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US4349737A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Determination of movable oil saturations

Assignee: BP Corp North America Inc
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Filing: 1980-07-14
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Granted: 1982-09-14
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Expires: 2000-07-14
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Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to determining the movable oil saturation in underground rock reservoir by use of a log-inject-log technique. The formation rock adjacent to the wellbore is prepared such that the saturation conditions are representative of those in the interwell area. A pulsed neutron log is then run. A crude oil is injected into the formation. A second pulsed neutron log is then run. A chlorinated crude oil is injected into the formation to displace the previously injected crude oil. A third pulsed neutron log is then run. A salt water of known salinity is then injected into the well to displace a portion of the chlorinated crude oil and all of the formation water. A fourth pulsed neutron log is then run. Fresh water is then injected into the formation to displace the injected salt water. A fifth pulsed neutron time log is then run. These five logs are then used to determine the reservoir characteristics.

Inventors

  • 👤 Roger L. Smith
  • 👤 Robert P. Murphy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 03:33
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B49/00; G; G01; G01V; G01V5/00; G01V5/04; G01V5/08; G01V5/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 192 words
A method of logging a subsurface formation containing formation oil and water penetrated by a wellbore which comprises: a. producing said oil and water from said formation into said wellbore at a sufficiently low rate that the pressure in the formation adjacent to the wellbore approaches the pressure in the formation remote from the wellbore, b. running a pulsed neutron log, c. injecting crude oil into said formation until the response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, d. injecting chlorinated hydrocarbon into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said chlorinated hydrocarbon, e. injecting an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said aqueous solution, and f. injecting fresh water into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said fresh water, said fresh water having a known capture cross section which is sufficiently lower than the neutron capture cross section of said aqueous solution.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 192 words
A method of logging a subsurface formation containing formation oil and water penetrated by a wellbore which comprises: a. producing said oil and water from said formation into said wellbore at a sufficiently low rate that the pressure in the formation adjacent to the wellbore approaches the pressure in the formation remote from the wellbore, b. running a pulsed neutron log, c. injecting crude oil into said formation until the response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, d. injecting chlorinated hydrocarbon into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said chlorinated hydrocarbon, e. injecting an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said aqueous solution, and f. injecting fresh water into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said fresh water, said fresh water having a known capture cross section which is sufficiently lower than the neutron capture cross section of said aqueous solution.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 237 words
A method of determining reservoir characteristics of a subsurface formation containing formation oil and water penetrated by a wellbore which comprises: a. producing said oil and water from said formation into said wellbore at a sufficiently low rate that the pressure in the formation adjacent to the wellbore approaches the pressure in the formation remote from the wellbore, b. running a pulsed neutron log, c. injecting crude oil into said formation until the response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, d. injecting chlorinated hydrocarbon into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said chlorinated hydrocarbon, e. injecting an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said aqueous solution, f. injecting fresh water into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said fresh water, said fresh water having a known capture cross section which is sufficiently lower than the neutron capture cross section of said aqueous solution, and g. obtaining log responses in steps b-f when said log responses are essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, chlorinated hydrocarbon, aqueous solution and said fresh water and using said log responses to determine movable oil saturation of said formation.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 237 words
A method of determining reservoir characteristics of a subsurface formation containing formation oil and water penetrated by a wellbore which comprises: a. producing said oil and water from said formation into said wellbore at a sufficiently low rate that the pressure in the formation adjacent to the wellbore approaches the pressure in the formation remote from the wellbore, b. running a pulsed neutron log, c. injecting crude oil into said formation until the response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, d. injecting chlorinated hydrocarbon into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said chlorinated hydrocarbon, e. injecting an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said aqueous solution, f. injecting fresh water into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said fresh water, said fresh water having a known capture cross section which is sufficiently lower than the neutron capture cross section of said aqueous solution, and g. obtaining log responses in steps b-f when said log responses are essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, chlorinated hydrocarbon, aqueous solution and said fresh water and using said log responses to determine movable oil saturation of said formation.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 192 words
A method of logging a subsurface formation containing formation oil and water penetrated by a wellbore which comprises: a. producing said oil and water from said formation into said wellbore at a sufficiently low rate that the pressure in the formation adjacent to the wellbore approaches the pressure in the formation remote from the wellbore, b. running a pulsed neutron log, c. injecting chlorinated hydrocarbon into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said chlorinated hydrocarbon, d. injecting crude oil into said formation until the response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, e. injecting an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said aqueous solution, and f. injecting fresh water in said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said fresh water, said fresh water having a known capture cross section which is sufficiently lower than the neutron capture cross section of said aqueous solution.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 192 words
A method of logging a subsurface formation containing formation oil and water penetrated by a wellbore which comprises: a. producing said oil and water from said formation into said wellbore at a sufficiently low rate that the pressure in the formation adjacent to the wellbore approaches the pressure in the formation remote from the wellbore, b. running a pulsed neutron log, c. injecting chlorinated hydrocarbon into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said chlorinated hydrocarbon, d. injecting crude oil into said formation until the response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, e. injecting an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said aqueous solution, and f. injecting fresh water in said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said fresh water, said fresh water having a known capture cross section which is sufficiently lower than the neutron capture cross section of said aqueous solution.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 201 words
