Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Los Alamos National Security, LLC

Christopher Hugh Skelt

Cung Khac Vu

Kurt Nihei

Paul Allan Johnson

Pierre-Yves Le Bas

Robert A Guyer

Denis P Schmitt

Dipen N Sinha

Cristian Pantea

James A Ten Cate

Carène S Larmat

James A Tencate

Joseph Paul Stefani

Adam Dean Halpert

Laura L Bandura

Prasenjit Roy

Lisa R Goggin

Mingya Chen

Kabilan Krishnamurthy

Dileep K Tiwary

Kurt T Nihei

Fang Lin

Justin Curtis Palmer

A computer-implemented method is described for seismic facies identification including receiving a seismic dataset representative of a subsurface volume of interest; applying a model conditioned by petrophysical classifications to the seismic dataset to identify seismic facies and generate a classified seismic image; and identifying geologic features based on the classified seismic image. The method generates seismic facies probability volumes.

System and method for classifying seismic data by integrating petrophysical data

A method is described for identifying source rocks in a subsurface volume of interest. The method may include generating a trend-normalized reflectivity seismic attribute and calculating the location, thickness, organic richness and thermal maturity of the potential source rocks based on seismic data. The method may be executed by a computer system.

System and method for mapping hydrocarbon source rock using seismic attributes

A method is described for creating a petro-elastic model including receiving, at a computer processor, well log data; computing in situ rock properties; calculating dry frame moduli for a range of porosities based on a rock physics model such as a modified critical porosity model; performing fluid substitutions and computing elastic properties by statistical sampling for the range of porosities; creating a petro-elastic model in a seismic domain; and identifying and producing target hydrocarbon reservoirs based on the petro-elastic model. The method may be executed by a computer system.

System and method for petro-elastic modeling

A system and a computer implemented method for performing simultaneous petrophysical analysis for composition and texture of a rock formation. The method includes inputting a set of response equations for sand, shale and fluid that are present in the rock formation, wherein the shale comprises laminated shale, dispersed shale and structural shale; determining simultaneously a solution of the set of response equations, the solution describing composition and texture of the rock formation; and determining from the solution volume fractions for sand, shale and fluid and a texture of the shale including fractions of laminated shale, dispersed shale and structural shale.

System and method for performing simultaneous petrophysical analysis of composition and texture of rock formations

A system and method for investigating rock formations outside a borehole are provided. The method includes generating a first compressional acoustic wave at a first frequency by a first acoustic source; and generating a second compressional acoustic wave at a second frequency by a second acoustic source. The first and the second acoustic sources are arranged within a localized area of the borehole. The first and the second acoustic waves intersect in an intersection volume outside the borehole. The method further includes receiving a third shear acoustic wave at a third frequency, the third shear acoustic wave returning to the borehole due to a non-linear mixing process in a non-linear mixing zone within the intersection volume at a receiver arranged in the borehole. The third frequency is equal to a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency.

System and method for investigating sub-surface features of a rock formation using compressional acoustic sources

A system for investigating non-linear properties of a rock formation around a borehole is provided. The system includes a first sub-system configured to perform data acquisition, control and recording of data; a second subsystem in communication with the first sub-system and configured to perform non-linearity and velocity preliminary imaging; a third subsystem in communication with the first subsystem and configured to emit controlled acoustic broadcasts and receive acoustic energy; a fourth subsystem in communication with the first subsystem and the third subsystem and configured to generate a source signal directed towards the rock formation; and a fifth subsystem in communication with the third subsystem and the fourth subsystem and configured to perform detection of signals representative of the non-linear properties of the rock formation.

Integrated system for investigating sub-surface features of a rock formation

A method of interrogating a formation includes generating a conical acoustic signal, at a first frequency&#x2014;a second conical acoustic signal at a second frequency each in the between approximately 500 Hz and 500 kHz such that the signals intersect in a desired intersection volume outside the borehole. The method further includes receiving, a difference signal returning to the borehole resulting from a non-linear mixing of the signals in a mixing zone within the intersection volume.

System and method for investigating sub-surface features of a rock formation with acoustic sources generating conical broadcast signals

A system and a method for generating a three-dimensional image of a rock formation, compressional velocity VP, shear velocity VS and velocity ratio VP/VS of a rock formation are provided. A first acoustic signal includes a first plurality of pulses. A second acoustic signal from a second source includes a second plurality of pulses. A detected signal returning to the borehole includes a signal generated by a non-linear mixing process from the first and second acoustic signals in a non-linear mixing zone within an intersection volume. The received signal is processed to extract the signal over noise and/or signals resulting from linear interaction and the three dimensional image of is generated.

System and method for investigating sub-surface features and 3D imaging of non-linear property, compressional velocity VP, shear velocity VS and velocity ratio VP/VS of a rock formation

In some aspects of the disclosure, a method and an apparatus is disclosed for investigating material surrounding the borehole. The method includes generating a first low frequency acoustic wave within the borehole, wherein the first low frequency acoustic wave induces a linear and a nonlinear response in one or more features in the material that are substantially perpendicular to a radius of the borehole; directing a first sequence of high frequency pulses in a direction perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the borehole into the material contemporaneously with the first acoustic wave; and receiving one or more second high frequency pulses at one or more receivers positionable in the borehole produced by an interaction between the first sequence of high frequency pulses and the one or more features undergoing linear and nonlinear elastic distortion due to the first low frequency acoustic wave to investigate the material surrounding the borehole

Device and method for imaging of non-linear and linear properties of formations surrounding a borehole

In some aspects of the disclosure, a method and an apparatus is disclosed for investigating material surrounding the borehole. The method includes generating within a borehole an intermittent low frequency vibration that propagates as a tube wave longitudinally to the borehole and induces a nonlinear response in one or more features in the material that are substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the borehole; generating within the borehole a sequence of high frequency pulses directed such that they travel longitudinally to the borehole within the surrounding material; and receiving, at one or more receivers positionable in the borehole, a signal that includes components from the low frequency vibration and the sequence of high frequency pulses during intermittent generation of the low frequency vibration, to investigate the material surrounding the borehole.

In some aspects of the invention, a method of generating a beam of acoustic energy in a borehole is disclosed. The method includes generating a first acoustic wave at a first frequency; generating a second acoustic wave at a second frequency different than the first frequency, wherein the first acoustic wave and second acoustic wave are generated by at least one transducer carried by a tool located within the borehole; transmitting the first and the second acoustic waves into an acoustically non-linear medium, wherein the composition of the non-linear medium produces a collimated beam by a non-linear mixing of the first and second acoustic waves, wherein the collimated beam has a frequency based upon a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency; and transmitting the collimated beam through a diverging acoustic lens to compensate for a refractive effect caused by the curvature of the borehole.

Device and method for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof

In some aspects of the invention, a method of generating a beam of acoustic energy in a borehole is disclosed. The method includes generating a first broad-band acoustic pulse at a first broad-band frequency range having a first central frequency and a first bandwidth spread; generating a second broad-band acoustic pulse at a second broad-band frequency range different than the first frequency range having a second central frequency and a second bandwidth spread, wherein the first acoustic pulse and second acoustic pulse are generated by at least one transducer arranged on a tool located within the borehole; and transmitting the first and the second broad-band acoustic pulses into an acoustically non-linear medium, wherein the composition of the non-linear medium produces a collimated pulse by a non-linear mixing of the first and second acoustic pulses, wherein the collimated pulse has a frequency equal to the difference in frequencies between the first central frequency and the second central frequency and a bandwidth spread equal to the sum of the first bandwidth spread and the second bandwidth spread.

In some aspects of the disclosure, a method for creating three-dimensional images of non-linear properties and the compressional to shear velocity ratio in a region remote from a borehole using a conveyed logging tool is disclosed. In some aspects, the method includes arranging a first source in the borehole and generating a steered beam of elastic energy at a first frequency; arranging a second source in the borehole and generating a steerable beam of elastic energy at a second frequency, such that the steerable beam at the first frequency and the steerable beam at the second frequency intercept at a location away from the borehole; receiving at the borehole by a sensor a third elastic wave, created by a three wave mixing process, with a frequency equal to a difference between the first and second frequencies and a direction of propagation towards the borehole; determining a location of a three wave mixing region based on the arrangement of the first and second sources and on properties of the third wave signal; and creating three-dimensional images of the non-linear properties using data recorded by repeating the generating, receiving and determining at a plurality of azimuths, inclinations and longitudinal locations within the borehole. The method is additionally used to generate three dimensional images of the ratio of compressional to shear acoustic velocity of the same volume surrounding the borehole.

System and method to create three-dimensional images of non-linear acoustic properties in a region remote from a borehole

System and method to estimate compressional to shear velocity (VP/VS) ratio in a region remote from a borehole

In some aspects of the invention, a device, positioned within a well bore, configured to generate and direct an acoustic beam into a rock formation around a borehole is disclosed. The device comprises a source configured to generate a first signal at a first frequency and a second signal at a second frequency; a transducer configured to receive the generated first and the second signals and produce acoustic waves at the first frequency and the second frequency; and a non-linear material, coupled to the transducer, configured to generate a collimated beam with a frequency equal to the difference between the first frequency and the second frequency by a non-linear mixing process, wherein the non-linear material includes one or more of a mixture of liquids, a solid, a granular material, embedded microspheres, or an emulsion.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Christopher Hugh Skelt