# US 9,038,715 B2 · Use of PNC tools to determine the depth and relative location of proppant in fractures and the near borehole region > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,715 B2 - Document ID: US9038715B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/461,498 - Filed: 2012-05-01 - Published: 2013-11-07 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-01 - Assignees: Carbo Ceramics Inc. - Applicants: Harry D. Smith, Jr.; Xiaogang Han; Robert Duenckel - Inventors: Harry D. Smith, Jr.; Xiaogang Han; Robert Duenckel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038715B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/04: Gravelling of wells - E21B 43/267: reinforcing fractures by propping - E21B 47/11: using tracers; using radioactivity - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract Methods are provided for identifying the location and height of induced subterranean formation fractures and the presence of any associated frac-pack or gravel pack material in the vicinity of the borehole using pulsed neutron capture (PNC) logging tools. The proppant/sand used in the fracturing and packing processes is tagged with a thermal neutron absorbing material. When proppant is present, increases in detected PNC formation and/or borehole component cross-sections, combined with decreases in measured count rates, are used to determine the location of the formation fractures and the presence and percent fill of pack material in the borehole region. Changes in measured formation cross-sections relative to changes in other PNC parameters provide a relative indication of the proppant in fractures compared to that in the borehole region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for determining the location and height of frac-pack particles placed inside a casing of a cased borehole and in fracture(s) in a subterranean formation as a result of a frac-pack procedure, comprising: utilizing a frac-pack slurry comprising a liquid and frac-pack particles to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation to generate a fracture and to place the particles into the fracture and also into a frac-pack zone portion of the cased borehole in the vicinity of the fracture, wherein all or a fraction of such frac-pack particles includes a thermal neutron absorbing material; obtaining a post-frac-pack data set by: (i) lowering into the borehole traversing the subterranean formation a pulsed neutron capture logging tool comprising a pulsed neutron source and a detector, (ii) emitting pulses of neutrons from the last-mentioned neutron source into the borehole and the subterranean formation, (iii) detecting in the borehole thermal neutrons or capture gamma rays resulting from nuclear reactions in the borehole and the subterranean formation, and (iv) measuring a capture cross-section of a borehole component and a time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay, wherein the time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay is measured within a time gate interval more than 400 μsec after the end of the neutron pulse; utilizing the post-frac-pack data set to determine the location of the frac-pack particles inside the casing; and correlating the location of the frac-pack particles to a depth measurement of the borehole to determine at least one selected from the group consisting of the location, axial distribution, radial distribution, and height of frac-pack particles placed inside the casing in the vicinity of the fracture and to assist in determining the location and height of the fracture(s) in the formation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the frac-pack particles are selected from the group consisting of ceramic proppant, sand, resin coated sand, plastic beads, glass beads, and resin coated proppants. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the frac-pack slurry containing the thermal neutron absorbing material has a thermal neutron capture cross-section exceeding that of the subterranean formation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the frac-pack slurry containing the thermal neutron absorbing material has a thermal neutron capture cross-section of at least about 90 capture units. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the thermal neutron absorbing material comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of boron, cadmium, gadolinium, iridium, samarium, and mixtures thereof, wherein the thermal neutron absorbing material comprising gadolinium is selected from the group consisting of gadolinium oxide, gadolinium acetate, high gadolinium concentrated glass, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the thermal neutron absorbing material is Gd2O3. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the thermal neutron absorbing material is present in an amount from about 0.025% to about 4.0% by weight of the frac-pack particles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the frac-pack particles are granular, with substantially every grain having the thermal neutron absorbing material integrally incorporated therein or coated thereon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the frac-pack particles have a coating thereon, and the thermal neutron absorbing material is disposed in the coating. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the frac-pack particles inside the casing are placed in the annular space between an interior wall of the casing and an outer wall of an interior liner or screen inside the casing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the frac-pack particles have a coating thereon, and the thermal neutron absorbing material is disposed in the coating. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the coating is a resin coating. