injecting a plastic material together with a tracer having a thermal neutron cross section substantially higher than that of the earth formation;
- c. at least partially setting the plastic with the tracer therein;
- and
- d. repeating the pulsed neutron log, whereby the logs can be compared to determine if additional plastic injection is required.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.