IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,704,470
Granted Patent B1
US 12,704,470 · App. 18/823,470 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Estimation of paleo-depositional cycles in organic-rich chalk by NMR restricted diffusion

Inventors: Eva G. Vinegar (West Lake Hills, TX); Xinglin Wang (Houston, TX); Yunke Liu (Houston, TX); Philip M. Singer (Richmond, TX); George J. Hirasaki (Bellaire, TX); Harold J. Vinegar (West Lake Hills, TX)
Assignee: VINEGAR TECHNOLOGIES LLC
G01N24/081G01R33/56341
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,704,470
App. No.
18/823,470
Filed
Sep 3, 2024
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B1
Art Unit
2852
USPC
324/309
Abstract

Estimating paleo-depositional cycles in a geological formation is accomplished by obtaining 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of restricted diffusion of a protonated fluid in a direction perpendicular to a bedding plane in a core sample aligned in the perpendicular direction and removed from the geological formation. Diffusive tortuosity is estimated from the restricted diffusion measurements, and a diffusion length at which the restricted diffusion in the core sample reaches a tortuosity limit is ascertained. An average spacing between sedimentary boundaries of restricted diffusion can then be calculated.

Claims (16)

1 . A method of estimating paleo-depositional cycles in a geological formation, the method comprising:

a. obtaining 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of restricted diffusion of a protonated fluid in a direction perpendicular to a bedding plane in a core sample aligned in the perpendicular direction and removed from the geological formation;

b. estimating diffusive tortuosity from the restricted diffusion measurements;

c. ascertaining a diffusion length at which the restricted diffusion in the core sample reaches a tortuosity limit; and

d. calculating an average spacing between sedimentary boundaries of restricted diffusion.

2 . The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising: estimating a duration of an average paleo-depositional cycle based on the calculated average spacing between sedimentary boundaries of restricted diffusion and an estimated sedimentary depositional rate.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the sedimentary deposition rate is based on an age-depth plot of the geological formation.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the age-depth plot can be obtained from radioactivity, paleomagnetic and/or bio stratigraphic data obtained from core or well logs.

5 . The method of claim 2 , additionally comprising: comparing the estimated duration of the paleo-depositional cycles to present-day climate cycles.

6 . The method of claim 5 , additionally comprising: determining a change between the estimated duration of the paleo-depositional cycles to present-day climate cycles.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the present-day climate cycles are an average of ENSO cycles dating back to 1850.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the calculating of the average spacing between sedimentary boundaries of restricted diffusion includes multiplying, by a constant, the ascertained diffusion length at which the tortuosity limit is reached.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the constant is between 1.5 and 2.5.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the constant is between 1.8 and 2.2.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the estimating of diffusive tortuosity includes using a Padé fit.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sedimentary boundaries of restricted diffusion comprise organic-rich layers and layers of accumulated shell fragments.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 11, 2024
From: VINEGAR, EVA G.; VINEGAR, HAROLD J.
To: VINEGAR TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 069551/0953 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 63536104 · Sep 1, 2023
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