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EP0190481A1
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Nuclear magnetic resonance method and apparatus for remote detection and volumetric measurement of petroleum reserves
Assignee: BANNING VAIL, WILLIAM, III
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Filing: 1985-02-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-02-08
Abstract
Abstract The nucleons chemically bound in water and oil present in formation are preferentially aligned in the earth's magnetic field causing natural nuclear paramagnetism within the formation. This paramagnetism causes a slight alteration in the strength of the earth's magnetic field in the vicinity of a borehole adjacent to the formation. Repeated application of an A.C. magnetic field at the Larmor frequency of the nucleons present yields an amplitude modulation of the earth's magnetic field. The magnitude of such modulation yields the total number of nucleons present and the phase contains information used to provide information regarding oil and water present in the formation.
Inventors
- 👤 William Banning Vail, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:41
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/24; G01V; G01V3/00; G01V3/18; G01V3/32; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A90/00; Y02A90/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/842; Y10S505/843; Y10S505/844
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
The apparatus for the remote detection and volumetric measurement of at least a portion of a petroleum, reservoir which comprises a means of sweeping a portion of a petroleum reservoir through a state of nuclear magnetic resonance in a duration of time which is less than the longitudinal relaxation times of fluids in formation thereby substantially disturbing the paramagnetism of that portion of the reservoir placed into the condition of nuclear magnetic resonance thereby causing a change in the earth's magnetic field in the vicinity of said portion of the reservoir and simultaneously measuring the resulting change in the earth's magnetic field in the vicinity of said portion of the petroleum reservoir to indicate the presence or absence of petroleum in formation and the quantity of oil present.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
The apparatus for the remote detection and volumetric measurement of at least a portion of a petroleum, reservoir which comprises a means of sweeping a portion of a petroleum reservoir through a state of nuclear magnetic resonance in a duration of time which is less than the longitudinal relaxation times of fluids in formation thereby substantially disturbing the paramagnetism of that portion of the reservoir placed into the condition of nuclear magnetic resonance thereby causing a change in the earth's magnetic field in the vicinity of said portion of the reservoir and simultaneously measuring the resulting change in the earth's magnetic field in the vicinity of said portion of the petroleum reservoir to indicate the presence or absence of petroleum in formation and the quantity of oil present.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for measurement of oil reserves in a geological formation including: (a) means for passing an A.C. current through the formation to generate an A.C. magnetic field in a predetermined portion of the formation; and (b) means for sweeping the frequency of the A.C. current so that the frequency sweeps from a frequency below the Larmor frequency to above the Larmor frequency of the nucleons chemically bound to the oil present in said portion of the oil bearing formation to bring the nucleons into resonance and cause a reduction in the paramagnetism of said portion of the formation; and (c) means for measuring the magnetic field in a borehole adjacent to said portion of the formation said means serving to measure changes in the earth's magnetic field to indicate a change in the paramagnetism of said portion of the formation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for measurement of oil reserves in a geological formation including: (a) means for passing an A.C. current through the formation to generate an A.C. magnetic field in a predetermined portion of the formation; and (b) means for sweeping the frequency of the A.C. current so that the frequency sweeps from a frequency below the Larmor frequency to above the Larmor frequency of the nucleons chemically bound to the oil present in said portion of the oil bearing formation to bring the nucleons into resonance and cause a reduction in the paramagnetism of said portion of the formation; and (c) means for measuring the magnetic field in a borehole adjacent to said portion of the formation said means serving to measure changes in the earth's magnetic field to indicate a change in the paramagnetism of said portion of the formation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in Claim 2 wherein said current is periodically swept through said Larmor frequency of the nucleons in formation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in Claim 2 wherein said current is periodically swept through the Larmor frequency at intervals of time which are less than the longitudinal relaxation time of the oil nucleons in formation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as in Claim 2 wherein said means for measuring the magnetic field is a differential magnetometer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
223 words
The method for remote detection and volumetric measurement of a petroleum reservoir which comprises the steps of: Applying an A.C. magnetic field at the Larmor frequency to a significant portion of the oil bearing formation thereby placing said formation into a condition of nuclear magnetic resonance and thereby causing a variation in the paramagnetism of said formation; and Measuring the variation in the magnetic field of the earth above said oil bearing formation which is caused by said variation in the paramagnetism of the oil bearing formation; Whereby the petroleum reservoir contains constituents with nuclear magnetic moments; and Whereby the petroleum reservoir is acted upon by the earth's magnetic field; and Whereby the earth's magnetic field causes said nuclear magnetic moments to align along the direction of the earth's magnetic field; and Whereby this said alignment causes the said paramagnetism of the oil bearing formation; and Whereby the direction of said A.C. magnetic field is at an angle to the direction of the earth's magnetic field; and Whereby, depending on the longitudinal and transverse relaxation times of the fluids in the oil bearing formation, the strength and frequency sweep rate of the A.C. magnetic field are appropriate to place a significant portion of the oil bearing formation into a condition such as saturation whereby the paramagnetism of the formation is affected during resonance.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
223 words
