Institut Francais Du Pe'trole

Ifp Energies Nouvelles

Marc Fleury

Gabriel Ringot

Patrick Egermann

Roland Lenormand

Olivier Sissmann

Philippe Poulain

Françoise Deflandre

Daniel Longeron

Michel Chardin

G&eacute;rard Fernandes

Jean-Claude Marchand

José Brandely

Jean-Pierre Cohen Addad

Mei Han

Elodie Goglin

Aur&eacute;lie Samouillet

Fran&ccedil;oise Deflandre

François Deflandre

A method for sealing and/or consolidating a subterranean formation, the subterranean formation being traversed by at least one injection well, includes the steps of preparing a gelling aqueous solution comprising an alkaline solution of potassium silicate, acetic acid and an aluminate, and injecting from the injection well, into the subterranean formation, the gelling aqueous solution to seal and/or to consolidate the subterranean formation.

Method for treating a subterranean formation by injecting an aqueous gelling solution comprising an aluminate

The present invention relates to a method of measuring the diffusion coefficient of water in a porous medium. The coefficient is measured using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique () and the sample () has the shape of a hollow cylinder.

Method for measuring the diffusion coefficient of water within a porous medium by a nuclear magnetic resonance method

The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of the area () surrounding a well () in which an aqueous gelling solution comprising an alkaline potassium silicate solution and an acetic acid is prepared and then injected into a subterranean formation. This aqueous gelling solution makes it possible, by virtue of these gelling properties, to block the area () surrounding the well ().

Method for treating the area surrounding a well using an aqueous gelling solution comprising an alkaline potassium silicate solution and an acetic acid

Device for measuring physical characteristics of a porous sample by performing successive drainage and imbibition phases in the presence of a first electricity-conducting fluid and of a second fluid of lower density than the first fluid, by means of a centrifuge whose speed is successively increasing and decreasing. The sample saturated with the first fluid is placed in a vessel () fastened to the end of an arm () driven in rotation by a motor () and communicating, by means of a rotating electro-hydraulic connector (), with a stationary measuring signal control and acquisition unit (E) including hydraulic fluid displacement means and an acquisition device connected to a capacitive sonde in the vessel, which delivers signals indicative of the position of the interface between the two fluids. The device can be applied for analyzing rocks taken from an underground reservoir for example.

Device for measuring physical characteristics of a porous sample

A method and device is disclosed for evaluating simultaneously, and with the same equipment, the electric resistivity and flow parameters of a porous medium, from experimental measurements obtained from at least one multi-flow type displacement experiment which has application in oil reservoir development. The method continuously measures as a function of time the differential pressure between two ends of a sample, the electric resistivity of the sample and, for each stabilization step, at least two values of a displaced fluid production volume are also measured. A continuous curve of the displaced fluid production volume, from which flow parameters are estimated by means of a numerical flow simulator, is then deduced therefrom.

Method and device for evaluating flow parameters and electric parameters of porous medium

A method for measuring the conducting fluid saturation and the resistivity of a porous medium have application to development of underground geological formations. A solid sample is extracted from the medium and placed in a centrifugation cell, beside a second sample for limiting the capillary end effect in the first sample. The two samples are partly desaturated by subjecting them to centrifugation. The resistivity of the sample is measured by placing it in a radial-electrode resistivity measurement cell. The saturation of the sample is then determined by measuring its nuclear magnetization by means of an NMR device. Repeating this procedure for different centrifugation velocities provides resistivity and saturation pairs allowing a relationship between saturation and resistivity to be estimated.

Method for fast measurement of the saturation and the resistivity of a porous medium

A method for measuring the wettability of rocks by low-field nuclear magnetic resonance is described which has application for hydrocarbon reservoir engineering or development, or in civil engineering. The method essentially determines the water wet pore surface and the oil wet pore surface when the sample is saturated with water and oil, by measurements of relaxation times (T, T) of the sample placed in a nuclear magnetic resonance device, previously brought to various water or oil saturation states, and calculating the wettability index by combination of values the relaxation times obtained for said surfaces.

Method of measuring rock wettability by means of nuclear magnetic resonance

Method of determining the permeability of an underground medium from NMR logs of the permeability of rock fragments from the medium, based on prior calibration of the permeability resulting from this measurements, from direct measurement on rock fragments, such as cuttings for example. The method mainly comprises measuring permeability (k) from rock fragments, measuring the signal produced by a device allowing NMR analysis of the rock fragments previously saturated with a protonated liquid (brine for example), obtaining optimum values for the parameters of a relation giving the permeability as a function of the NMR signal, and applying this relation to the well zones that have already been subjected to NMR logging but for which no direct permeability measurements are available. One example of one of the applications for the present invention is the evaluation of a hydrocarbon reservoir.

Method of determining the permeability of an underground medium from NMR measurements of the permeability of rock fragments from the medium

A method measures the physical characteristics of at least one solid porous sample (S) saturated with a first fluid by carrying out drainage or imbibition phases, in the presence of a second fluid with a different density from that of the first fluid. A sample saturated with a first fluid, such as brine, is placed in a vessel filled with a second fluid. By means of a centrifugation assembly, the sample is drained until a final saturation pressure is established in the sample. In a second phase, the sample can be soaked. The drainage or imbibition phases are carried out by interposing a porous plate () between the sample (S) and the vessel in which it is placed, the porous plate being wettable by the first fluid or the second fluid with preferably an inlet pressure greater than the highest capillary pressure imposed on the face of the sample in contact with the porous plate and perforated with perforations whose number and cross section are adjusted to enable rapid drainage of the fluid contained in the core sample and obtain a substantially uniform saturation profile. The method is applicable in particular to petrophysical measurements.

Method and device for measuring physical characteristics of a solid porous sample

A method and device with application to petrophysical measurements on porous rocks for measuring the resistivity anisotropy of rocks exhibiting layerings of different conductivity such as laminations is disclosed. The method comprises setting a sample saturated with a first fluid into a petrophysical measurement device allowing the sample to be subjected to drainage operations by injection under pressure of a second fluid. At least one pressure injection is established for the second fluid, and continuous and precise measurements of the variations in the complex electrical impedance of the sample at several frequencies are performed during a displacement of the saturating fluid. Measurements of the impedance exhibited by the sample in a position where the layerings are oriented substantially transverse to the electrical field (EF) created by applying the electric current are performed and then the same measurements are performed where the layerings are oriented substantially in the direction of the electrical field. The resistivity anisotropy is then determined.

Method and device for measuring the resistivity anisotropy of layered rock samples

A thermostatically controlled containment cell for a sample, suitable notably for a measuring device such as a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer, NMR type measuring device including the cell, and method for implementation is disclosed. Cell () comprises a body of a tubular sleeve () made of a material so selected as not to interfere with NMR measurements, (for example a non-magnetic and non electrically conducting material) ending at its opposite ends with terminal parts (), containing a sample (S), and means () for circulating within tubular sleeve () a controlled-temperature heat carrier for maintaining the sample at a substantially constant temperature during measurements which liquid is selected to not disturb the NMR measurements. The cell containing the sample is first heated by circulation of the heat carrier. An overpressure sufficient to prevent boiling is established in the cell. The cell can then be introduced into or removed from the NMR measuring device without stopping the circulation of the heating fluid. Applications notably are calibration of logging measurements on geologic samples or others.

Thermostat-controlled containment cell for samples intended for NMR measurements and method for implementing it

The invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance method of detecting and monitoring the flocculation kinetics of high molecular weight fractions of a complex fluid. The inventive method applies the following to the fluid: a first static polarization magnetic field and, subsequently, at least a second oscillating pulsed magnetic field which generates a nuclear magnetic resonance for the nuclei considered and the acquisition of relaxation signals from the nuclei in the fluid. Moreover, the method detects, in the relaxation signals, a first part Pwhich is representative of the relaxation of the flocculated fractions in the fluid and a second part Pwhich is representative of the relaxation of the liquid fraction of the fluid; and determines the flocculation rate of the fractions by comparison with values M&#x3c;sb&#x3e;x&#x3c;/sb&#x3e;(t=0) and M&#x3c;sb&#x3e;x&#x3c;/sb&#x3e;(t=0) which were extrapolated at the start of the acquisition times of the two parts. The invention is suitable, for example, for monitoring the flocculation kinetics of generally asphaltene polar fractions which are contained in the dissolved state and/or in the stable colloidal state in a liquid hydrocarbon fluid.

Nuclear magnetic resonance method of detecting and monitoring the flocculation kinetics of heavy fractions of a complex fluid

A method for determining the variations of the resistivity index (RI) of a family of rock samples of complex pore structure with at least two pore networks, as a function of the water saturation (Sw), and in the presence of a non-oil conducting fluid. The volume fraction (f, f, f) occupied by each pore network and the distribution of the pore throats in the various pore networks are determined for each sample of the family. The values of coefficients relating the variation of its electrical resistivity as a function of its water saturation (Sw) are experimentally determined on a sample of the family used as a reference sample. The resistivity index (RI) of all the samples of the family is then determined on the basis of the variation of parameters describing the layout of the pore network, and using the values of the coefficients measured on the reference sample. The method allows measurement of a continuous resistivity index curve which is not obtained, as in conventional techniques, from only a limited number of points at capillary equilibrium.

Method for determining the resistivity index, as a function of the water saturation, of certain rocks of complex porosity

A device for connecting, by means of a shielded cable, electrodes to a measuring device, located on either side of a wall ( ) separating an enclosure under pressure from the outside environment. The device comprises a rigid protector sleeve ( ) made of an insulating material that tightly runs through the wall and extends to the immediate vicinity of the electrode, into which shielded cable (C) is passed. A tube ( ) made of a conducting material is arranged in rigid sleeve ( ) and in electric contact with the cable shield. A plug ( ) is secured to rigid sleeve ( ), connected to electrode ( ) and electrically linked to core ( ) of the shielded cable inside metal tube ( ). An electric connector ( ) is associated with rigid sleeve ( ) outside wall ( ) for connection of a shielded wire connected to the measuring device. This device can be used in a system measuring the electrical resistivity of a sample in a frequency range that can reach several ten MHz.

Device intended for sealed electric connection of electrodes by shielded cables and system for petrophysical measurement using the device

A method for faster determination of physical parameters (capillary pressure curves and relative permeabilities for example) of a geologic sample initially saturated with a first fluid placed in a vessel and subjected to centrifugation in the presence of a second fluid. The equilibrium saturations are determined before complete stabilization is reached through analytic modelling involving exponential functions, best adjusting to an effective production curve, for each speed stage. A database, obtained by means of various simulations, is used to obtain the relative permeability curves corresponding to the centrifuged sample. The method can be applied for measurement of petrophysical characteristics.

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La Celle Saint Cloud, France

Marc Fleury