Methods and compositions for determination of fracture geometry in subterranean formations
AssigneeHexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsRobert R. McDaniel, Scott M. McCarthy, Michael Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing in a formation fracture, a proppant and/or a fracturing fluid that comprises a radiation susceptible material that comprises indium and/or vanadium; irradiating the radiation susceptible material with neutrons; measuring gamma-radiation emitted from the radiation susceptible material in a single pass; wherein the single pass does not involve measuring of background radiation from previous or subsequent logging passes; and determining formation fracture height from the measured gamma-radiation.
Claims14
A method comprising:
- a) disposing in a formation fracture a proppant or a fracturing fluid that comprises a radiation susceptible material, wherein the radiation susceptible material comprises a vanadium carbon nitride powder having a particle size of about 1-15 microns, and is non-radioactive until bombarded by neutrons, and during a single logging pass:
- b) irradiating the radiation susceptible material with neutrons after it is disposed in the formation fracture;
- c) measuring gamma-radiation emitted from the radiation susceptible material to obtain a peak radiation emanating from the radiation susceptible material;
- d) measuring a background radiation during the single logging pass, then subtracting the background radiation from the peak energy radiation;
- and
- e) determining formation fracture height from a difference between the background radiation and the peak energy radiation.
A method comprising:
- a) disposing in a formation fracture a proppant having a coating that comprises a radiation susceptible material, wherein the radiation susceptible material comprises a vanadium carbon nitride powder having a particle size of about 1-15 microns, and is non-radioactive until bombarded by neutrons, and during a single logging pass:
- b) irradiating the radiation susceptible material with neutrons after it is disposed in the formation fracture;
- c) measuring gamma-radiation emitted from the radiation susceptible material to obtain a peak radiation emanating from the radiation susceptible material;
- d) measuring a background radiation during the single logging pass, then subtracting the background radiation from the peak energy radiation;
- and
- e) determining formation fracture height from a difference between the background radiation and the peak energy radiation.
A method comprising:
- a) disposing in a formation fracture a proppant having a coating that comprises a radiation susceptible material having a half-life of up to about 30 minutes, wherein the radiation susceptible material comprises a vanadium carbon nitride powder having a particle size of about 1-15 microns, present in an amount of about 0.01 to 5 wt. % as vanadium metal, based on the total weight of the proppant, and is non-radioactive until bombarded by neutrons, and during a single logging pass:
- b) irradiating the radiation susceptible material with neutrons after it is disposed in the formation fracture;
- c) measuring gamma-radiation emitted from the radiation susceptible material to obtain a peak radiation emanating from the radiation susceptible material;
- d) measuring a background radiation during the single logging pass, then subtracting the background radiation from the peak energy radiation;
- and
- e) determining formation fracture height from a difference between the background radiation and the peak energy radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.