Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Terratek, Inc.

Services Petroliers Schlumberger

Schlumberger Holdings Limited

Roberto Suarez-Rivera

Sidney J Green

Dean Michael Willberg

Maxim Andreevich Chertov

David Handwerger

Yi-Kun Yang

Timothy Sodergren

Chaitanya Deenadayalu

John C Rasmus

Vladimir Vaynshteyn

Timothy M Lesko

Marc J Thiercelin

Lars Sonneland

Tom R Bratton

Robert Michael Griffin

Sindey J Green

Joel Wesley Martin

Dean M Wulberg

Samuel Fluckiger

Mary Milner

Douglas Ekart

A method for characterizing properties of a sample that employs a test apparatus including an isolated sample cell and pressure sensor where the isolated sample cell is loaded with the sample and gaseous test fluid to perform a number of different tests to derive properties of the sample. The tests can be performed over different parameters, such as different applied pressures of the test fluid to derive parameters related to apparent gas permeability of the sample as a function of applied pressure, different gaseous test fluids to characterize dependence of permeability of the sample on mean free molecular path or pressure, with both adsorptive and non-adsorptive test gases to characterize at least one property related to adsorptive interaction between the adsorptive test gas and the sample, and with samples of varying saturation levels to derive a measure of at least one property of the subsamples at corresponding saturation levels.

Apparatus and methodology for measuring properties of microporous material at multiple scales

A method for characterizing properties of a porous sample that employs a test apparatus including a sample cell and associated pressure sensor having a configuration that measures pressure of the isolated sample cell. The porous sample is divided into a number of pieces, which are loaded into the sample cell. The test apparatus is configured to perform a sequence of test operations whereby the loaded isolated sample cell is filled with test fluid under pressure and the pressure sensor is used to generate and store pressure data over time. A data processing system processes the pressure data in conjunction with a computational model that includes a set of pressure curves with a number of curve-related variables and associated values in order to identify a matching pressure curve, and processes the variable values for the matching pressure curve in order to derive bulk properties of the porous sample.

System and methodology for determining properties of a substance

A method for characterizing properties of a manufactured rock sample that employs first and second test apparatus. The first test apparatus includes a sample holder and associated pressure sensors, wherein the sample holder allows for a pulse of test fluid to flow through the sample, and the pressure sensors measure pressure upstream and downstream of the sample as the pulse of test fluid flows through the sample. The second test apparatus includes a sample cell and associated pressure sensor, wherein the sample cell has a configuration where the sample cell is isolated and filled with test fluid under pressure and the pressure sensor measures pressure of the isolated sample cell. The first and second test apparatus are used to measure bulk properties of the sample. The sample is partitioned into pieces, and the second test apparatus is used to measure properties for different size-groups of such sample pieces.

A test apparatus (and method of operation) for characterizing properties of a sample under test (such as porous material, for example, samples of reservoir rock) that operates in conjunction with a source of test fluid. The test apparatus includes an intake valve fluidly coupled to the source of test fluid, a reference cell fluidly coupled to the source of test fluid via the intake valve, a sample cell that holds the sample under test, an isolation valve fluidly coupled between the reference cell and the sample cell, an exhaust port, an exhaust valve fluidly coupled between the sample cell and the exhaust port, a first pressure sensor associated with the reference cell for measuring pressure within the reference cell, and a second pressure sensor associated with the sample cell for measuring pressure within the sample cell. The method of operation includes calibration procedures to compensate for systematic measurement errors.

A technique enables improvements in hydraulic fracturing treatments on heterogeneous reservoirs. Based on data obtained for a given reservoir, a fracturing treatment material is used to create complex fractures, which, while interacting with the interfaces and planes of weakness in the reservoir, develop fracture connectors, e.g. step-overs, which often grow for short distances along these planes of weakness. The technique further comprises closing or sealing at least one of the fracture connectors to enable reinitiation of fracturing from the truncated branches, and to subsequently develop additional connectors. As a result, the overall fracturing becomes more complex (more branches and more surface area per unit reservoir volume is created), which leads to an increase in the effective fracture area and improved fluid flow through the reservoir.

