US3690164A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for prospecting of the ground layers surrounding a borehole
Assignee: IFP Energies nouvelles
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Filing: 1969-06-24
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Granted: 1972-09-12
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Expires: 1989-06-24
Abstract
Abstract To determine physical characteristics of successive ground strata, signals are transmitted from successive depth locations in a borehole and received at a surface location spaced from the location of the borehole. The successively transmitted and received signals are compared with signals indicative of the known characteristics of one of the strata layers to determine the characteristics of the other strata through which the successively transmitted signals have traveled.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Gabillard
- 👤 Francois Louage
- 👤 Robert Desbrandes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/40; G01V1/42; G01V3/00; G01V3/18; G01V3/20; G01V2210/00; G01V2210/10; G01V2210/16; G01V2210/161
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
A process for determining a physical property related to the nature of the ground layers surrounding a borehole comprising the steps of: emitting from a first point a signal into the ground, said signal being propagated through the ground layers around the borehole; receiving, at a second point in spaced relationship to the emitting point, a signal corresponding to the propagation of the emitted signal through the ground layers, said received signal being a function of the physical properties of the ground layers separating the emitting and the receiving points, one of said first and second points being located in the borehole and the other of said first and second points being located at a ground location spaced from said borehole; producing from received signals corresponding to one and the same location of one of said emitting and receiving points and successive locations, close to each other of the other of said points, variation signals representative of the variations of said received signals from one of said locations to adjacent locations; and producing, in a step-by-step manner, from said received signals and said variation signals, the log of the value of said physical property, for successive ground layers starting from a first ground layer for which the value of said physical property is already known, said process of determining further including: deriving the value of said physical property for any additional layer, from the value of the received signal for the location of one of said points substantially at the place of said additional layer, from the value of said variation signals at said location and from the value of said physical property for a ground layer precedent to said additional ground layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
283 words
A process for determining a physical property related to the nature of the ground layers surrounding a borehole comprising the steps of: emitting from a first point a signal into the ground, said signal being propagated through the ground layers around the borehole; receiving, at a second point in spaced relationship to the emitting point, a signal corresponding to the propagation of the emitted signal through the ground layers, said received signal being a function of the physical properties of the ground layers separating the emitting and the receiving points, one of said first and second points being located in the borehole and the other of said first and second points being located at a ground location spaced from said borehole; producing from received signals corresponding to one and the same location of one of said emitting and receiving points and successive locations, close to each other of the other of said points, variation signals representative of the variations of said received signals from one of said locations to adjacent locations; and producing, in a step-by-step manner, from said received signals and said variation signals, the log of the value of said physical property, for successive ground layers starting from a first ground layer for which the value of said physical property is already known, said process of determining further including: deriving the value of said physical property for any additional layer, from the value of the received signal for the location of one of said points substantially at the place of said additional layer, from the value of said variation signals at said location and from the value of said physical property for a ground layer precedent to said additional ground layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said first ground layer is constituted by an aggregate of n elemental adjacent ground layers, the overall properties of which have been determined from the known properties of n- 1 elemental adjacent ground layers by following the process described in claim 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 2, including the step of successively determining the overall properties of the aggregate of n elemental ground layers from the known properties of a single elemental layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said first ground layer is limited at its upper part by the ground surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said emitted signal is an electric signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said emitted signal is an acoustical signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said emitted signal is constituted of successive pulses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said emitted signal is constituted of an alternating electric current.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said measured parameter is the time of propagation of said signal between said emitting and said receiving points.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to claim 2, wherein said measured parameter is at least one of the three components of the electric field produced at the measuring point by the propagation of said emitted electric signal through the ground.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to claim 2, wherein said measured parameter is at least one of the three components of the magnetic field produced at the measuring point by the propagation of said emitted electric signal through the ground.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein different measurements are effected, corresponding to different positions of said point on the ground surface, said positions being at equal distances from said borehole axis and for each level of said point in the borehole, the values of said measured parameter which have been respectively obtained for said different positions are compared with the value of said parameter derived for a local measurement on the borehole wall, a difference between the values of said parameter corresponding respectively to said local measurement and to one of said positions of said point on the ground surface indicating the presence of a lateral geological discontinuity located on the side of said position of said point on the ground surface, with respect to the borehole axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