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: obtaining a pre-frac-pack data set resulting from: (i) lowering into the borehole traversing the subterranean formation a pulsed neutron capture logging tool comprising a neutron source and a detector, (ii) emitting pulses of neutrons from the neutron source into the borehole and the subterranean formation, (iii) detecting in the borehole thermal neutrons or capture gamma rays resulting from nuclear reactions in the borehole and the subterranean formation, and (iv) measuring a capture cross-section of the borehole component and a time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay, wherein the time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay is measured within a time gate interval more than 400 μsec after the end of the neutron pulse; comparing the post-frac-pack data set and the pre-frac-pack data set; and observing from the post-frac-pack data set a decrease in the time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay and/or an increase in the capture cross-section of the borehole component compared to that of the pre-frac-pack data set as an indicator of the presence of the frac-pack particles inside the casing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the pre-frac-pack and post-frac-pack data sets further comprise, measuring at least one of a capture cross-section of a formation component and an early time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay, wherein the early time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay is measured during a nearly gate interval between an end of a neutron pulse to about 400 μsec after the end of the neutron pulse; and further comprising: using differences in relative radial sensitivities of each of the capture cross-section of the borehole component, the capture cross-section of the formation component, the time gated count rate, and the early time gated count rate to improve an estimate of the location of the frac-pack particles inside the casing and/or to distinguish the frac-pack particles inside the casing from any frac-pack particles outside the casing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the pre-frac-pack and post-frac-pack data sets each comprise measuring the early time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay; and further comprising: using differences in radial sensitivities of the early time gated count rates relative to the time gated count rates to improve an estimate location of the frac-pack particles inside the casing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein said distinguishing the frac-pack particles inside the casing from those outside the casing utilizes (1) the sensitivity of the capture cross-section of the formation to frac-pack particles placed in the formation and its relative insensitivity to frac-pack particles placed inside the casing, (2) the sensitivity of the detected time gated count rates from borehole decay formation decay to frac-pack particles in both the formation and inside the casing, and (3) the relative insensitivity of the capture cross-section of the borehole to frac-pack particles placed in the formation, including fractures in the formation, relative to frac-pack particles placed inside the casing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the distinguishing the frac-pack articles inside the casing from those outside the casing additionally includes a calibration procedure to indicate the quality and/or percent fill of the frac-pack particles placed inside the casing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the frac-pack particles inside the casing are placed in the annular space between an interior wall of the casing and an outer wall of an interior liner or screen inside the casing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the calibration procedure comprises modeling a percent fill of frac-pack particles inside the cased borehole based on a simulation utilizing field conditions of the borehole, the formation and the casing to provide a frac-pack model yielding magnitudes of anticipated changes in at least one of the capture cross-section of the borehole component and the time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay as a function of the modeled percent fill of the modeled frac-pack particles hydraulically aced into a region inside the cased borehole. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein thee count rates measured in the post-frac-pack data set decrease in the time gate interval and increase in the early time gate interval compared to the count rates measured in the pre-frac-pack data set. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein, in at least one of the obtaining steps, the detector comprises a thermal neutron detector and/or a gamma ray detector. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the gamma ray detector comprises a gamma ray spectroscopy detector, the gamma ray spectroscopy detector configured to process capture gamma rays emitted from inside the casing and from the formation. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the time gated count rate and the early time gated count rate are replaced by a single time gated count rate encompassing both the borehole decay and the formation decay measured between adjacent neutron pulses. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising normalizing the pre-frac-pack and post-frac-pack data sets prior to comparing the pre-frac-pack data set and the post-frac-pack data set. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 wherein the normalizing step includes the step of obtaining pre-frac-pack data and post-frac-pack data in an interval outside of the frac-pack zone. ### Claim 26 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the same or an identical pulsed neutron capture logging tool is used in each of the obtaining steps. ### Claim 27 A method for determining the location and height of gravel-pack particles placed in a gravel-pack zone inside a casing of a cased borehole within a subterranean formation as a result of a gravel-pack procedure, comprising: utilizing a gravel-pack slurry comprising a liquid and gravel-pack particles to hydraulically place the particles into a region of the cased borehole, wherein all or a fraction of such gravel-pack particles includes a thermal neutron absorbing material; obtaining a post-gravel-pack data set by: (i) lowering into the borehole traversing a subterranean formation a pulsed neutron capture logging tool comprising a pulsed neutron source and a detector, (ii) emitting pulses of neutrons from the last-mentioned neutron source into the borehole and the subterranean formation, (iii) detecting in the borehole thermal neutrons or capture gamma rays resulting from nuclear reactions in the borehole and the subterranean formation, and (iv) measuring a capture cross-section of a borehole component and a time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay, wherein the time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay is measured within a time gate interval more than 400 μsec after the end of the neutron pulse; utilizing the post-gravel-pack data set to determine the location of the gravel-pack particles; and correlating the location of the gravel-pack particles to a depth measurement of the borehole to determine the location, height, and/or percent fill of gravel-pack particles placed in the gravel-pack zone inside the casing. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the gravel-pack particles are selected from the group consisting of ceramic proppant, sand, resin coated sand, plastic beads, glass beads, and resin coated proppants. