Tomographic Imaging of Fracture - Fault Permeability Zones During Cementing Operations

摘要

Disclosed are various embodiments of methods for identifying faults and fractures, and other permeable features, within geologic layers during a drilling operation comprising; recording microseismic data during a drilling operation; recording times and positions of a drill bit in a well bore during the drilling operation; processing microseismic data at a plurality of selected times and locations to image microseismic events and identifying faults and fractures, and other permeable features, from corresponding images of microseismic events. In other embodiments, the integrity of a cementing operation may be verified by recording microseismic data during a cementing operation; recording times and positions of a cementing operation in a well bore during the cementing operation; processing microseismic data at a plurality of selected times and locations to image microseismic events and identifying faults and fractures, and other permeable features, within the cemented zone from corresponding images of microseismic events.

主权项

1. A method for monitoring the progress and success of a cementing operation and verifying the integrity of cementing in a well bore comprising:
recording microseismic data during a cementing operation; recording times and positions corresponding to such times of a cement slug in a well bore during the cementing operation; processing microseismic data at a plurality of selected times and locations proximate the well bore to image microseismic events and identifying faults and other natural or induced fractures associated with the cementing operation from images of microseismic events.