Lockheed Martin Corporation

Melvin Schweitzer

Walter K Feldman

David L Sieracki

Daniel J DiFrancesco

Manik Talwani

Carlo P San Giovanni

William F Konig

A hydrocarbon reservoir undergoing secondary recovery is subject to a first and then at least a second gravity gradient survey in which a gravity gradiometer takes gradient measurements on the surface above the reservoir to define successive data sets. The differences between the first and subsequent gravity gradient survey yields information as to sub-surface density changes consequent to displacement of the hydrocarbon and the replacement thereof by the driveout fluid including the position, morphology, and velocity of the interface between the hydrocarbon to be recovered and the driveout fluid.

System and process for secondary hydrocarbon recovery

Gravity gradient measurements taken by an accelerometer type gradiometer are optimized by tilting the measuring plane of the instrument by a selected angle above and below the horizontal to obtain data that can be differenced or otherwise processed to remove instrument bias and by taking data at first and then at a second orthogonal azimuth heading to obtain absolute non-relative gradient measurements.

System and process for optimizing gravity gradiometer measurements

Growing community of inventors

Port Washington, NY, United States of America

Melvin Schweitzer