Nano-level evaluation of kerogen-rich reservoir rock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10379068-B2
Application number	US-201816122701-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2018
Priority date	Sep 3, 2015
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

Nano-level evaluation of kerogen-rich reservoir rock is described. A nano-scale beam is formed from kerogen-rich reservoir rock. The nano-scale beam includes reservoir rock and kerogen having polymeric properties. A mechanical experiment is performed on the nano-scale beam. The mechanical experiment is imaged using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) or a transmission electron microscope (TEM). A material parameter of the kerogen in the nano-scale beam is determined based on the mechanical experiment and images obtained responsive to the imaging.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
forming a beam from a cement mixture comprising cement and a polymer, wherein a maximum dimension of the beam is at most 1000 micrometer (μm);
performing a mechanical experiment on the beam, wherein the mechanical experiment comprises a tension test or a compression test;
imaging the mechanical experiment using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) or a transmission electron microscope (TEM); and
determining a material parameter of the polymer in the beam based on results of the mechanical experiment and images obtained responsive to the imaging;
before forming the beam, treating the cement mixture with an organic additive configured to alter properties of the polymer in the cement mixture; and
determining an effect of organic additive on the polymer in the mixture based on the material parameter of the polymer in the beam.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical experiment is the tension test, and wherein the material parameter of the polymer in the beam comprises a tensile strength of the beam.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tension test is a cantilever test, wherein performing the cantilever test comprises applying a force of the order of micro-Newtons on a free-end of the beam, wherein determining the material parameter comprises measuring a bending of the cantilever responsive to force.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maximum dimension of the beam is at least 100 nanometer (nm) and at most 1000 nm.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the beam is formed using a focused ion beam.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Hull Katherine Leigh
• Abousleiman Younane N

Classifications

• E21B49/00

  Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells · CPC title

• G01N2203/0647

  Image analysis · CPC title

• G01N23/20025 Primary

  Sample holders or supports therefor · CPC title

• G01N2223/102

  beta or electrons · CPC title

• G01N3/08

  by applying steady tensile or compressive forces (G01N3/28 takes precedence) · CPC title