Encapsulated radioactive tracer
AssigneeProtechnics International, Inc.
InventorsDouglas W. Elliott, David L. Holcomb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Radioactive particles are provided for use in tracing the flow path in or near a well of fluids injected into the well. The particles include an element which can be made radioactive by bombardment with neutrons and a material to encapsulate the element. The encapsulant is preferably an organic polymer having a high softening temperature. The particles may be injected into a well in treating fluids and their location may be later determined by gamma ray logging of the well.
Claims18
A composite particle for tracing the flow path of a fluid injected into a well consisting of:
- a solid particle including a target element, the target element being made radioactive so as to emit gamma rays when bombarded with neutrons, and an organic polymer.
A radioactive particle consisting of an organic polymer and a solid particle including a target element, the target element having been made radioactive by bombardment with neutrons so as to emit gamma rays.
A method for determining the flow path of a treating fluid pumped into a well drilled through a subterranean formation, comprising:
- a) providing a solid particle including a target element or compound of the target element which when bombarded with neutrons forms a gamma ray-emitting isotope;
- b) providing an organic polymer;
- c) encapsulating the solid particle including the target element in the organic polymer to form composite particles;
- d) irradiating the composite particles with neutrons to form radioactive particles,
- e) adding the radioactive particles to a fluid before the fluid is injected into a well at a concentration effective to allow subsequent detection;
- f) injecting the fluid and the radioactive particles into a well;
- and
- g) logging the well with an instrument capable of detecting the radioactive particles to determine the location at which the fluid flowed out of the well or is present in the vicinity of the well.
A method for determining the flow path of a treating fluid pumped into a well drilled through a subterranean formation, comprising:
- a) providing solid particles including an element or compound of an element which when bombarded with neutrons forms a gamma ray-emitting isotope;
- b) providing an organic polymer;
- c) encapsulating the solid particles including the element in the organic polymer to form composite particles;
- d) adding the composite particles to a fluid before the fluid is injected into a well at a concentration effective to allow subsequent detection;
- e) injecting the fluid and the composite particles into a well;
- f) irradiating the composite particles with neutrons to form radioactive particles;
- and
- g) logging the well with an instrument capable of detecting the radioactive particles to determine the location at which the fluid flowed out of the well or is present in the vicinity of the well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.