480 results about "Geological formation" patented technology

Providing pressurized fracturing fluid with a fracturing pump transport comprising a first fracturing pump and a second fracturing pump that are coupled on opposite sides of a dual shaft electric motor. A first drive line assembly comprising a first engagement coupling that allows for selective engagement and/or disengagement of the first fracturing pump with the dual shaft electric motor. A second drive line assembly comprising a second engagement coupling that allows for selective engagement and/or disengagement of the second fracturing pump with the dual shaft electric motor. The fracturing pump transport also comprising an engagement panel that allows for selective engagement or disengagement at the first engagement coupling based on receiving a remote command.

An apparatus and method for obtaining facies of geological formations for identifying mineral deposits is disclosed. Logging instruments are moved in a bore hole to produce log measurements at successive levels of the bore hole. The set of measurements at each such level of the bore hole interval is associated with reference sample points within a multidimensional space. The multidimensional scatter of sample points thus obtained is analyzed to determine a set of characteristic modes. The sample points associated with characteristic modes are grouped to identify clusters. A facies is designated for each of the clusters and a graphic representation of the succession of facies as a function of the depth is thus obtained. To identify the clusters, a "neighboring index" of each log measurement point in the data set is calculated. Next, small natural groups of points are formed based on the use of the neighboring index to determine a K-Nearest-Neighbor (KNN) attraction for each point. Independently of the natural group formation, an optimal number of clusters is calculated based on a Kernel Representative Index (KRI) and based on a user-specified resolution. Lastly, based on the data calculated from the prior steps, final clusters are formed by merging the smaller clusters.

A cutter for a drill bit used for drilling wells in a geological formation includes an ultra hard working surface and a chamfer along an edge of the working surface, wherein the chamfer has a varied geometry along the edge. The average geometry of the chamfer varies with cutting depth. A depression in the shaped working surface is oriented with the varied chamfer and facilitates forming the varied chamfer. A non-planar interface has depressions oriented with depressions in the shaped working surface to provide support to loads on the working surface of the cutter when used.

A method and apparatus for use in estimating stress fields in a geological formation are disclosed. The method includes ascertaining a perturbation of stress in the triaxial stress state in a reservoir and in a surrounding rock mass over time; and determining the change in a seismic attribute resulting from the perturbation in the stress. The apparatus includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, perform such a method or a computing system programmed to perform such a method.

Directional acoustic measurements made in the borehole are used for imaging a near-borehole geological formation structure and determination of its orientation. Four-component cross-dipole data set measured in a deviated borehole in combination with the directionality of the compressional waves in the dipole data give the orientation of bed boundaries crossing the borehole. The low-frequency content (2˜3 kHz) of the data allows for imaging the radial extent of the formation structure up to 15 m, greatly enhancing the penetration depth as compared to that obtained using conventional monopole compressional-wave data. A combination monopole/dipole arrangement of sources and receivers may also be used for imaging of bed boundaries.

The invention provides methods for the measurement of carbon dioxide leakage from sequestration reservoirs. Tracer moieties are injected along with carbon dioxide into geological formations. Leakage is monitored by gas chromatographic analyses of absorbents. The invention also provides a process for the early leak detection of possible carbon dioxide leakage from sequestration reservoirs by measuring methane (CH₄), ethane (C₂H₆), propane (C₃H₈), and/or radon (Rn) leakage rates from the reservoirs. The invention further provides a method for branding sequestered carbon dioxide using perfluorcarbon tracers (PFTs) to show ownership.

Geophysical exploration for oil wells, the source from the vertical seismic profile aspect wave data stack depth domain Corridor profile approach is the use of in situ collection of well spacing VSP data, which will all receive points drilling depth of information and hierarchical data with the depth of information, the use of direct wave VSP data travel through and optimization algorithms are highly accurate anti-layer velocity model, the direct wave to the beginning of the reflected wave in the vicinity of the depth and precision homing imaging, further in-depth domain Corridor section and with the superposition of alternative conventional method leveled in the time domain, with corridors and the superposition method, the results can be superimposed for direct comparison with the drilling and seismic data stratified layer identification. More intuitive, but also made full use of VSP data in the depth of information, make geological formation of the earthquake response and drilling, logging data in depth domain direct contrast, a more intuitive geological layer and the relationship between seismic horizon, thereby enabling layer of identification and calibration more reliable.

