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US4769606A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Induced polarization method and apparatus for distinguishing dispersed and laminated clay in earth formations

Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1986-09-30
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Granted: 1988-09-06
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Expires: 2006-09-30
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Abstract

Abstract Logging means and methods are disclosed for distinguishing between dispersed and laminated clay in earth formations. A wireline apparatus is employed consisting of a multifrequency induced polarization logging tool operating at extremely low frequencies, combined with other logging tools which measure the total amount of clay in the formation. A determination is then made of the fraction of the total clay content in the formation which is due to laminated clay.

Inventors

  • 👤 Harold J. Vinegar
  • 👤 Monroe H. Waxman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 06:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V3/00; G01V3/18; G01V3/20; G01V3/24; G01V3/38

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim 77 words
A method for distinguishing dispersed and laminated clay in earth formations, comprising: measuring the dispersed clay content of at least a portion of such an earth formation by means of an induced polarization measurement; measuring the total amount of clay in the same earth formation; and combining the results of said induced polarization measurement and said total clay measurement to determine the fraction of the total clay content in the formation which is due to laminated clay.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 77 words
A method for distinguishing dispersed and laminated clay in earth formations, comprising: measuring the dispersed clay content of at least a portion of such an earth formation by means of an induced polarization measurement; measuring the total amount of clay in the same earth formation; and combining the results of said induced polarization measurement and said total clay measurement to determine the fraction of the total clay content in the formation which is due to laminated clay.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of measuring the dispersed clay content of the earth formation further comprises measuring the earth formation in a borehole which penetrates the formation, the measurement being performed with an induced polarization logging tool.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation further comprises, with a borehole logging tool, measuring the clay in a borehole which penetrates the formation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of measuring the dispersed clay content of the earth formation further comprises measuring a core sample of the earth formation by means of induced polarization measurements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation further comprises measuring the clay in a core sample of the earth formation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of induced polarization measurement further comprises making multifrequency induced polarization measurements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising making induced polarization measurements in the frequency domain.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising making induced polarization measurements in the frequency domain with a multifrequency frequency domain induced polarization logging tool operated at at least one frequency less than 1 Hz.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising making induced polarization measurements in the time domain.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising transforming said time domain induced polarization measurements to the frequency domain.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation further comprises measuring the clay with a spontaneous potential (SP) tool.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 113 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation using the equations: ##EQU9## where E=diffusion potential between sand/shaly sand and adjacent shale beds, T=temperature, F=the Faraday, R=molar gas constant, t Na hf =Hittorf electrical transport number for sodium ion in aqueous solution, R w =geometric mean water resistivity (equal to the reciprocal of water conductivity, C w ), m and γ.sub.± =molality and mean ionic activity of sodium chloride electrolyte solutions, m 1 and m 2 =molalities of mud filtrate and formation brine, respectively, B=in-phase equivalent conductivity of the clay exchange cations, and (Q v ) T =total clay exchange capacity per unit pore volume.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation further comprises measuring the clay using a Natural Gamma Ray log.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 60 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation using the equation: ##EQU10## where (Q v ) T =total clay exchange capacity per unit pore volume, γ=gamma ray deflection (API units) relative to clay-free formation, φ=porosity, a and b=constants calibrated from log or core data, and ρ M =rock matrix grain density.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation further comprises measuring the clay using a Natural Gamma Ray Spectroscopy log.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation further comprises measuring the clay using the difference between neutron and density logs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 94 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation using the equation: ##EQU11## where (Q v ) T =total clay exchange capacity per unit pore volume, φ N =Neutron log porosity, φ D =Density log porosity, C is a calibration constant given by the equation: ##EQU12## (CEC) T ,dry =cation exchange capacity of the total clay mineral mixture in the formation in dry form, and ρ clay ,dry and HI clay ,dry =density and hydrogen index, respectively, of the dry clay mineral mixture in the formation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation further comprises measuring the clay using the dispersion of the dielectric constant between two different frequencies.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising determining the dispersion of the dielectric constant between the two different frequencies using a multifrequency dielectric logging tool operating in the frequency range between substantially 1 and 300 MHz.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising performing said steps at a plurality of depths in a borehole which penetrates the formation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising recording the results of said combining step to produce a log thereof.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 232 words
A method for distinguishing and separately measuring dispersed and laminated clay in earth formations penetrated by a borehole, comprising: measuring the dispersed clay content of a portion of a borehole by logging the portion of the borehole with a multifrequency frequency domain induced polarization logging tool operated at at least one frequency less than 1 Hz; measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation adjacent the same portion of the borehole using an SP log and the equations: ##EQU13## where E=diffusion potential between sand/shaly sand and adjacent shale beds, T=temperature, F=the Faraday, R=molar gas constant, t Na hf =Hittorf electrical transport number for sodium ion in aqueous solution, R w =geometric mean water resistivity (equal to the reciprocal of water conductivity, C w ), m and γ.sub.± =molality and mean ionic activity of sodium chloride electrolyte solutions, m 1 and m 2 =molalities of mud filtrate and formation brine, respectively, B=in-phase equivalent conductivity of the clay exchange cations, and (Q v ) T =total clay exchange capacity per unit pore volume; combining the results of said induced polarization log and said total clay measurement from said SP log to determine the fraction of the total clay content in the formation which is due to laminated clay; performing said steps at a plurality of depths in the borehole; and recording the results of said combining step to produce a log thereof.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 232 words
A method for distinguishing and separately measuring dispersed and laminated clay in earth formations penetrated by a borehole, comprising: measuring the dispersed clay content of a portion of a borehole by logging the portion of the borehole with a multifrequency frequency domain induced polarization logging tool operated at at least one frequency less than 1 Hz; measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation adjacent the same portion of the borehole using an SP log and the equations: ##EQU13## where E=diffusion potential between sand/shaly sand and adjacent shale beds, T=temperature, F=the Faraday, R=molar gas constant, t Na hf =Hittorf electrical transport number for sodium ion in aqueous solution, R w =geometric mean water resistivity (equal to the reciprocal of water conductivity, C w ), m and γ.sub.± =molality and mean ionic activity of sodium chloride electrolyte solutions, m 1 and m 2 =molalities of mud filtrate and formation brine, respectively, B=in-phase equivalent conductivity of the clay exchange cations, and (Q v ) T =total clay exchange capacity per unit pore volume; combining the results of said induced polarization log and said total clay measurement from said SP log to determine the fraction of the total clay content in the formation which is due to laminated clay; performing said steps at a plurality of depths in the borehole; and recording the results of said combining step to produce a log thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 90 words
Apparatus for distinguishing dispersed and laminated clay in earth formations, comprising: induced polarization measuring means for making an induced polarization measurement of the dispersed clay content of a portion of such an earth formation; total clay measuring means for measuring the total amount of clay in the same earth formation; and combining means coupled to said measuring means for combining the results of said induced polarization measurement and said total clay measurement to determine the fraction of the total clay content in the formation which is due to laminated clay.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 90 words
Apparatus for distinguishing dispersed and laminated clay in earth formations, comprising: induced polarization measuring means for making an induced polarization measurement of the dispersed clay content of a portion of such an earth formation; total clay measuring means for measuring the total amount of clay in the same earth formation; and combining means coupled to said measuring means for combining the results of said induced polarization measurement and said total clay measurement to determine the fraction of the total clay content in the formation which is due to laminated clay.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said induced polarization measuring means further comprises an induced polarization logging tool for measuring the earth formation in a borehole which penetrates the formation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said total clay measuring means further comprises a borehole logging tool for measuring the clay in a borehole which penetrates the formation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 29 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said induced polarization measuring means further comprises means for measuring a core sample of the earth formation by means of induced polarization measurements.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said total clay measuring means further comprises means for measuring the clay in a core sample of the earth formation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said means for making an induced polarization measurement further comprises means for making multifrequency induced polarization measurements.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said means for making multifrequency induced polarization measurements further comprises means for making induced polarization measurements in the frequency domain.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said means for making multifrequency induced polarization measurements further comprises a multifrequency frequency domain induced polarization logging tool operated at at least one frequency less than 1 Hz.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said means for making multifrequency induced polarization measurements further comprises means for making induced polarization measurements in the time domain.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising means for transforming said time domain induced polarization measurements to the frequency domain.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said total clay measuring means further comprises a spontaneous potential (SP) tool.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 115 words
