US4671102A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for determining distribution of fluids
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1985-06-18
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Granted: 1987-06-09
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Expires: 2005-06-18
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus are provided to determine the distribution of fluids in a sample employing a centrifuge. The apparatus is an automated centrifuge which may employ a plurality of X-ray energies to determine a two-dimensional image of the saturation of multiple fluids in a sample. The saturation images may be used to calculate a capillary pressure curve or relative permeability curve for a borehole core sample. The X-ray source may be selectively synchronized with at least one of the rotating specimen holders to allow for preselection of which specimen holder is to be imaged by the X-ray energies. The method images a sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging to determine fluid distributions in the sample. Alternative automated centrifuges are provided which may also measure resistivity during centrifuging and may have the source and detector located on the sample holder.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold J. Vinegar
- 👤 Daniel J. O'Meara, Jr.
- 👤 John A. Rohan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/04; G01N15/042; B; B04; B04B; B04B13/00; B04B5/00; B04B5/04; B04B5/0407; B04B5/0414; B04B5/0421; G01N15/08; G01N2015/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A method, comprising: centrifuging a porous sample containing at least one fluid therein; periodically imaging at least the entirety of said sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging; and determining the distribution of said at least one fluid for said plurality of points in said sample from said step of periodically imaging.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
53 words
A method, comprising: centrifuging a porous sample containing at least one fluid therein; periodically imaging at least the entirety of said sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging; and determining the distribution of said at least one fluid for said plurality of points in said sample from said step of periodically imaging.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as described in claim 1, wherein said imaging comprises illuminating said sample with at least one preselected electromagnetic energy.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
42 words
A method for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample, and periodically illuminating said sample with at least two preselected electromagnetic energies and measuring fluid distributions in a plurality of points of said sample during centrifuging.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
42 words
A method for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample, and periodically illuminating said sample with at least two preselected electromagnetic energies and measuring fluid distributions in a plurality of points of said sample during centrifuging.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
38 words
A method for measuring the the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample, periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging, and measuring the resistivity of said sample during said centrifuging.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
38 words
A method for measuring the the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample, periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging, and measuring the resistivity of said sample during said centrifuging.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as described in claim 4, further comprising calculating a resistivity versus saturation curve for said sample based upon said measured fluid distributions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as described in claim 5, further comprising correcting said resistivity versus saturation curve for capillary end effects based upon said imaging.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
36 words
A method for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample, periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging, and subjecting said sample to pressure during said centrifuging.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
36 words
A method for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample, periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging, and subjecting said sample to pressure during said centrifuging.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as described in claim 7, wherein said sample is subjected to overburden pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as described in claim 7, wherein said sample is subjected to fluid pressure from an injected fluid.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
37 words
A method for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample, periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging, and visually displaying said distribution of fluids in said sample.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
37 words
A method for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample, periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging, and visually displaying said distribution of fluids in said sample.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
36 words
A method for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample, periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging, and calculating fluid saturations at said plurality of points.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
36 words
A method for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample, periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging, and calculating fluid saturations at said plurality of points.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as described in claim 11, further comprising generating an animated movie of changes in fluid saturations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as described in claim 12, further comprising comparing said generated animated movie with a computer-generated numerical simulation animated movie of predicted changes in fluid saturations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: a centrifuge having a predetermined number of sample holders for containing said sample and capable of operating at a plurality of speeds; a source of electromagnetic energy positioned to radiate onto at least one preselected holder as it passes adjacent said source; a detector array positioned to detect electromagnetic energy transmitted through said at least one preselected holder; synchronizing means for preselecting said at least one preselected holder; recorder means for recording signals from said detector array; and controller means for controlling said synchronizing means, said recorder means, and the operating speed of said centrifuge.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: a centrifuge having a predetermined number of sample holders for containing said sample and capable of operating at a plurality of speeds; a source of electromagnetic energy positioned to radiate onto at least one preselected holder as it passes adjacent said source; a detector array positioned to detect electromagnetic energy transmitted through said at least one preselected holder; synchronizing means for preselecting said at least one preselected holder; recorder means for recording signals from said detector array; and controller means for controlling said synchronizing means, said recorder means, and the operating speed of said centrifuge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is an X-ray tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein said X-ray tube is a flash X-ray tube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein said X-ray tube is a constant source X-ray tube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as described in claim 17, wherein said constant source X-ray tube is a rotating anode X-ray tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is synchotron radiation from a cyclotron.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: a centrifuge having a predetermined number of sample holders for containing said sample and capable of operating at a plurality of speeds; a source of electromagnetic energy positioned adjacent at least one preselected holder to irradiate said preselected holder; and a detector array positioned adjacent said at least one preselected holder and opposite said source to detect electromagnetic energy transmitted through said at least one preselected holder.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: a centrifuge having a predetermined number of sample holders for containing said sample and capable of operating at a plurality of speeds; a source of electromagnetic energy positioned adjacent at least one preselected holder to irradiate said preselected holder; and a detector array positioned adjacent said at least one preselected holder and opposite said source to detect electromagnetic energy transmitted through said at least one preselected holder.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is a radioactive nuclide in said fluids.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said source of electromagnetic energy is a radioactive sample.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: a centrifuge having a predetermined number of sample holders for containing said sample and capable of operating at a plurality of speeds; a source of electromagnetic energy in at least one of said fluids in said sample located in a preselected sample holder; and a detector array positioned adjacent said preselected sample nolder to detect electromagnetic radiation from said source.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus for measuring the distribution of fluids in a porous sample, comprising: a centrifuge having a predetermined number of sample holders for containing said sample and capable of operating at a plurality of speeds; a source of electromagnetic energy in at least one of said fluids in said sample located in a preselected sample holder; and a detector array positioned adjacent said preselected sample nolder to detect electromagnetic radiation from said source.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
45 words
A method for measuring the linear attenuation coefficient of a fluid in a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample; periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging; and calculating the linear attenuation coefficient in functional relationship with the thickness of said sample.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
45 words
A method for measuring the linear attenuation coefficient of a fluid in a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample; periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging; and calculating the linear attenuation coefficient in functional relationship with the thickness of said sample.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for determining the relative permeability curve of a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample; periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during said centrifuging; determining fluid saturations at said plurality of points in functional relationship with time; determining relative permeability at said plurality of points; and generating a relative permeability curve versus saturation based upon the relative permeability determined at said plurality of points.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for determining the relative permeability curve of a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample; periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during said centrifuging; determining fluid saturations at said plurality of points in functional relationship with time; determining relative permeability at said plurality of points; and generating a relative permeability curve versus saturation based upon the relative permeability determined at said plurality of points.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for determining the capillary pressure curve for a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample at a preselected speed; periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during said centrifuging; determining fluid saturations at said plurality of points; determining the capillary pressure curve versus saturation at said plurality of points; and centrifuging said sample at a different preselected speed.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for determining the capillary pressure curve for a porous sample, comprising: centrifuging said sample at a preselected speed; periodically imaging said sample in a plurality of points during said centrifuging; determining fluid saturations at said plurality of points; determining the capillary pressure curve versus saturation at said plurality of points; and centrifuging said sample at a different preselected speed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-08 | 1990-12-08 | 1991-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-08 | 1994-12-08 | 1995-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-08 | 1998-12-08 | 1999-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |