US 8,078,404 B2 · Tracing injected fluids

Abstract

Method for recognizing one or more properties of a geological formation by the injection of a fluid into at least one borehole within the formation. The injection fluid either has a different resistivity to the formation and/or formation fluids or has the capacity to change the resistivity of the formation and/or formation fluids. Resistivity mapping is undertaken to determine the distribution of the injected fluid and to therefore understand the permeability structure and fluid distribution of the formation. In addition the injected fluid or mixture of injected and formation fluids can be ignited. By making consecutive resistivity mapping of the formation at selected time intervals during injection, the flow path of injected fluid can be determined by using the collected time lapse resistivity data.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for monitoring one or more properties of a hydrocarbon reservoir with at least one borehole, the method comprises the steps of:

injecting into the hydrocarbon reservoir via the at least one borehole a tracer fluid which has resistivity different from resistivity of formation and formation fluid(s) of the hydrocarbon reservoir or which is able to change the resistivity of the formation or formation fluid(s);
measuring remotely in ocean, air or on land over the hydrocarbon reservoir an altered resistivity of the hydrocarbon reservoir caused by the injected tracer fluid using at least one measurement device that is located outside of the at least one borehole;
and
interpreting the measurements to identify property changes in the hydrocarbon reservoir as a function of time.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tracing injected fluids

Life of this patent

Tracing injected fluids

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20