IP Library Granted Patent US 8,590,382
Granted Patent B2
US 8,590,382 · App. 12/838,746 · Granted Nov 26, 2013

Method for evaluating shaped charge perforation test cores using computer tomographic images thereof

Inventors: Theodore E. Zaleski, Jr. (Spring, TX); Avrami S. Grader (Houston, TX); Henrique Tono (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Ingrain, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,590,382
App. No.
12/838,746
Granted
Nov 26, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for determining effects of perforation on a rock formation includes obtaining a sample of the rock formation. A perforation tunnel is created in the sample of the rock formation. The core sample is either subdivided into subsamples and a three dimensional tomographic image is made of each subsample and/or a three dimensional tomographic image is made of the sample of rock formation and the image thereof is segmented into sub images of selected subvolumes of the rock formation sample. At least one physical property of the rock formation is estimated from each tomographic image.

Claims (29)

1. A method for determining effects of perforation on a rock formation, comprising:

obtaining a sample of the rock formation;

creating a perforation tunnel in the sample of the rock formation;

at least one of subdividing the core sample into subsamples and making a three dimensional tomographic image of each subsample by utilizing x-ray computer tomographic imaging and making a three dimensional tomographic image of the sample of the rock formation and splitting the image thereof into sub images of selected subvolumes of the rock formation sample; and estimating at least one physical property of the rock formation from each tomographic image; and

utilizing values of the said at least one physical property of each subsample along with subsample's distance from the tunnel axis as a function describing radial profiles of the effect of perforation on the rock formation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one physical property comprises permeability.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein permeability is estimated using the Lattice-Boltzmann approximation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one physical property comprises electrical resistivity formation factor.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one physical property comprises acoustic compressional velocity.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one physical property comprises acoustic shear velocity.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the sample of the rock formation comprises a drilled core.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the sample of the rock formation comprises a surface outcrop sample.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a topology of the perforation tunnel.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the perforation tunnel is created by detonating a shaped explosive charge.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the making a perforation tunnel is performed before the making the three dimensional tomographic image, the method further comprising at least one of subdividing the core sample into subsamples and making a three dimensional tomographic image of each subsample and segmenting each image thereof and making a three dimensional tomographic image of the sample of the rock formation and segmenting the image thereof into sub images of selected subvolumes of the rock formation sample; and estimating at least one physical property of the rock formation from each tomographic image for the rock formation prior to making the perforation tunnel therein.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising entering the radially profiled physical property as input to a new reservoir simulation and estimating fluid flow from a subsurface reservoir from the simulation.

13. A method for determining effects of perforation on a rock formation, comprising:

obtaining a sample of the rock formation;

creating a perforation tunnel in the sample of the rock formation;

at least one of subdividing the core sample into subsamples and making a three dimensional tomographic image of each subsample by utilizing x-ray computer tomographic imaging and making a three dimensional tomographic image of the sample of the rock formation and segmenting the image thereof into sub images of selected subvolumes of the rock formation sample; and estimating at least one physical property of the rock formation from each tomographic image;

obtaining samples at a plurality of radial distances from an axis of the perforation tunnel and repeating the making an image, segmenting the image and estimating at least one physical property to obtain a radial profile of the at least one physical property;

entering the radially profiled physical property as input to a reservoir simulation and estimating fluid flow from a subsurface reservoir from the simulation.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one physical property comprises permeability.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein permeability is estimated using the Lattice-Boltzmann approximation.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one physical property comprises electrical resistivity formation factor, acoustic compressional velocity, or acoustic shear velocity, or any combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the sample of the rock formation comprises a drilled core.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the sample of the rock formation comprises a surface outcrop sample.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining a topology of the perforation tunnel.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the perforation tunnel is created by detonating a shaped explosive charge.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2018
From: INGRAIN, INC.
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 047024/0084 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 5, 2017
From: COMERICA BANK
To: INGRAIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 042900/0176 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 5, 2017
From: GEMCAP LENDING I, LLC
To: INGRAIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 043090/0263 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2016
From: INGRAIN, INC.
To: GEMCAP LENDING I, LLC
Reel/Frame 039973/0886 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2015
From: INGRAIN, INC.
To: COMERICA BANK
Reel/Frame 034797/0255 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2010
From: ZALESKI, THEODORE E., JR.; GRADER, AVRAMI S.; TONO, HENRIQUE
To: INGRAIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 024844/0104 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61227651 · Jul 22, 2009
Related Publication 20110017447A1 · Jan 27, 2011