US3908122A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for detecting entry of a low hydrogen content gas into borehole formations
Assignee: Western Company of North America
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Filing: 1973-07-26
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1993-07-26
Abstract
Abstract The method of detecting the point of entry of a gas into a producing well, which comprises the steps of first measuring the hydrogen content of the hydrocarbon products native to the formations in correlation with depth, then injecting a gas having less hydrogen content than said hydrocarbon products into the formations surrounding the well, then measuring the hydrogen content of the hydrocarbon products within the well and surrounding formations in correlation with depth after said gas has been injected, and comparing said first and second named measurements to determine the location of the point of entry of said gas into said well as indicated by a reduction in the hydrogen content of said second measurement relative to said first measurement at the same depth.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth D Hartsell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V5/00; G01V5/04; G01V5/08; G01V5/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
IN A SECONDARY RECOVERY SYSTEM OF THE TYPE IN WHICH GAS IS INJECTED INTO THE FORMATION AND FORCES OIL INTO ONE OR MORE ADJACENT PRODUCING WELLS, THE METHOD OF DETECTING THE ENTRY OF THE INJECTED GAS INTO ONE OF THE PRODUCING WELLS WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF, INJECTING INTO THE FORMATIONS AT A POINT REMOVED FROM ONE OF THE PRODUCING WELLS A GAS HAVING LESS HYDROGEN CONTENT THAN THE HYDROCARBON PRODUCTS NATIVE TO THE FORMATIONS ADJACENT SAID ONE OF THE PRODUCING WELLS, OBTAINING AN INITIAL NEUTRON LOG OF SAID PRODUCING WELL PRIOR TO THE ENTRY OF SAID INJECTED GAS INTO SAID PRODUCING WELL, OBTAINING A SECOND NEUTRON LOG OF SAID PRODUCING WELL AFTER THE ENTRY OF SAID INJECTED GAS INTO SAID PRODUCING WELL, AND COMPARING SAID INITIAL NEUTRON LOG AND SAID SECOND NEUTRON LOG TO DETERMINE THE POINT OF ENTRY OF SAID INJECTED GAS.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
IN A SECONDARY RECOVERY SYSTEM OF THE TYPE IN WHICH GAS IS INJECTED INTO THE FORMATION AND FORCES OIL INTO ONE OR MORE ADJACENT PRODUCING WELLS, THE METHOD OF DETECTING THE ENTRY OF THE INJECTED GAS INTO ONE OF THE PRODUCING WELLS WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF, INJECTING INTO THE FORMATIONS AT A POINT REMOVED FROM ONE OF THE PRODUCING WELLS A GAS HAVING LESS HYDROGEN CONTENT THAN THE HYDROCARBON PRODUCTS NATIVE TO THE FORMATIONS ADJACENT SAID ONE OF THE PRODUCING WELLS, OBTAINING AN INITIAL NEUTRON LOG OF SAID PRODUCING WELL PRIOR TO THE ENTRY OF SAID INJECTED GAS INTO SAID PRODUCING WELL, OBTAINING A SECOND NEUTRON LOG OF SAID PRODUCING WELL AFTER THE ENTRY OF SAID INJECTED GAS INTO SAID PRODUCING WELL, AND COMPARING SAID INITIAL NEUTRON LOG AND SAID SECOND NEUTRON LOG TO DETERMINE THE POINT OF ENTRY OF SAID INJECTED GAS.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said point of entry of said injected gas is determined in accordance with the displacement of said second neutron log relative to said initial neutron log.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the portions of the borehole in which said injected gas is present correspond to relatively low hydrogen content displacements of said second log relative to said initial log.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said initial neutron log and said second neutron log are both run at the same sensitivity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said injected gas is carbon dioxide.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of detecting the point of entry of a gas into a producing well, which comprises the steps of first measuring the hydrogen content of the hydrocarbon products native to the formations surrounding said well in correlation with depth, then injecting a gas having less hydrogen content than said hydrocarbon products into the formations surrounding the well by introduction of said gas at a point removed from said producing well, then measuring the hydrogen content of the hydrocarbon products within the well and surrounding formations in correlation with depth after said gas has been injected, and comparing said first and second named measurements to determine the location of the point of entry of said gas into said well as indicated by a reduction in the hydrogen content of said second measurement relative to said first measurement at the same depth.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of detecting the point of entry of a gas into a producing well, which comprises the steps of first measuring the hydrogen content of the hydrocarbon products native to the formations surrounding said well in correlation with depth, then injecting a gas having less hydrogen content than said hydrocarbon products into the formations surrounding the well by introduction of said gas at a point removed from said producing well, then measuring the hydrogen content of the hydrocarbon products within the well and surrounding formations in correlation with depth after said gas has been injected, and comparing said first and second named measurements to determine the location of the point of entry of said gas into said well as indicated by a reduction in the hydrogen content of said second measurement relative to said first measurement at the same 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) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |