WO1988010437A1 - Thermoluminescent method of locating oil and gas reservoirs - Google Patents
Thermoluminescent method of locating oil and gas reservoirs Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1988010437A1 WO1988010437A1 PCT/AU1988/000214 AU8800214W WO8810437A1 WO 1988010437 A1 WO1988010437 A1 WO 1988010437A1 AU 8800214 W AU8800214 W AU 8800214W WO 8810437 A1 WO8810437 A1 WO 8810437A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- gas
- oil
- samples
- thermoluminescence
- hydrocarbon reservoir
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01T—MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
- G01T1/00—Measuring X-radiation, gamma radiation, corpuscular radiation, or cosmic radiation
- G01T1/02—Dosimeters
- G01T1/10—Luminescent dosimeters
- G01T1/11—Thermo-luminescent dosimeters
Definitions
- This invention relates to a method of exploration of petroleum, gas and hydrocarbons using natural and artificial thermoluminescence analysis methods (here ⁇ inafter abbreviated NTL and ATL respectively).
- NTL and ATL natural and artificial thermoluminescence analysis methods
- thermoluminescence describes the emission of light caused by thermal activation of trapped excess electrons and their corresponding electron deficient sites (holes). Activation may lead to a recombination of electrons and holes which will result in the emission of quanta of light.
- This patent application although specifically related to a method of locating an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir further develops the use of both natural and artificial thermoluminescence techniques.
- the number of hole traps in quartz may be expected to be larger than the number of electron traps, but as the number of holes and electrons eventually trapped must be equal, the electron trapping mechanism becomes the predominant factor affecting the resultant strength of the TL signal.
- the intensity and shape of the mineral glow curves depend on a number of factors such as lattice vacancies and impurities capable of acting as traps, respective crystal field energies, and trap densities and charged occupancies.
- factors including the charge occupancy rate are a function of, and are affected by, external physical effects where the term external physical effect refers to external influences such as ionising radiation, mineralising processes or heat.
- the charge occupancy affects the strength of the TL signal, TL has in the past been used as a dosimeter.
- the exploration for petroleum, gas and hydrocarbons will use both natural and artificial TL.
- the exploration for hydrocarbons using TL will be conducted on naturally occurring rocks, minerals, or combinations of minerals to determine proximity of a sample to a hydrocarbon occurrence, or the potential for hydrocarbons to occur in the environment of the sample.
- Such TL analysis can be carried out on whole rock samples, quartz, feldspars, carbonates, clays, micas, apatite, zircon, sphene and other common or accessory rock-forming minerals. In this specification, such samples are referred to interchangeably as rock samples or mineral samples.
- the NTL method comprises first heating the sample from ambient temperature to an elevated temperature and measuring the intensity of luminescent radiation at a plurality of glow peak temperatures and wavelengths.
- the luminescent radiation is then related to the luminescent radiation of reference samples where the reference samples have been subjected to known and derived degrees of external physical effects wherein the degree of external physical effect on the unknown sample can be used to determine the degree of external physical effect that may be caused, for example, by external radioactive sources. This may be used to determine the proximity of the sample to hydrocarbon occurrences or the potential for oil and/or gas to occur in the environment of the sample.
- the sample is irradiated with ionising radiation in the laboratory at one or a plurality of dosages, and then heated as previously described with luminescent intensities being measured at a plurality of glow peak temperatures and wavelengths.
- the luminescent intensities can then be related to the luminescent intensity of reference samples wherein the reference samples have been subjected to a known and/or derived degree of external physical effect.
- the comparison of these samples to reference samples enables determination of the degree of external physical effect that may be caused, for example, by external radioactive sources. This may then be used to determine the proximity of the samples to oil and/or gas occurrences.
- thermoluminescence techniques to detect radiation damage occurring along a fault line resulting from radioactive gas, which is associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir.
- the invention uses the NTL and ATL processes to detect the effects of ionising radiation along such fault lines which results from the presence of radon gas or other radioactive gases associated with hydrocarbon reservoirs which in turn indicates the occurrence or proximity of oil or gas reservoirs to the fault structure though existing at de th.
- the invention comprises a method of locating an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir wherein fault lines associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir are located by analysing rock samples using thermoluminescence techniques to detect the effect of ionising radiation damage to the rock samples from radioactive gas that would be associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir and as a result would occur along said fault lines and cause said radiation damage.
- methods of collecting rock samples comprise both surface sampling techniques and drill sample analysis techniques.
- rock samples taken from substantially surface locations, that is just below the surface, so as to avoid weathered samples from the surface are taken over an area from evenly spaced locations, such as a grid pattern, so as to detect anomalous radiation tends which may relate to fault lines associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir.
- drill sample a series of drills holes would preferably be used where rock samples are taken at spaced intervals along each drill sample, so as to locate any rock samples having radiation damage.
- Such radiation damaged rock samples indicate fault lines associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir.
- Fig. 1 shows a typical cross section of a shallow oil reservoir.
- Such reservoirs may contain both oil and gas, and are frequently associated with accumulation of radioactive minerals such as uranium.
- Such reservoirs often have fault lines that extend through the various strata levels to the ground. As the radioactive minerals such as uranium decay, radon gas is produced, and this gas escapes to the surface along these fault lines.
- Samples are collected from the surface, near surface or at varying depths within drill holes.
- the natural radioactive background is measured for each sample.
- the NTL is measured by heating the sample from ambient temperature to an elevated temperature and the luminescent radiation measured at a plurality of glow peak temperatures and wavelengths.
- the NTL expected can be estimated when the age of the sample and the radioactive history of the sample is known. If the NTL of the sample exceeds the expected NTL then it is possible to assign the excess NTL to the effects of ionising radiation which in turn may be attributed to underlying oil and/or gas reservoirs. Effect on surface samples of ultraviolet light and optical bleaching should be taken into account if surface samples are used.
- the ATL process may be induced by exposing the samples to one, or a series of, ionising radiation doses, and the ATL can be measured by heating the sample from ambient temperature to an elevated temperature during which the luminescent radiation is measured at a plurality of glow peak temperatures and wavelengths. These luminescent intensities may then be compared to those of reference samples, wherein the degree of radiation is known in the reference sample, thus enabling determination of the amount of radiation effects upon the sample.
- the amount of radiation damage (as measured by ATL in this case) suffered by the samples can be compared with that expected given the age of samples and their radioactive history.
- the excess of radiation damage in a series of samples may then be related to underlying oil or gas reservoirs.
- Both the NTL and ATL process may be measured on whole rock samples or on monomineralic or multimineralic extracts of quartz, feldspars, carbonate, micas, clays, apatite, zircon, sphene and other common or accessory rock-forming minerals.
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
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- High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
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- Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
- Investigating, Analyzing Materials By Fluorescence Or Luminescence (AREA)
Abstract
A method of exploration of petroleum, gas and hydrocarbons using natural and artificial thermoluminescence analysis techniques to detect the effects of ionising radiation along fault lines which results from the presence of radon gas or other radioactive gases associated with hydrocarbon reservoirs which in turn indicates the occurrence or proximity of oil or gas reservoirs to the fault structure though existing at depth.
Description
Thermoluminesceπt method of locating oil and gas reservoirs
This invention relates to a method of exploration of petroleum, gas and hydrocarbons using natural and artificial thermoluminescence analysis methods (here¬ inafter abbreviated NTL and ATL respectively). In a previous patent application number
PCT/AU87/00017 the inventors have disclosed an analysis method using thermoluminescence. In general, thermoluminescence (TL) describes the emission of light caused by thermal activation of trapped excess electrons and their corresponding electron deficient sites (holes). Activation may lead to a recombination of electrons and holes which will result in the emission of quanta of light. This patent application, although specifically related to a method of locating an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir further develops the use of both natural and artificial thermoluminescence techniques.
External physical effects such as ionizing radiation, mineralisation processes and temperature conditions cause defects within minerals. These defects are capable of trapping electrons and holes (sites which have los-t an electron). These electrons and holes are produced by ionizing radiation either in nature (measured as the natural TL, (NTL)) or in the laboratory (measured as artificial TL, (ATL)). Most electrons and holes recombine almost immediately but in non-conducting minerals a small percentage of the holes and excess electrons may be trapped on lattice defects and impurities.
In minerals such as quartz, for example, a material often used in TL investigations of mineral deposits, a well known hole trap is a silicon site in which A 3+ has been substituted for Si4+. Electrons can also be trapped, and this usually occurs on vacant oxygen
•} _ sites where O charge is missing. Initially the number of hole traps in quartz may be expected to be larger than the number of electron traps, but as the number of holes and electrons eventually trapped must be equal, the electron trapping mechanism becomes the predominant factor affecting the resultant strength of the TL signal.
These trapped charges can be released by thermal activation which facilitates recombination of the holes and electrons. .If recombination occurs at a specific site it may result in the emission of a quantum of visible light. This light can be measured and recorded as a glow peak. As electron and holes may be trapped on a variety of sites with different crystal field energy, different amounts of thermal activation will be required to release them, and so over a range of temperatures a number of glow peaks are recorded which constitute a glow curve. Quartz typically gives several major glow peaks, and rn particular, those at approximately 190°C, 260°C and 350°C, with subordinate peaks at- 150°C and 220°C. A major peak at 110°C may also appear.
The intensity and shape of the mineral glow curves
depend on a number of factors such as lattice vacancies and impurities capable of acting as traps, respective crystal field energies, and trap densities and charged occupancies. Several of these factors including the charge occupancy rate are a function of, and are affected by, external physical effects where the term external physical effect refers to external influences such as ionising radiation, mineralising processes or heat. As the charge occupancy affects the strength of the TL signal, TL has in the past been used as a dosimeter.
In this invention, the exploration for petroleum, gas and hydrocarbons will use both natural and artificial TL. The exploration for hydrocarbons using TL will be conducted on naturally occurring rocks, minerals, or combinations of minerals to determine proximity of a sample to a hydrocarbon occurrence, or the potential for hydrocarbons to occur in the environment of the sample. Such TL analysis can be carried out on whole rock samples, quartz, feldspars, carbonates, clays, micas, apatite, zircon, sphene and other common or accessory rock-forming minerals. In this specification, such samples are referred to interchangeably as rock samples or mineral samples.
The NTL method comprises first heating the sample from ambient temperature to an elevated temperature and measuring the intensity of luminescent radiation at a plurality of glow peak temperatures and wavelengths. The luminescent radiation is then related to the
luminescent radiation of reference samples where the reference samples have been subjected to known and derived degrees of external physical effects wherein the degree of external physical effect on the unknown sample can be used to determine the degree of external physical effect that may be caused, for example, by external radioactive sources. This may be used to determine the proximity of the sample to hydrocarbon occurrences or the potential for oil and/or gas to occur in the environment of the sample.
In the ATL process, the sample is irradiated with ionising radiation in the laboratory at one or a plurality of dosages, and then heated as previously described with luminescent intensities being measured at a plurality of glow peak temperatures and wavelengths. The luminescent intensities can then be related to the luminescent intensity of reference samples wherein the reference samples have been subjected to a known and/or derived degree of external physical effect. As with the NTL process, the comparison of these samples to reference samples enables determination of the degree of external physical effect that may be caused, for example, by external radioactive sources. This may then be used to determine the proximity of the samples to oil and/or gas occurrences.
It is a known fact that oil and gas reservoirs are normally associated with accumulation of radioactive minerals. Some of these radioactive minerals and/or
their daughter products (principally radon gas) may escape to the surface along fault lines, lineaments and other structures associated with hydrocarbon reservoirs. In the past it has been known to provide receptacles along such fault lines to collect radon gas samples, and by measuring the existence of quantities of radon gas this gives an indication as to the presence of oil or gas reservoirs along such fault lines, existing at depth. However measurement of the existence of radon gas is likely to measure radioactive levels at only three to five times above background radiation levels where NTL and ATL should give greater accuracy, since they will detect cumulative radiation built up over geological time, rather than instantaneous radon emanations.
Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a method of locating an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir by using thermoluminescence techniques to detect radiation damage occurring along a fault line resulting from radioactive gas, which is associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir.
In its broadest sense, the invention uses the NTL and ATL processes to detect the effects of ionising radiation along such fault lines which results from the presence of radon gas or other radioactive gases associated with hydrocarbon reservoirs which in turn indicates the occurrence or proximity of oil or gas reservoirs to the fault structure though existing at
de th.
More particularly, the invention comprises a method of locating an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir wherein fault lines associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir are located by analysing rock samples using thermoluminescence techniques to detect the effect of ionising radiation damage to the rock samples from radioactive gas that would be associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir and as a result would occur along said fault lines and cause said radiation damage. In further aspects of the invention methods of collecting rock samples comprise both surface sampling techniques and drill sample analysis techniques. In surface sampling, rock samples taken from substantially surface locations, that is just below the surface, so as to avoid weathered samples from the surface, are taken over an area from evenly spaced locations, such as a grid pattern, so as to detect anomalous radiation tends which may relate to fault lines associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir.
In the case of drill sample, a series of drills holes would preferably be used where rock samples are taken at spaced intervals along each drill sample, so as to locate any rock samples having radiation damage. Such radiation damaged rock samples indicate fault lines associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir.
A preferred embodiment will now be described hereunder in further detail, but the invention will not
be confined or restricted to any one of the details of this embodiment.
Fig. 1 shows a typical cross section of a shallow oil reservoir. Such reservoirs may contain both oil and gas, and are frequently associated with accumulation of radioactive minerals such as uranium. Such reservoirs often have fault lines that extend through the various strata levels to the ground. As the radioactive minerals such as uranium decay, radon gas is produced, and this gas escapes to the surface along these fault lines.
