US 9,507,047 B1Granted

Method and system for integrating logging tool data and digital rock physics to estimate rock formation properties

AssigneeIngrain, Inc.

InventorsJack Dvorkin, Henrique Tono, Carl Sisk, David Malone

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for integrating logging tool data and digital rock physics to estimate rock formation properties. A rock sample from a logging tool such as a sidewall plug or large enough cutting can be extracted by the logging tool at approximately the same well bore location that the logging tool measures fluid properties. The rock samples thus obtained is scanned using a CT scanner, scanning electron microscope or other suitable scanning device. The resulting scanned rock image can be segmented and rock properties comprising porosity, absolute permeability, relative permeability, capillary pressure and other relevant rock properties are calculated. The resulting digital calculations are integrated with logging tool data and rock property estimates to improve the accuracy and timeliness of the logging tool data.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for making estimates of subterranean rock properties, comprising:

a) positioning a logging tool inside a well bore,
c) measuring in situ well properties in the well interval in the well using the logging tool,
d) estimating rock properties in the well for a location of the logging tool in the well interval using the measured in situ well properties,
e) retrieving at least one rock sample from the well interval in the well,
f) preparing said at least one rock sample for digital rock physics analysis,
g) scanning the at least one rock sample to produce a digital image of said rock sample,
h) segmenting said digital image of said rock sample to define pores and grains in said digital image,
i) adjusting said digital image to represent said rock properties at in-situ conditions using said well properties,
j) calculating rock properties from said adjusted digital image of said rock sample using said in situ fluid properties,
k) comparing said rock properties at the well interval where the logging tool was positioned and said rock properties from said digital image of said rock sample using said in situ fluid properties,
l) positioning a logging tool inside a well bore of a similar formation as that of the wellbore of step a),
m) repeating step c) for measuring in situ well properties using the logging tool used in step l),
n) estimating rock properties in the well for a location of the logging tool used in step l) in a well interval using the measured in situ well properties from step m), and
o) correcting the estimates of rock properties from step n) during the logging process using rock properties or rock property trends determined from said adjusted digital image in step j).

11 more elements

A method for estimating subterranean rock properties of a rock formation comprising:

a) positioning a logging tool at more than one location inside a well bore,
b) measuring in situ fluid properties in a well using a logging tool at said more than one location, wherein said in situ fluid properties comprise temperature, pressure, viscosity, chemical composition, fluid compressibility, or density, or any combinations thereof,
c) measuring in situ well properties at said more than one location,
d) estimating rock properties in the well at said more than one location,
e) retrieving rock samples from approximately each of said more than one locations,
f) preparing said rock samples for digital rock physics analysis,
g) scanning said rock samples to produce digital images of said rock samples,
h) subdividing said digital images into 8 or more digital sub-images,
i) segmenting said digital sub-images to define pores and grains in said digital sub-images,
j) adjusting said digital sub-images to represent said rock properties at in situ conditions using said well properties and calculating rock properties from said adjusted digital sub-images of said rock sample using said in situ fluid properties,
k) establishing rock physics relations comprising trends, transforms, models, or any combinations thereof,
l) expanding said rock physics relations beyond the range of parameters measured in said trends, transforms, models or any combinations thereof,
m) comparing said rock properties in the well approximately at the more than one location of the logging tool and said rock properties from said adjusted digital sub-images of said rock sample using said in situ fluid properties,
n) selecting one or more rock properties measured in the well or core sample,
o) reconstructing additional rock properties by applying said rock physics relations trends, transforms and models to said one or more rock properties measured in the well or core sample,
p) positioning a logging tool inside a well bore of a similar formation as that of the wellbore of step a),
q) repeating step c) for measuring in situ well properties using the logging tool used in step p),
r) estimating rock properties in the well for a location of the logging tool used in step p) in a well interval using the measured in situ well properties from step q), and
s) correcting the estimates of rock properties from step r) during the logging process using rock properties or rock property trends determined from said adjusted digital image in step j).

16 more elements

A system for making estimates of subterranean rock properties, comprising:

a) a logging tool positionable inside well boreholes of similar formation and operable for measuring in situ fluid properties and well properties in at least one well interval in a well, wherein said in situ fluid properties comprise temperature, pressure, viscosity, chemical composition, fluid compressibility, or density, or any combinations thereof,
b) at least one computer processor programmable for estimating rock properties in the well for a location of the logging tool in the well interval using the measured in situ well properties,
c) a sampling tool operable for retrieving at least one rock sample from a rock formation bounding the well borehole in the well interval, and
d) a (computer tomographic) CT or (scanning electron microscope) SEM scanner operable to produce digital images of at least one retrieved rock sample from the formation, and
e) at least one computer processor programmable for segmenting said digital images of said rock sample to define pores and grains in said digital image, adjusting said digital image to represent said rock properties at in-situ conditions using said well properties, calculating rock properties from said adjusted digital image of said rock sample using said in situ fluid properties, comparing said rock properties at the well interval where the logging tool being positionable and said rock properties from said adjusted digital image of said rock sample using said in situ fluid properties, and comparing additional rock properties at a well interval where a logging tool being positionable in a similar formation and said rock properties from said adjusted digital image of said rock sample using said in situ fluid properties for correcting the additional rock properties.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/465,105Filed 7 May 2012 · us provisional application
Priority: 10 May 2011
Granted: 29 Nov 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G01V 5/101
Using neutron sources: and detecting the secondary Y-rays produced in the surrounding layers of the bore hole
G01N 23/046
And forming images of the material: using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]
G01N 23/2251
Using electron or ion: using incident electron beams, e.g. scanning electron microscopy [SEM]
G01N 33/241
Earth materials: for hydrocarbon content