Daniel R Boone

US Patent:

20010032928, Oct 25, 2001

Filed:

Feb 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/776330

Inventors:

Daniel Boone - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

G01V005/00

US Classification:

250/253000

Abstract:

A system and method for performing a radiological survey to identify subterranean hydrocarbon reserves. In one embodiment, the system includes a vehicle which serves as a platform for a radiation detector and a position sensing system. The radiation detector takes continuous measurements of surface radiation as the vehicle traverses the survey area, thereby measuring an average of the radiation over a portion of the vehicle's path. As each radiation measurement is taken, corresponding position information is generated by the position sensing system and recorded. In one embodiment, the position sensing system comprises a global positioning system which produces coordinates corresponding to the radiation measurements. The data generated by the system can be used to produce radiological maps of the survey area. The data can also be used to calculate the volume of hydrocarbon reserves underlying the survey area. Generally speaking, low radiation levels indicate the presence of hydrocarbon reserves.

US Patent:

49613430, Oct 9, 1990

Filed:

Jul 19, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/382900

Inventors:

Daniel E. Boone - Houston TX

Assignee:

IDL, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 4900

US Classification:

73152

Abstract:

During oil and gas well drilling operations, at the wellsite surface the percentage by volume of hydrocarbon gas present in the return drilling fluid is monitored in order to determine the percentage of gas saturation in the formation. Rate of penetration of the drill bit is monitored as well. A pore saturation function is derived wherein anomalously low values thereof relative to expected values for productive zones indicate flushing ahead of the drill bit of hydrocarbons out of the pore volume of cuttings in the return fluid. A mud filtrate flow rate is then determined from the drilling rate, gas saturation, and formation porosity. Pressure differential in the vicinity of the drill bit is also determined, comprised of the difference between the drilling fluid column pressure and pore pressure. Formation permeability is then directly determined in real time during the drilling operation from a functional relationship between the filtrate flow rate, pressure differential, and viscosity of the drilling fluid.

US Patent:

47651822, Aug 23, 1988

Filed:

Jan 13, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/818024

Inventors:

Daniel E. Boone - Houston TX

Assignee:

IDL, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 4908

US Classification:

73153

Abstract:

During oil and gas well drilling operations, drilling fluid volume circulated per preselected vertical borehole increment drilled is continuously measured as well as the percentage by volume of hydrocarbon gas present in the return fluid. The gas is periodically sampled and analyzed to derive a relative ratio of C. sub. 1 and C. sub. 2 present therein. A functional relationship is then periodically computed relating the drilling fluid volume circulated per vertical increment drilled, and percentage of hydrocarbon gas therein, the rock volume of cuttings from which the gas evolved, and borehole pressure and temperature conditions at which each mud sample received respective cuttings to provide a percentage gas saturation parameter per vertical foot of reservoir. In functional response to the C. sub. 1 /C. sub. 2 ratio magnitudes, a product is derived comprised of the gas saturation value and a scaling factor yielding MCF gas/acre-foot at borehole pressure and temperature or Bbl of oil/acre-foot, yielding a direct measurement of reserves in place.