239 words
A process for electric prospection of the ground layers surrounding a borehole drilled through the ground, comprising the steps of transmitting into these ground layers an alternating electric current, measuring at a point in spaced relationship to the point of transmission at least one component of the electric field, one of said transmitting and measuring point being stationary on the ground surface and the other displaceable along the borehole, determining for one and the same position of said point on the ground surface the magnitude En of the electric field for a first level (n) of said point in the borehole, determining the variation Delta (En) En 1-En in the magnitude of the electric field, resulting from the displacement of said point in the borehole from said first level to a second level (n-1) separated from said first level by a small interval, said variation defining the field gradient at said first level (n), determining the variation Delta ( Delta (En )) in said field gradient, when said point in the borehole, is displaced from said first to said second level, deriving from the so-effected measurements the ratio of the respective values of the electric conductivity of the ground layers substantially at said first and second levels, thus making it possible, gradually, knowing the value of the electric conductivity of the ground at a given level, to obtain a log of the electric conductivity as a function of depth.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
239 words
A process for electric prospection of the ground layers surrounding a borehole drilled through the ground, comprising the steps of transmitting into these ground layers an alternating electric current, measuring at a point in spaced relationship to the point of transmission at least one component of the electric field, one of said transmitting and measuring point being stationary on the ground surface and the other displaceable along the borehole, determining for one and the same position of said point on the ground surface the magnitude En of the electric field for a first level (n) of said point in the borehole, determining the variation Delta (En) En 1-En in the magnitude of the electric field, resulting from the displacement of said point in the borehole from said first level to a second level (n-1) separated from said first level by a small interval, said variation defining the field gradient at said first level (n), determining the variation Delta ( Delta (En )) in said field gradient, when said point in the borehole, is displaced from said first to said second level, deriving from the so-effected measurements the ratio of the respective values of the electric conductivity of the ground layers substantially at said first and second levels, thus making it possible, gradually, knowing the value of the electric conductivity of the ground at a given level, to obtain a log of the electric conductivity as a function of depth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
241 words
A process for electric prospection of the ground layers surrounding a borehole drilled through the ground comprising the steps of transmitting into these ground layers an alternating electric current, measuring at a point spaced relationship to the point of transmission at least one component of the magnetic field, one of said transmitting and measuring point being stationary on the ground surface and the other displaceable along the borehole, determining for one and the same position of said point on the ground surface the magnitude Hn of the electric field for a first level (n) of said point in the borehole, determining the variation Delta (Hn) Hn 1 - Hn in the magnitude of the electric field, resulting from the displacement of said point in the borehole from said first level to a second level (n- 1) separated from said first level by a small interval, said variation defining the field gradient at said first level (n), determining the variation Delta ( Delta (Hn) ) in said field gradient, when said point in the borehole, is displaced from said first to said second level, deriving from the so-effected measurements the ratio of the respective values of the electric conductivity of the ground layers substantially at said first and second levels, thus making it possible, gradually, knowing the value of the electric conductivity of the ground at a given level, to obtain a log of the electric conductivity as a function of depth.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
241 words
A process for electric prospection of the ground layers surrounding a borehole drilled through the ground comprising the steps of transmitting into these ground layers an alternating electric current, measuring at a point spaced relationship to the point of transmission at least one component of the magnetic field, one of said transmitting and measuring point being stationary on the ground surface and the other displaceable along the borehole, determining for one and the same position of said point on the ground surface the magnitude Hn of the electric field for a first level (n) of said point in the borehole, determining the variation Delta (Hn) Hn 1 - Hn in the magnitude of the electric field, resulting from the displacement of said point in the borehole from said first level to a second level (n- 1) separated from said first level by a small interval, said variation defining the field gradient at said first level (n), determining the variation Delta ( Delta (Hn) ) in said field gradient, when said point in the borehole, is displaced from said first to said second level, deriving from the so-effected measurements the ratio of the respective values of the electric conductivity of the ground layers substantially at said first and second levels, thus making it possible, gradually, knowing the value of the electric conductivity of the ground at a given level, to obtain a log of the electric conductivity as a function of depth.
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) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |