US3685345A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Equilibrated soil-gas sampling
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-05-15
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Granted: 1972-08-22
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Expires: 1990-05-15
Abstract
Abstract The sampling of the concentration of a selected fluid in a subterranean earth formation is improved by circulating a fluid into repetitive contacts with the earth formation and measuring the concentration of the selected fluid in the circulating fluid when the concentration is at a level at which its rate of change is low relative to that exhibited in the initial stage of the fluid circulation.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold L Wise
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/24; G01N33/241; E; E21; E21B; E21B49/00; E21B49/005; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/10; G01N1/14; G01N1/22; G01N1/2294
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A geochemical exploration process, which comprises: opening a borehole into a subsurface earth formation; installing within said borehole means for conveying fluid to and from selected depths within the borehole; installing a packing or plugging means adjacent to the section of borehole that contains said selected depths to isolate that section by preventing the flow of fluid between the wall of the borehole and the exterior of said means for conveying fluid; circulating a fluid that contains a known and relatively insignificant concentration of a selected fluid into repetitive contacts with earth formations exposed along the wall of the borehole at said selected depths; and measuring the concentraTion of the selected fluid within the circulating fluid when the rate of change of its concentration is slow relative to the rate of change in an initial stage of the fluid concentration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A geochemical exploration process, which comprises: opening a borehole into a subsurface earth formation; installing within said borehole means for conveying fluid to and from selected depths within the borehole; installing a packing or plugging means adjacent to the section of borehole that contains said selected depths to isolate that section by preventing the flow of fluid between the wall of the borehole and the exterior of said means for conveying fluid; circulating a fluid that contains a known and relatively insignificant concentration of a selected fluid into repetitive contacts with earth formations exposed along the wall of the borehole at said selected depths; and measuring the concentraTion of the selected fluid within the circulating fluid when the rate of change of its concentration is slow relative to the rate of change in an initial stage of the fluid concentration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 in which the pressure of the fluid circulating within said borehole is kept substantially equal to the pressure of the fluid in said exposed earth formations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a process for measuring the concentration of at least one hydrocarbon in a subsurface earth formation that is exposed along the wall of a borehole, the improvement which comprises: mechanically isolating a selected depth within said borehole; circulating fluid having a known and relatively insignificant concentration of the selected hydrocarbon into repetitive contacts with the earth formation that is exposed at said selected depth within the borehole; and measuring the concentration of the selected hydrocarbon in the circulating fluid when the rate of change of its concentration is slow relative to that exhibited near the start of said fluid circulation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a process for measuring the concentration of at least one hydrocarbon in a subsurface earth formation that is exposed along the wall of a borehole, the improvement which comprises: mechanically isolating a selected depth within said borehole; circulating fluid having a known and relatively insignificant concentration of the selected hydrocarbon into repetitive contacts with the earth formation that is exposed at said selected depth within the borehole; and measuring the concentration of the selected hydrocarbon in the circulating fluid when the rate of change of its concentration is slow relative to that exhibited near the start of said fluid circulation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 3 in which the pressure of the circulating fluid is kept substantially equal to the pressure of the fluid within the subsurface earth formation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 3 in which the measurements are made in a plurality of boreholes by circulating the same type of fluid into each borehole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 3 in which the measurements are made of at least one inorganic component that is copresent with at least one hydrocarbon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 3 in which the borehole is formed by mechanically removing solids while inflowing fluid from the adjacent subsurface earth formations without pumping any significant amount of fluid into the borehole from a surface location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 7 in which the borehole is formed by an augering out said solids to create a reduced pressure near the bottom of the borehole.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 3 in which the circulation of fluid is started substantially immediately after the borehole is opened into the earth formation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 3 in which the circulated fluid is air that contains less than one part per million of any hydrocarbon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-22 | 1976-02-21 | 1976-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-22 | 1980-02-21 | 1980-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-22 | 1984-02-21 | 1984-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |