Saudi Arabian Oil Company

Erika Shoemaker Ellis

Howard Khan Schmidt

Jesus Manuel Felix Servin

Ersan Turkoglu

Mazen Kanj

Abdullah Awadh Al-Shehri

Jason R Cox

Jesus Manuel Servin

Coated nanoparticles include nanoparticles with a cationic coating, such that the nanoparticles have a net-positive charge. The cationic coatings may be selected from an amino acid, a polysaccharide, a polyamine, an acrylate polymer, a dendrimer, a copolymer, a histone, a protein, an ester, or combinations thereof. The coated nanoparticles may be incorporated into methods for improving an amount of oil recovered during enhanced oil recovery. The methods may include introducing an aqueous drilling fluid comprising coated nanoparticles to a carbonate reservoir and injecting drilling fluid comprising the coated nanoparticles into the carbonate reservoir to displace oil in the carbonate reservoir and thereby enhance the oil recovery.

Cationic coatings for improved nanoparticle transport in a carbonate reservoir

An example method includes introducing a solution into at least part of a reservoir. The solution includes a contrast agent and a fluid. The contrast agent includes a polymer having a dielectric constant that may be greater than a predefined value. The example method also includes using at least one EM transmitter antenna to direct a first electromagnetic (EM) signal into the reservoir. The first EM signal passes through the at least part of the reservoir into which the solution was introduced. The first EM signal is received using at least one EM receiver antenna following passage through the at least part of the reservoir. Data is determined that represents a difference between a first travel time of the first EM signal transmitted through the contrast agent in the reservoir and a second travel time of a second EM signal transmitted through water-saturated reservoir rock. Information about a physical feature of the at least part of the reservoir is generated based on the data.

Generating images of a reservoir based on introduction of a polymer-based contrast agent

Provide are compositions and methods for electromagnetic (EM) surveying of subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs using a giant dielectric material as a contrast agent. An injection fluid composition for EM surveying may include an aqueous fluid and giant dielectric nanoparticles having a dielectric constant of at least 10000 in the 1 Hz to 1 MHz frequency range. EM surveying of a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs may be performed by introducing an injection fluid having the giant dielectric nanoparticles into the subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir and generating an image of the position of the injection fluid from a transit time of emitted EM energy that traveled through the reservoir.

Giant dielectric nanoparticles as high contrast agents for electromagnetic (EM) fluids imaging in an oil reservoir

An electromagnetic energy source for emitting pulses of electromagnetic energy includes a sonde assembly having a first section axially aligned with, and spaced from, a second section. An energy storage capacitor of the sonde assembly includes an electrode mounted in each of the first section and the second section of the sonde assembly and operable to generate an electric field, and a capacitive charge storage medium mounted in each of the first section and the second section of the sonde assembly and surrounding each electrode. The sonde assembly further includes a fast-closing switch located between the electrodes of the first and second sections of the sonde assembly.

EMU impulse antenna

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements from a downhole well tool in a wellbore are obtained to identify length of fractures adjacent the wellbore. A ground penetrating radar transmitter of the downhole tool emits an electromagnetic pulse. The electromagnetic wave of the ground penetrating radar is diffracted on encountering an end or tip of a fracture, which acts as a secondary source. The diffracted signal is then collected by downhole receiver(s) of the downhole tool. Length of the fracture is determined based on the time of travel of the electromagnetic wave from its emission until its collection as a diffracted signal by the downhole receiver(s).

Apparatus for mapping fracture length using downhole ground penetrating radar

Data processing system for mapping fracture length using downhole ground penetrating radar

Provided are systems and methods for mapping hydrocarbon reservoirs. Operations include disposing an electromagnetic (EM) transmitter and an EM receiver into first and second wellbores of first and second wells, respectively, penetrating a resistive layer of a subsurface formation bounded by first and second conductive layers. The EM transmitter and receiver each being disposed at depths proximate to intersections of the first and second wellbores and the resistive layer, respectively. The operations further including transmitting an EM signal between the EM transmitter and receiver via the resistive layer, determining transport properties associated with propagation of the EM signal from the EM transmitter to the EM receiver via the resistive layer, and determining the presence of an anomaly in at least one of the conductive layers based on the travel time.

Systems and methods for mapping hydrocarbon reservoirs using electromagnetic transmissions

An electromagnetic energy source for emitting pulses of electromagnetic energy includes a sonde assembly and an energy storage capacitor. The energy storage capacitor has an electrode mounted in the sonde assembly and operable to generate an electric field, and a capacitive charge storage medium surrounding the electrode. A communication cable extends through a tubular member to the electrode. A fast-closing switch is positioned such that when the fast-closing switch is in a closed position, a circuit is formed that discharges the electrode.

EMU impulse antenna with controlled directionality and improved impedance matching

Mapping fracture length using downhole ground penetrating radar

An electromagnetic energy source for emitting pulses of electromagnetic energy includes a sonde assembly having a first section axially aligned with, and spaced from, a second section. An energy storage capacitor includes an electrode mounted in each of the first section and the second section of the sonde assembly and operable to generate an electric field. A capacitive charge storage medium is mounted in each of the first section and the second section of the sonde assembly and surrounds each electrode, where the capacitive charge storage medium is a giant dielectrics and giant permeability ferrite. A fast-closing switch is located between the first and second sections of the sonde assembly.

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Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Erika Shoemaker Ellis