Measuring hydrocarbon content of a rock formation downhole using laser-induced vaporization and pyrolysis

摘要

A downhole tool to make one or more downhole measurements of laser-induced vaporization and/or pyrolysis of hydrocarbons is provided and disposed at a desired location within a wellbore. A tool head of the downhole tool is brought into sealing engagement with the wellbore wall. The fluid within an interior region enclosed by the tool head and the wellbore wall is evacuated and a measurement spot is irradiated with a laser to generate volatile hydrocarbons and/or pyrolytic hydrocarbons. Measurements are made on the volatile hydrocarbons and/or pyrolytic hydrocarbons and one or more formation properties are inferred based on the measurements. A low level of laser radiation intensity, irradiating some or all of the wellbore wall enclosing the interior region, may be used to prevent measurement contamination, and both medium power and high power levels of laser radiation may be used to first vaporize and then pyrolyze the hydrocarbons.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
providing a downhole tool to make one or more downhole measurements of laser-induced vaporization and/or pyrolysis of hydrocarbons, and disposing the downhole tool at a desired location within a wellbore; bringing a tool head of the downhole tool into sealing engagement with a wall of the wellbore; evacuating fluid within an interior region enclosed by the tool head and the wellbore wall; irradiating a measurement spot with a laser to generate volatile hydrocarbons and/or pyrolytic hydrocarbons; making measurements on the volatile hydrocarbons and/or pyrolytic hydrocarbons; and inferring one or more formation properties based on the measurements.