The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 14, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 15, 1999
Peter Anderson Geiser, Boulder, CO (US);
STRM, LLC, Boulder, CO (US);
Abstract
An invention for the filtering, sorting and analysis of microseismicity induced during production of fluid resources from their reservoirs which allows direct 4 dimensional measurements of all or many of the components of the permeability field as well as other petrophysical rock properties important to reservoir analysis and monitoring. The seismicity associated with the permeability field is identified by its spatial and temporal location in two general conoidal volumes, symmetrically disposed about the injection point in any well being used for this purpose (FIG. ). The cone axes are parallel to the maximum compressive stress directions of the ambient stress field. Increasing fluid pressure causes seismicity to rapidly migrate outward from the injection points (FIG. ). The seismicity moves at rates that are order of magnitudes greater than that of D'arcyian flow and covering distances measured in kilometers. The seismicity is generated by fractures hydraulically linked to the injection well and comprises the permeability field associated with that well. Mapping of the permeability field identified by this means can also be used for guiding the placement of subsequent infill, development and injection wells. In addition by permitting the active deformation field to be seen, it allows potential hazards to the field infrastructure to be recognized. By predicting the fluid paths, the invention forms an important adjunct to 4D active seismic analysis which monitors the migration of fluid fronts.