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Title: Methods for enhancing mapping of thermal fronts in oil recovery

Abstract

A method for enhancing the resistivity contrasts of a thermal front in an oil recovery production field as measured by the CSAMT technique is disclosed. This method includes the steps of: (a) preparing a CSAMT-determined topological resistivity map of the production field; (b) introducing a solution of a dopant material into the production field at a concentration effective to alter the resistivity associated with the thermal front; said dopant material having a high cation exchange capacity which might be selected from the group consisting of montmorillonite, illite, and chlorite clays; said material being soluble in the connate water of the production field; (c) preparing a CSAMT-determined topological resistivity map of the production field while said dopant material is moving therethrough; and (d) mathematically comparing the maps from step (a) and step (c) to determine the location of the thermal front. This method is effective with the steam flood, fire flood and water flood techniques.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
  2. (Albuquerque, NM)
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
AT&T
OSTI Identifier:
866130
Patent Number(s):
4641099
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-76DP00789
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
methods; enhancing; mapping; thermal; fronts; oil; recovery; method; resistivity; contrasts; front; production; field; measured; csamt; technique; disclosed; steps; preparing; csamt-determined; topological; map; introducing; solution; dopant; material; concentration; effective; alter; associated; cation; exchange; capacity; selected; consisting; montmorillonite; illite; chlorite; clays; soluble; connate; water; moving; therethrough; mathematically; comparing; maps; step; determine; location; steam; flood; fire; techniques; oil recovery; cation exchange; thermal front; exchange capacity; water flood; /324/166/

Citation Formats

Lee, David O, Montoya, Paul C, and Wayland, Jr., James R. Methods for enhancing mapping of thermal fronts in oil recovery. United States: N. p., 1987. Web.
Lee, David O, Montoya, Paul C, & Wayland, Jr., James R. Methods for enhancing mapping of thermal fronts in oil recovery. United States.
Lee, David O, Montoya, Paul C, and Wayland, Jr., James R. Thu . "Methods for enhancing mapping of thermal fronts in oil recovery". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866130.
@article{osti_866130,
title = {Methods for enhancing mapping of thermal fronts in oil recovery},
author = {Lee, David O and Montoya, Paul C and Wayland, Jr., James R.},
abstractNote = {A method for enhancing the resistivity contrasts of a thermal front in an oil recovery production field as measured by the CSAMT technique is disclosed. This method includes the steps of: (a) preparing a CSAMT-determined topological resistivity map of the production field; (b) introducing a solution of a dopant material into the production field at a concentration effective to alter the resistivity associated with the thermal front; said dopant material having a high cation exchange capacity which might be selected from the group consisting of montmorillonite, illite, and chlorite clays; said material being soluble in the connate water of the production field; (c) preparing a CSAMT-determined topological resistivity map of the production field while said dopant material is moving therethrough; and (d) mathematically comparing the maps from step (a) and step (c) to determine the location of the thermal front. This method is effective with the steam flood, fire flood and water flood techniques.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1987},
month = {1}
}