A method of logging a subsurface formation containing formation oil and water penetrated by a wellbore which comprises: a. producing said oil and water from said formation into said wellbore at a sufficiently low rate that the pressure in the formation adjacent to the wellbore approaches the pressure in the formation remote from the wellbore, b. running a pulsed neutron log, c. injecting crude oil into said formation until the response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, d. injecting chlorinated hydrocarbon into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said chlorinated hydrocarbon, e. injecting fresh water into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said fresh water, said fresh water having a known capture cross section which is sufficiently lower than the neutron capture cross section of an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section and f. injecting an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section into said zone until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said aqueous solution.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 201 words
A method of logging a subsurface formation containing formation oil and water penetrated by a wellbore which comprises: a. producing said oil and water from said formation into said wellbore at a sufficiently low rate that the pressure in the formation adjacent to the wellbore approaches the pressure in the formation remote from the wellbore, b. running a pulsed neutron log, c. injecting crude oil into said formation until the response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, d. injecting chlorinated hydrocarbon into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said chlorinated hydrocarbon, e. injecting fresh water into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said fresh water, said fresh water having a known capture cross section which is sufficiently lower than the neutron capture cross section of an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section and f. injecting an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section into said zone until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said aqueous solution.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 201 words
A method of logging a subsurface formation containing formation oil and water penetrated by a wellbore which comprises: a. producing said oil and water from said formation into said wellbore at a sufficiently low rate that the pressure in the formation adjacent to the wellbore approaches the pressure in the formation remote from the wellbore, b. running a pulsed neutron log, c. injecting chlorinated hydrocarbon into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said chlorinated hydrocarbon, d. injecting crude oil into said formation until the response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, e. injecting fresh water into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said fresh water, said fresh water having a known capture cross section which is sufficiently lower than the neutron capture cross section of an aqueous solution, of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section and f. injecting an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said aqueous solution.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 201 words
A method of logging a subsurface formation containing formation oil and water penetrated by a wellbore which comprises: a. producing said oil and water from said formation into said wellbore at a sufficiently low rate that the pressure in the formation adjacent to the wellbore approaches the pressure in the formation remote from the wellbore, b. running a pulsed neutron log, c. injecting chlorinated hydrocarbon into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said chlorinated hydrocarbon, d. injecting crude oil into said formation until the response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, e. injecting fresh water into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said fresh water, said fresh water having a known capture cross section which is sufficiently lower than the neutron capture cross section of an aqueous solution, of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section and f. injecting an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said aqueous solution.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 238 words
A method of determining movable oil saturation of a subsurface formation containing formation oil and water penetrated by a wellbore which comprises: a. producing said oil and water from said formation into said wellbore at a sufficiently low rate that the pressure in the formation adjacent to the wellbore approaches the pressure in the formation remote from the wellbore, b. running a pulsed neutron log, c. injecting crude oil into said formation until the response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, d. injecting chlorinated hydrocarbon into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said chlorinated hydrocarbon, e. injecting an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said aqueous solution, f. injecting fresh water into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said fresh water, said fresh water having a known capture cross section which is sufficiently lower than the neutron capture cross section of said aqueous solution, and g. obtaining log responses in steps b-f when said log responses are essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, chlorinated hydrocarbon, aqueous solution and said fresh water and using said log responses to determine movable oil saturation of said formation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 238 words
A method of determining movable oil saturation of a subsurface formation containing formation oil and water penetrated by a wellbore which comprises: a. producing said oil and water from said formation into said wellbore at a sufficiently low rate that the pressure in the formation adjacent to the wellbore approaches the pressure in the formation remote from the wellbore, b. running a pulsed neutron log, c. injecting crude oil into said formation until the response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, d. injecting chlorinated hydrocarbon into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said chlorinated hydrocarbon, e. injecting an aqueous solution of known salinity and known neutron capture cross section into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said aqueous solution, f. injecting fresh water into said formation until response of a pulsed neutron log is essentially unchanged with continued injection of said fresh water, said fresh water having a known capture cross section which is sufficiently lower than the neutron capture cross section of said aqueous solution, and g. obtaining log responses in steps b-f when said log responses are essentially unchanged with continued injection of said crude oil, chlorinated hydrocarbon, aqueous solution and said fresh water and using said log responses to determine movable oil saturation of said formation.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3282095A Cited
US3748474A Cited
US3825752A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-09-13 1986-03-15 1986-09-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-09-13 1990-03-15 1990-09-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-09-13 1994-03-15 1994-09-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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