The method for remote detection and volumetric measurement of a petroleum reservoir which comprises the steps of: Applying an A.C. magnetic field at the Larmor frequency to a significant portion of the oil bearing formation thereby placing said formation into a condition of nuclear magnetic resonance and thereby causing a variation in the paramagnetism of said formation; and Measuring the variation in the magnetic field of the earth above said oil bearing formation which is caused by said variation in the paramagnetism of the oil bearing formation; Whereby the petroleum reservoir contains constituents with nuclear magnetic moments; and Whereby the petroleum reservoir is acted upon by the earth's magnetic field; and Whereby the earth's magnetic field causes said nuclear magnetic moments to align along the direction of the earth's magnetic field; and Whereby this said alignment causes the said paramagnetism of the oil bearing formation; and Whereby the direction of said A.C. magnetic field is at an angle to the direction of the earth's magnetic field; and Whereby, depending on the longitudinal and transverse relaxation times of the fluids in the oil bearing formation, the strength and frequency sweep rate of the A.C. magnetic field are appropriate to place a significant portion of the oil bearing formation into a condition such as saturation whereby the paramagnetism of the formation is affected during resonance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
The method as in Claim 6 wherein the A.C. magnetic field is repetitively swept through the Larmor frequency of the nucleons within a significant portion of the oil bearing formation thereby placing said portion of the oil bearing formation repetitively into a condition of nuclear magnetic resonance thereby causing a repetitive variation in the nuclear paramagnetism within said portion of the oil bearing formation and thereby causing an amplitude modulation in the nuclear paramagnetism of said portion of the oil bearing formation thereby causing an amplitude modulation in the magnetic field of the earth in the vicinity of said portion of the oil bearing formation; and simultaneously measuring the amplitude modulation of the magnetic field of the earth in the vicinity of said portion of the formation to indicate the presence or absence of oil and water in formation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as in Claim 7 wherein the amplitude modulation of the earth's magnetic field is measured to give a measurement of the volume of oil and water contained within the significant portion of the oil bearing formation which is repeatedly placed into a condition of nuclear magnetic resonance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method as in Claim 8 wherein the range of the relaxation times of the fluid constituents and the relative volumes of oil and water in formation may be determined by suitably varying the repetition rate at which the portion of the oil bearing formation is repetitively placed into the condition of nuclear magnetic resonance and where said repetition rate is adjusted by changing the period of the periodically sweeping A.C. magnetic field while simultaneously measuring the magnitude of the amplitude modulation of the earth's magnetic field within the vicinity of said portion of the oil bearing formation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
The method as in Claim 9 wherein the period of the repetition rate is initially chosen to be longer than the longitudinal relaxation time of the oil in formation and is thereafter set to progressively shorter intervals of time whereby the period of the repetition rate is ultimately adjusted to be shorter than the longitudinal relaxation time of the oil in formation while simultaneously measuring the amplitude modulation of the earth's magnetic field in the vicinity of the significant portion of the oil bearing formation which is repetitively placed into a condition of nuclear magnetic resonance thereby allowing the measurement of the volume of oil within said portion of the oil bearing formation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
The method as in Claim 9 wherein the period of the repetition rate is initially chosen to be longer than the longitudinal relaxation time of any constituent fluid of interest within the portion of the formation which is repetitively placed into the condition of nuclear magnetic resonance and where said period is thereafter set to progressively shorter intervals of time than the longitudinal relaxation time of the particular fluid constituent of interest in said portion of the formation while simultaneously measuring the amplitude modulation of the earth's magnetic field in the vicinity of said portion of the formation whereby the formation contains a variety of constituent fluids collectively called oil and water with ranges of relaxation times appropriate for said constituents in formation.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of detecting the presence of petroleum reserves in a formation which comprises the steps of: (a) applying an A.C. magnetic field at frequencies near and including the Larmor frequency of the nucleons in any oil present which is at an angle with respect to the earth's magnetic field to bring a portion of the reserves into nuclear magnetic resonance to reduce the nuclear paramagnetism of said portion of the petroleum reserve, and (b) simultaneously detecting any change in the total magnetic field of the earth in the vicinity of said portion of the reserve to sense a change in the nuclear paramagnetism of said portion of the reserve whereby to indicate the presence or absence of petroleum reserves.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of detecting the presence of petroleum reserves in a formation which comprises the steps of: (a) applying an A.C. magnetic field at frequencies near and including the Larmor frequency of the nucleons in any oil present which is at an angle with respect to the earth's magnetic field to bring a portion of the reserves into nuclear magnetic resonance to reduce the nuclear paramagnetism of said portion of the petroleum reserve, and (b) simultaneously detecting any change in the total magnetic field of the earth in the vicinity of said portion of the reserve to sense a change in the nuclear paramagnetism of said portion of the reserve whereby to indicate the presence or absence of petroleum reserves.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in Claim 12 wherein the magnitude of the change in the magnetic field is measured to give an indication of the volume of petroleum present.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as in Claim 12 wherein the frequency of the magnetic field is swept from a frequency below the Larmor frequency to a frequency above the Larmor frequency at a rate such that the nucleons within said portion of the petroleum reserve are driven into nuclear magnetic resonance.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as in Claim 14 wherein the sweep rate is such that nuclear magnetic resonance is achieved in a time shorter than the longitudinal relaxation time of any fluid constituent of interest within said portion of the formation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as in Claim 12 wherein the frequency is periodically swept through the Larmor frequency cf the nucleons within said portion of the formation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as in Claim 16 wherein the period between sweeps is selected to permit only the nucleons in water within said portion of the formation to realign between sweeps.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as in Claim 16 wherein the period between sweeps allows the nucleons in both oil and water in said portion of the formation to realign between sweeps.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3289072A
Cited
US3667035A
Cited
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