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the gravel-pack slurry containing the thermal neutron absorbing material has a thermal neutron capture cross-section exceeding that of the subterranean formation. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the gravel-pack slurry containing the thermal neutron absorbing material has a thermal neutron capture cross-section of at least about 90 capture units. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the thermal neutron absorbing material comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of cadmium, gadolinium, iridium, samarium, and mixtures thereof, wherein the thermal neutron absorbing material comprising gadolinium is selected from the group consisting of gadolinium oxide, gadolinium acetate, high gadolinium concentrated glass, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the thermal neutron absorbing material is present in an amount from about 0.025% to about 4.0% by weight of the gravel-pack particles. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the gravel pack particles are granular, with substantially every particle grain having the thermal neutron absorbing material integrally incorporated therein or coated thereon. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33 wherein the thermal neutron absorbing material is Gd2O3. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33 wherein the gravel pack particles have a coating thereon, and the thermal neutron absorbing material is disposed in the coating. ### Claim 36 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the gravel-pack particles have a coating thereon, and the thermal neutron absorbing material is disposed in the coating. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The method of claim 36 wherein the coating is a resin coating. ### Claim 38 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein said correlating step additionally includes a calibration procedure to determine the quality and/or percent fill of the gravel-pack particles placed in the gravel-pack zone inside the casing. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38 wherein the calibration procedure comprises modeling a percent fill of gravel-pack particles inside the cased borehole based on a simulation utilizing field conditions of the borehole, the formation, and the casing to provide a gravel-pack model yielding magnitudes of anticipated changes in at least one of the capture cross-section of the borehole component and the time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay as a function of the modeled percent fill of the modeled gravel-pack particles hydraulically placed into a region inside the cased borehole. ### Claim 40 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein, in at least one of the obtaining steps, the detector comprises a thermal neutron detector and/or a gamma ray detector. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40 wherein the gamma ray detector comprises a gamma ray spectroscopy detector, the gamma ray spectroscopy detector configured to process capture gamma rays emitted from the borehole region and the formation. ### Claim 42 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 further comprising: obtaining a pre-gravel-pack data set resulting from (i) lowering into the borehole traversing the subterranean formation a pulsed neutron capture logging tool comprising a neutron source and a detector, (ii) emitting pulses of neutrons from the neutron source into the borehole and the subterranean formation, (iii) detecting in the borehole thermal neutrons or capture gamma rays resulting from nuclear reactions in the borehole and the subterranean formation, and (iv) measuring a capture cross-section of the borehole component and a time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay, wherein the time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay is measured within a time gate interval more than 400 μsec after the end of the neutron pulse; comparing the post-gravel-pack data set from the pre-gravel-pack data set; and observing from the post-gravel-pack data set a decrease in the time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay and/or an increase in the capture cross-section of the borehole component compared to that of the pre-gravel-pack data set as an indicator of the presence of the gravel-pack particles inside the casing. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42 further comprising normalizing the pre-gravel-pack and post-gravel-pack data sets prior to comparing the pre-gravel-pack data set and the post-gravel-pack data set. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43 wherein the normalizing step includes the step of obtaining pre-gravel-pack data and the post-gravel-pack data in an interval outside of the gravel-pack zone. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42 wherein the pre-frac-pack and post-frac-pack data sets further comprise measuring at least one of a capture cross-section of a formation component and an early time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay, wherein the early time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay is measured during an early time gate interval between an end of a neutron pulse to about 400 μsec after the end of the neutron pulse; and further comprising; using differences in relative radial sensitivities of each of the capture cross-section of the borehole component, the capture cross-section of the formation component the time gated count rate, and the early time gated count rate to improve an estimate of the location of the gravel-pack particles inside the casing and/or to distinguish the gravel-pack particles inside the casing from any gravel-pack particles outside the casing. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45 wherein improving the estimate location of the gravel-pack particles utilizes (1) the sensitivity of the capture cross-section of the formation to any gravel-pack particles placed outside the casing and its relative insensitivity to gravel-pack particles placed inside the casing, (2) the sensitivity of the detected time gated count rates from borehole decay and formation decay to gravel-pack particles inside the casing and outside the casing and (3) the sensitivity of the capture cross-section of the borehole to gravel-pack particles placed inside the casing and its relative insensitivity to any gravel-pack particles placed outside the casing. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45 wherein the pre-gravel-pack and post-gravel-pack data sets each comprise measuring the early time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay; and further comprising: using differences in radial sensitivities of the early time gated count rates relative to the time gated count rates to improve an estimate location of the gravel-pack particles inside the casing. ### Claim 48 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45 wherein the count rates measured in the post-gravel-pack data set decrease in the time gate interval and increase in the early time gate interval compared to the count rates measured in the pre-gravel-pack data set. ### Claim 49 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45 wherein the time gated count rate and the early time gated count rate are replaced by a single time gated count rate encompassing both the borehole decay and the formation decay measured between adjacent neutron pulses. ### Claim 50 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the gravel-pack-particles in the gravel-pack zone are placed in the annular space between an interior wall of the casing and an outer wall of an interior liner or screen inside the casing. ### Claim 51 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein said correlating step additionally includes a calibration procedure to determine the quality and/or percent fill of the gravel-pack particles placed in the gravel-pack zone. ### Claim 52 A method for determining the quality and consistency of a gravel-pack placed inside a casing of a cased borehole within a subterranean formation as a result of a gravel-pack procedure, comprising: modeling a percent fill of gravel pack particles in the cased borehole based on a simulation utilizing conditions of the borehole and the casing to provide a gravel-pack model; utilizing a gravel-pack slurry comprising a liquid and gravel-pack particles to hydraulically place the particles into a region of the cased borehole, wherein all or a fraction of such gravel-pack particles includes a thermal neutron absorbing material; obtaining a post-gravel-pack data set by: (i) lowering into the borehole traversing a subterranean formation a pulsed neutron capture logging tool comprising a pulsed neutron source and a detector, (ii) emitting pulses of neutrons from the last-mentioned neutron source into the borehole and the subterranean formation, and (iii) detecting in the borehole thermal neutrons or capture gamma rays resulting from nuclear reactions in the borehole and the subterranean formation, utilizing the post-gravel-pack data set to determine the location of the gravel-pack particles; correlating the location of the gravel-pack particles to a depth measurement of the borehole to provide a gravel-pack measurement; and comparing the gravel-pack measurement with the gravel-pack model to determine the quality and/or percent fill of the gravel-pack particles placed inside the casing. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The method of claim 52 wherein the obtaining the post-gravel-pack data set further comprises measuring a capture cross-section of a borehole component and a time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay, wherein the time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay is measured within a time gate interval more than 400 μsec after the end of the neutron pulse. ### Claim 54 (depends on 52) The method of claim 52 wherein the simulation utilizes field conditions of the borehole, the formation, and the casing to provide a gravel-pack model yielding magnitudes of anticipated changes in at least one of the capture cross-section of the borehole component and the time gated count rate from borehole and formation decay as a function of the modeled percent fill of the modeled gravel-pack particles hydraulically placed into a region inside the cased borehole. ### Claim 55 A method for determining the location and height of frac-pack particles placed inside a casing of a cased borehole and in fracture(s) in a subterranean formation as a result of a frac-pack procedure, comprising: utilizing a frac-pack slurry, comprising a liquid and frac-pack particles to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation to generate a fracture and to place the particles into the fracture and also into a frac-pack zone portion of the cased borehole in the vicinity of the fracture, wherein all or a fraction of such frac-pack particles includes a thermal neutron absorbing material; obtaining a post-frac-pack data set by: (i) lowering into the borehole traversing the subterranean formation a pulsed neutron capture logging tool comprising a pulsed neutron source and a detector, (ii) emitting pulses of neutrons from the last-mentioned neutron source into the borehole and the subterranean formation, (iii) detecting in the borehole thermal neutrons or capture gamma rays resulting from nuclear reactions in the borehole and the subterranean formation utilizing the post-frac-pack data set to determine the location of the frac-pack particles inside the casing; and correlating the location of the frac-pack particles to a depth measurement of the borehole to determine at least one selected from the group consisting of the location, axial distribution, radial distribution, and height of frac-pack particles placed inside the casing borehole region in the vicinity of the fracture and to assist in determining the location and height of fracture(s) in the formation. ### Claim 56 A method for determining the location and height of gravel-pack particles placed in a gravel-pack zone inside a casing of a cased borehole within a subterranean formation as a result of a gravel-pack procedure, comprising: utilizing a gravel-pack slurry comprising a liquid and gravel-pack particles to hydraulically place the particles into a region of the cased borehole, wherein all or a fraction of such gravel-pack particles includes a thermal neutron absorbing material; obtaining a post-gravel-pack data set by: (i) lowering into the borehole traversing a subterranean formation a pulsed neutron capture logging tool comprising a pulsed neutron source and a detector, (ii) emitting pulses of neutrons from the last-mentioned neutron source into the borehole and the subterranean formation, (iii) detecting m the borehole thermal neutrons or capture gamma rays resulting from nuclear reactions in the borehole and the subterranean formation, utilizing the post-gravel-pack data set to determine the location of the gravel-pack particles; and correlating the location of the gravel-pack particles to a depth measurement of the borehole to determine the location, height, and/or percent fill of gravel-pack particles placed in the gravel-pack zone inside the casing.