The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising means for measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation using the equations: ##EQU14## where E=diffusion potential between sand/shaly sand and adjacent shale beds, T=temperature, F=the Faraday, R=molar gas constant, t Na hf =Hittorf electrical transport number for sodium ion in aqueous solution, R w =geometric mean water resistivity (equal to the reciprocal of water conductivity, C w ), m and γ.sub.± =molality and mean ionic activity of sodium chloride electrolyte solutions, m 1 and m 2 =molalities of mud filtrate and formation brine, respectively, B=in-phase equivalent conductivity of the clay exchange cations, and (Q v ) T =total clay exchange capacity per unit pore volume.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said total clay measuring means further comprises a Natural Gamma Ray log.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 62 words
The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising means for measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation using the equation: ##EQU15## where (Q v ) T =total clay exchange capacity per unit pore volume, γ=gamma ray deflection (API units) relative to clay-free formation, φ=porosity, a and b=constants calibrated from log or core data, and ρ M =rock matrix grain density.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said means for measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation further comprises a Natural Gamma Ray Spectroscopy log.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said means for measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation further comprises means for measuring the clay using the difference between neutron and density logs.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 104 words
The apparatus of claim 38 further comprising means for measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation using the equation: ##EQU16## where (Q v ) T =total clay exchange capacity per unit pore volume, φ N =Neutron log porosity, φ D =Density log porosity, C is a calibration constant given by the equation: ##EQU17## (CEC) T ,dry =cation exchange capacity of the total clay mineral mixture in the formation in dry form, and ρ clay ,dry and HI clay ,dry =density and hydrogen index, respectively, of the dry clay mineral mixture in the formation, and C=constant calibrated from log and core data.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 37 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said means for measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation further comprises means for measuring the clay using the dispersion of the dielectric constant between two different frequencies.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 41 words
The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said means for measuring the clay using the dispersion of the dielectric constant between two different frequencies further comprises a multifrequency dielectric logging tool operating in the frequency range between substantially 1 and 300 MHz.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising means for recording the results of said clay fractional determinations to produce a log thereof.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 221 words
Apparatus for distinguishing and separately measuring dispersed and laminated clay in earth formations penetrated by a borehole, comprising: a multifrequency frequency domain induced polarization logging tool operated at at least one frequency less than 1 Hz for logging a portion of the borehole to measure the dispersed clay content thereof; an SP logging tool for measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation adjacent the same portion of the borehole, using the equations: ##EQU18## where E=diffusion potential between sand/shaly sand and adjacent shale beds, T=temperature, F=the Faraday, R=molar gas constant, t Na hf =Hittorf electrical transport number for sodium ion in aqueous solution, R w =geometric mean water resistivity (equal to the reciprocal of water conductivity, C w ), m and γ.sub.± =molality and mean ionic activity of sodium chloride electrolyte solutions, m 1 and m 2 =molalities of mud filtrate and formation brine, respectively, B=in-phase equivalent conductivity of the clay exchange cations, and (Q v ) T =total clay exchange capacity per unit pore volume; means coupled to said logging tools for combining the results of said induced polarization log and said SP log to determine the fraction of the total clay content in the formation which is due to laminated clay; and means for recording the results of said clay fractional determinations to produce a log thereof.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 221 words
Apparatus for distinguishing and separately measuring dispersed and laminated clay in earth formations penetrated by a borehole, comprising: a multifrequency frequency domain induced polarization logging tool operated at at least one frequency less than 1 Hz for logging a portion of the borehole to measure the dispersed clay content thereof; an SP logging tool for measuring the total amount of clay in the earth formation adjacent the same portion of the borehole, using the equations: ##EQU18## where E=diffusion potential between sand/shaly sand and adjacent shale beds, T=temperature, F=the Faraday, R=molar gas constant, t Na hf =Hittorf electrical transport number for sodium ion in aqueous solution, R w =geometric mean water resistivity (equal to the reciprocal of water conductivity, C w ), m and γ.sub.± =molality and mean ionic activity of sodium chloride electrolyte solutions, m 1 and m 2 =molalities of mud filtrate and formation brine, respectively, B=in-phase equivalent conductivity of the clay exchange cations, and (Q v ) T =total clay exchange capacity per unit pore volume; means coupled to said logging tools for combining the results of said induced polarization log and said SP log to determine the fraction of the total clay content in the formation which is due to laminated clay; and means for recording the results of said clay fractional determinations to produce a log thereof.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4236113A Cited
US4464930A Cited
US4467642A Cited
US4644283A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
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11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-09-06 2000-03-07 2000-09-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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