Method for increasing fracture area

A system and a method may determine formation strength of a well. The system and the method may use pressure measurements and temperature measurements to determine controlled fracture pressures before the uncontrolled fracture pressure is reached. The system and the method may use pressure measurements and temperature measurements to determine closure stresses while drilling and may use the closure stresses with core and log measurements to optimize a hydraulic stimulation program.

Methods for determining formation strength of a wellbore

A method for stimulating production in a wellbore associated with a reservoir. The method includes determining a textural complexity of a formation in which the reservoir is located, determining an induced fracture complexity of the formation using the textural complexity, fracturing the formation to create a plurality of fractures, determining an operation to perform within the formation to maintain conductivity of the formation based on the induced fracture complexity and the textural complexity, and performing the operation, wherein the operation comprises drilling a lateral well originating from the wellbore to maintain conductivity of the formation.

Method and system for increasing production of a reservoir using lateral wells

A methodology improves sampling and characterization of heterogeneous, unconventional hydrocarbon-bearing regions. The methodology is designed to integrate consistently across measurements and scales. Additionally, the methodology involves characterizing various scales, such as regional-scale heterogeneity, wellbore-scale heterogeneity, core-scale heterogeneity, sample-scale, and pore-scale heterogeneity. The results are integrated across the multiple scales based on results obtained from the characterization of the scales. The methodology further comprises determining data propagation across the multiple scales in a hydrocarbon-bearing region.

Method for cost effective sampling and characterization of heterogeneous unconventional hydrocarbon regions

A method for stimulating production of a first wellbore associated with a reservoir. The method includes determining a textural complexity of a formation in which the reservoir is located, determining an induced fracture complexity of the formation using the textural complexity, determining a first operation to perform within the formation to maintain conductivity of the formation based on the induced fracture complexity and the textural complexity, performing the first operation within the formation, and fracturing the formation to create a first plurality of fractures.

Method and system for increasing production of a reservoir

An apparatus for continuous measurement of a geomaterial is disclosed. The apparatus includes a measuring device and a flat bed operatively coupled to the measuring device. The measuring device includes a moving head configured to move in a longitudinal direction relative to a core section of the geomaterial and a first probe coupled to the moving head and configured to continuously measure a property of the core section. The flat bed includes a load actuator configured to secure the core section during the continuous measurement and axially rotate the core section, as well as a core holder assembly configured to apply confining pressure on a length of the core section.

Apparatus for continuous measurement of heterogeneity of geomaterials

A method for creating a heterogeneous earth model (HEM) of a reservoir field includes generating a group of wellsite models for a group of wellsites of the reservoir field based at least on cluster analysis and cluster tagging performed on log data of the group of wellsites, generating a reference model from the group of wellsite models, where cluster tagging errors of the group of wellsite models is minimized to obtain the reference model, constructing a contour plot of the cluster tagging errors on a cluster by cluster basis in the reservoir field, identifying at least one well location and associated core depth interval based on the contour plot for obtaining additional sampling results, and updating the reference model based on the additional sampling results to create the HEM.

Heterogeneous earth models for a reservoir field

A method for determining properties of a subterranean formation. The method includes determining at least one characterization parameter based on wave velocity measurement data, determining a plurality of elastic coefficients based on the at least one characterization parameter using a plurality of equations, determining an anisotropic stress profile of the subterranean formations based on the stiffness matrix of the subterranean formation comprising the plurality of elastic coefficients wherein the elastic coefficients are approximated using the plurality of equations, and displaying the anisotropic stress profile of the subterranean formations.

Estimating horizontal stress from three-dimensional anisotropy

A method, apparatus and computer usable program code for identifying regions in the ground at a well site. Continuous data is received from the well site; reducing redundancies in the continuous data received from the well site to form processed data. Cluster analysis is performed using the processed data to form a set of cluster units, wherein the set of cluster units include different types of cluster units that identify differences between regions in the ground at the well site. Properties are identified for each type of cluster unit in the set of cluster units to form a model for the well site.

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Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Roberto Suarez-Rivera