The present invention relates to apparatus for a tool for investigating the wall of a borehole in a geological formation, the apparatus comprising: a non-conductive pad having an inside face and an outside face for pressing against the wall; a set of measurement electrodes mounted on the outside face of the pad and means for measuring the potential difference between two measurement electrodes; and both a source electrode adapted to inject current into the geological formation and a return electrode, the set of measurement electrodes being situated between the source electrode and the return electrode for the current; the apparatus being characterized in that the pad comprises an electrically conductive portion covering the entire measurement electrode zone and electrically insulated from the measurement electrodes.

The invention relates to a method for separating CO₂ from combustion gases, which can be used at areas with large emissions (thermal power stations using any carbonaceous fuel). The separated CO₂ stream can be used and/or contained in geological formations. The inventive method aims to reduce the high costs involved in CO₂ separation which prevent large-scale use of the CO₂ confinement options included in the UN's IPCC reports. Said method consists of bringing the combustion gases into contact with a calcareous sorbent (limestone, calcined dolomite) at 650-750° C., thereby producing the CO₂ capture reaction by means of the rapid carbonation of the sorbent. The sorbent is regenerated in another reactor (calciner) which operates in CO₂ or CO₂/H₂O atmospheres.

Determination of in-situ rock yield stress state of a geological formation surrounding a borehole includes determining a profile for each of an axial effective, a radial effective, and a hoop effective stress within at least one axial plane containing a borehole axis. A predicted radial shear response radial profile is calculated from the effective stresses within the at least one axial plane. A measurement-based estimate of a shear response radial profile within the at least one axial plane is determined from measured data. A maximum radial distance at which a difference between the predicted and measurement-based shear response radial profiles is identified within the at least one axial plane as being greater than a difference threshold. The respective axial, radial, and hoop stresses, are determined at the identified maximum radial distance. The identified stresses are indicative of an in-situ yield stress state of the rock.

The present invention relates to the use of microbial biofilms and microbial induction of calcium carbonate precipitation to sequester gases in underground geological formations. In one embodiment, methods of the invention can be used to prevent the leakage of supercritical CO₂ in underground geological formations such as aquifers.

Shale plasticity in a geological formation is quantified by the steps of measuring a shale volume of the formation, measuring a shale composition of the formation, measuring a shale water content of the formation, and determining a measure of shale plasticity of the formation in response to the measured shale volume, shale composition, and shale water content according to a shale plasticity model. An apparatus for quantifying shale plasticity is disclosed also.

The invention relates to a high-density rapid detection method based on z-component transmitting channel waves. The method is achieved by the following steps: (1) collecting data; (2) processing the data by firstly setting an observation system (that is, inputting shots and receiver points coordinates), collecting z-component channel waves by the observation system, and then performing channel wave data analysis, bandpass filtering and imaging in sequence; (3) interpreting the data by comprehensively judging chasms, falling columns and other geological abnormal developmental conditions in the working face based on the combination of the imaging result and the geological data disclosed by the working face laneway, and making an integrated interpretation map of the geological structure in the working face. The method greatly increases the work efficiency, allows the construction of the wide-span working face (more than 1000 m) to be completed within 8 hours, collects the Z-component channel wave signals at the same time by the measurement points which are arranged on the laneway lateral walls, increases the ray coverage density, collects the information as much as possible, and improves the detection precision.

