Microscopy imaging of earth formations
First Claim
1. A borehole tool for obtaining data concerning formation properties comprising,a means for isolating an interval of the formation from borehole fluids beyond the interval;
- a means for drawing formation fluid from the isolated interval of the formation;
a means for producing wave energy which reflects from the isolated interval and which is received by the tool, said wave energy passing through said drawn formation fluid, anda means for producing data representative of a property of a portion of the isolated interval based on the received wave energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Images of rock formations below the earth'"'"'s surface can be obtained on a microscopic scale. A borehole tool uses a seal to isolate an interval of the formation from borehole fluids which are outside the seal. A probe of the tool engages a wall of the formation and then draws formation fluid from the formation into the interior of the tool. The tool then produces an optical image of the formation which indicates rock texture. The seal can comprise a pad, inflatable packers, compressional packers, or cement plugs. The images of the formation can be obtained with electro-optic imagers such as charge-coupled devices (CCD) or a camera operating in the visible and/or near infrared range, or with ultrasonic transducers operating in the sub-MHz to mid GHz range, for example. The near infrared range provides an optical image of the formation through opaque fluids such as oil based muds or oil itself.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A borehole tool for obtaining data concerning formation properties comprising,
a means for isolating an interval of the formation from borehole fluids beyond the interval; -
a means for drawing formation fluid from the isolated interval of the formation; a means for producing wave energy which reflects from the isolated interval and which is received by the tool, said wave energy passing through said drawn formation fluid, and a means for producing data representative of a property of a portion of the isolated interval based on the received wave energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of using a downhole tool in a borehole to obtain data concerning formation properties, the steps comprising,
isolating an interval of the formation from borehole fluids beyond the interval; -
drawing formation fluid from the isolated interval of the formation; producing wave energy which passes through said drawn formation fluid and reflects from the isolated interval and receiving the energy with the tool; and producing signals based on the received wave energy, said signals comprising data representing a property of a portion of the isolated interval with the tool. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for characterizing properties of an earth formation comprising,
a means for obtaining through formation fluids drawn from an isolated region a first signal comprising a two-dimensional representation of a portion of a formation, wave energy having been reflected off the portion of the formation to produce the first signal; - and
a means for characterizing a formation property based on the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of characterizing properties of an earth formation, the steps comprising,
obtaining a first signal comprising a two-dimensional representation of a portion of a formation through formation fluid drawn from an isolated zone, wave energy having passed through the drawn formation fluid and been reflected off the portion of the formation to produce the first signal; - and
indicating a characterization of a formation property based on the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A downhole tool for obtaining data concerning formation properties comprising,
a sampling means having an inlet for providing fluid communication between the formation and the interior of the tool; -
a seal mounted adjacent the inlet to isolate an interval of the formation from borehole fluids located beyond the seal; a pump for drawing fluid from the formation through the inlet of the sampling means; and means for producing a signal comprising a two-dimensional representation of a portion of the isolated interval of the formation. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. The method for obtaining data concerning formation properties using a downhole tool comprising,
providing fluid communication between the formation and the interior of the tool through an inlet to a sampling means of the tool; -
isolating an interval of the formation from borehole fluids located beyond the interval with a seal mounted adjacent the inlet; drawing fluid, with a pump, from the formation through the inlet of the sampling means; and producing a signal comprising a two-dimensional representation of a portion of the isolated interval of the formation. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An apparatus for indicating a property of a formation comprising,
a means for producing substantially near infrared (NIR) light such that the NIR light passes through opaque formation fluid in a borehole to illuminate a surface in the borehole; -
a means for receiving the NIR light which reflects from the surface in the borehole and through the opaque formation fluid; a means for producing a signal in response to the received NIR light, the signal comprising a two-dimensional representation of the surface in the borehole and indicating a property of the formation. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for indicating formation properties using a borehole tool positioned in a borehole which contains formation fluid, the steps comprising,
producing with the borehole tool substantially near infrared (NIR) light such that the NIR light passes through the opaque formation fluid and illuminates a surface in the borehole; -
receiving with the borehole tool NIR light which reflects from the surface in the borehole and through opaque formation fluids; producing with the tool a signal based on the received NIR light, the signal comprising a two-dimensional representation of the surface in the borehole and indicating a property of the formation. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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Specification