Title: Simulating current flow through a well casing and an induced fracture

Abstract

A system includes a receiver component that receives a model of a well system, the model comprising a representation of an electrically energized well casing and/or a fracture as a transmission line that leaks electric current as the current traverses the well casing and/or fracture. The receiver component also receives a value that indicates an amount of the current that is applied to the well casing and a location of a source of the current on the well casing. The system further includes an electromagnetic field calculator component that calculates an estimated electromagnetic field at at least one location on the surface of the earth based at least in part upon the representation of the electrically energized well casing and/or fracture, the value that indicates the amount of current that is applied to the well casing, and the location of the source of the current on the well casing.

Inventors:

Bartel, Lewis C.

Issue Date:

2020-09-08

Research Org.:

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1735232

Patent Number(s):

10767465

Application Number:

15/412,374

Assignee:

National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (Albuquerque, NM)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING

G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06F - ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING

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E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING

E21B41/0092 - {Methods relating to program engineering, design or optimisation}

G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06F - ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING

G06F2111/10 - Numerical modelling
G06F30/23 - using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM]

E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING

E21B43/26 - by forming crevices or fractures {
E21B17/003 - {with electrically conducting or insulating means

G - PHYSICS G06 - COMPUTING G06F - ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING

G06F17/11 - for solving equations {, e.g. nonlinear equations, general mathematical optimization problems
G06F30/30 - Circuit design

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS

G01V3/20 - operating with propagation of electric current
G01V99/005 - {Geomodels or geomodelling, not related to particular measurements}

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC04-94AL85000

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 01/23/2017

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English