A means to generate increasing geological permeability to produce greater volumes of various subsurface geological resources when compared to the current conventional production methods is disclosed. The means include a Pulsed Power Plasma Emitter System capable of substantially increasing the available electrical energy for use in high power compression surge currents that can be discharged and transmitted to power a simplified downhole Plasma Emitter Tool subsystem. The simplified downhole Plasma Emitter Tool sub-system is capable of generating a broad range of precisely controlled magnetohydrodynamic plasma spark discharges that produce a broad range of high power electromagnetic, acoustic and hydrodynamic surge waves. These powerful surge waves are generated at energy and power levels that are necessary to physically modify all types of geological formation permeability and to energize the mobilization of various subsurface fluids and fluidized resources.

Proppant particles coated with an arylolic resin/silicone resin copolymer, wherein the silicon resin contains D units and T units, are suitable for fracturing operations in geological formations and retain their deformability over time without becoming excessively brittle.

The present invention generally provides a method and apparatus for injecting a compressible fluid at a controlled flow rate into a geological formation at multiple zones of interest. In one aspect, the invention provides a tubing string with a pocket and a nozzle at each isolated zone. The nozzle permits a predetermined, controlled flow rate to be maintained at higher annulus to tubing pressure ratios. The nozzle includes a diffuser portion to recover lost steam pressure associated with critical flow as the steam exits the nozzle and enters a formation via perforations in wellbore casing. In another aspect, the present invention assures that the fluid is supplied uniformly to a long horizontal wellbore by providing controlled injection at multiple locations that are distributed throughout the length of the wellbore. In another aspect, the invention ensures that saturated steam is injected into a formation in a predetermined proportion of water and vapor by providing a plurality of apertures between a tubing wall and a pocket. The apertures provide distribution of steam that maintains a relative mixture of water and vapor. In another aspect of the invention, a single source of steam is provided to multiple, separate wellbores using the nozzle of the invention to provide a controlled flow of steam to each wellbore.

According to one aspect of the invention, a method of estimating geological location depths by converting horizon data from the time domain to the depth domain is provided, wherein the method comprises at least a data accumulation step and a data evaluation step, wherein the data evaluation step further comprises assignment of greater statistical weight to data derived from closer data acquisition points than to data derived from further data acquisition points using a weighted regression analysis, with distance being one of several weighting criteria. According to a further aspect of the invention, a method of estimating geological location depths is provided, wherein the method comprises a continuous, layer-by-layer computation of geological formation depths achieved by extracting values from horizon time data set at an exact geographic location of the next deeper horizon, thereby allowing interval computations to be carried out without the need for gridding. According to a still further aspect of the invention, a method of estimating geological formation depths is provided, wherein the method comprises estimating an expected error based on data scatter, and then allowing an alternative solution to be either partially or fully employed in areas where the accumulated data is insufficient to determine an acceptably reliable geophysical model.

A logging-while-drilling tool is adapted for incorporation with a drill string having a longitudinal axis. The drill string is further adapted for drilling a wellbore penetrating a geological formation. The drilling tool includes a tool body having a central axis disposed in parallel relation with the longitudinal axis of the drill string and an external, circumferential surface spaced radially outward from the central axis. The tool also includes a measurement apparatus for measuring resistivity of a borehole fluid in the wellbore. The measurement apparatus has an electrode array including a current emitting electrode disposed on the circumferential surface. The current emitting electrode is adapted to emit current into a target region of the wellbore spaced laterally between the circumferential surface and the walls of the wellbore. Further, a current receiving electrode is disposed on the circumferential surface and spaced apart from the current emitting electrode. The current receiving electrode is adapted to receive current propagated from the current emitting electrode into the target region. The electrode array occupies an arcuate section of the circumferential surface that extends less than about 180° about the central axis.

Various systems and methods for implementing an azimuthally sensitive resistivity logging tool are disclosed. One such method involves transmitting a primary magnetic field from one or more coils placed on a drill collar and receiving several electrical signals, where each of the electrical signals is received from a respective one of several sensors. The sensors are distributed around a circumference of a drill collar, and an axis of at least one of the sensors is perpendicular to an axis of the drill collar. Each of the electrical signals indicates a respective magnitude of a measurement of a reflected magnetic field, where the reflected magnetic field is reflected from an anomalous geological formation. The method calculates a vector measurement of the reflected magnetic field, based upon the electrical signals.