Samples are collected from the surface, near surface or at varying depths within drill holes. The natural radioactive background is measured for each sample. The NTL is measured by heating the sample from ambient temperature to an elevated temperature and the luminescent radiation measured at a plurality of glow peak temperatures and wavelengths. The NTL expected can be estimated when the age of the sample and the radioactive history of the sample is known. If the NTL of the sample exceeds the expected NTL then it is possible to assign the excess NTL to the effects of ionising radiation which in turn may be attributed to underlying oil and/or gas reservoirs. Effect on surface samples of ultraviolet light and optical bleaching should be taken into account if surface samples are used.
In a second embodiment of the invention, the ATL process may be induced by exposing the samples to one, or a series of, ionising radiation doses, and the ATL
can be measured by heating the sample from ambient temperature to an elevated temperature during which the luminescent radiation is measured at a plurality of glow peak temperatures and wavelengths. These luminescent intensities may then be compared to those of reference samples, wherein the degree of radiation is known in the reference sample, thus enabling determination of the amount of radiation effects upon the sample.
As with the NTL method, the amount of radiation damage (as measured by ATL in this case) suffered by the samples can be compared with that expected given the age of samples and their radioactive history. The excess of radiation damage in a series of samples may then be related to underlying oil or gas reservoirs. Both the NTL and ATL process may be measured on whole rock samples or on monomineralic or multimineralic extracts of quartz, feldspars, carbonate, micas, clays, apatite, zircon, sphene and other common or accessory rock-forming minerals.
Claims
1. A method of locating an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir wherein fault lines associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir are located by analysing rock samples using thermoluminescence techniques to detect the effect of ionising radiation damage to the rock samples from radioactive gas that would be associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir and as a result would occur along said fault lines and cause said radiation damage.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the analysis of said rock sample comprises measuring thermoluminescence glow peaks of the rock sample and comparing the magnitude of estimated glow peaks, said estimates being based on age and expected radiation damage that would normally occur from background radiation.
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the thermoluminescence technique comprises natural thermoluminescence.
4. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the thermoluminescence technique comprises artificial thermoluminescence.
5. A method according to any preceding claim wherein a plurality of rock samples are taken from substantially surface locations, said samples being taken at evenly spaced intervals across an area such that any fault lines associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir may be located.
6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said rock samples are taken from a drill samples at spaced intervals along the core so as to locate fault lines associated with an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir.
7. A method of locating an oil, gas or hydrocarbon reservoir substantially as hereinbefore described.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPI2707 | 1987-06-25 | ||
| AU270787 | 1987-06-25 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO1988010437A1 true WO1988010437A1 (en) | 1988-12-29 |
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ID=3693198
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU1988/000214 WO1988010437A1 (en) | 1987-06-25 | 1988-06-24 | Thermoluminescent method of locating oil and gas reservoirs |
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| Country | Link |
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| WO (1) | WO1988010437A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104007483A (en) * | 2014-06-06 | 2014-08-27 | 马存飞 | Classification method of complex oil-gas blocked reservoirs |
| CN104977624A (en) * | 2014-04-07 | 2015-10-14 | Ifp新能源公司 | Method for monitoring a site for exploration and exploitation of non-conventional hydrocarbons |
| CN105093348A (en) * | 2014-04-25 | 2015-11-25 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司 | Multilayer oil gas resource amount prediction method |
| CN112505792A (en) * | 2021-01-21 | 2021-03-16 | 中国地质科学院矿产资源研究所 | Salt lake deep brine zone exploration method based on radon gas indication |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2451883A (en) * | 1945-10-25 | 1948-10-19 | Socony Vacuum Oil Co Inc | Geophysical prospecting |
| US2899558A (en) * | 1959-08-11 | Electric | ||
| US4267445A (en) * | 1978-12-04 | 1981-05-12 | Conoco, Inc. | Uranium prospecting method |
| EP0178279A1 (en) * | 1984-08-10 | 1986-04-16 | L'Etat belge, représenté par le Directeur Général des Services de Programmation de la Politique Scientifique | Method of prospecting for radioactive deposits by thermoluminescence |
| WO1987004528A1 (en) * | 1986-01-24 | 1987-07-30 | Luminis Pty. Ltd. | Minerals and petroleum exploration using thermoluminescence |
-
1988
- 1988-06-24 WO PCT/AU1988/000214 patent/WO1988010437A1/en unknown
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2899558A (en) * | 1959-08-11 | Electric | ||
| US2451883A (en) * | 1945-10-25 | 1948-10-19 | Socony Vacuum Oil Co Inc | Geophysical prospecting |
| US4267445A (en) * | 1978-12-04 | 1981-05-12 | Conoco, Inc. | Uranium prospecting method |
| EP0178279A1 (en) * | 1984-08-10 | 1986-04-16 | L'Etat belge, représenté par le Directeur Général des Services de Programmation de la Politique Scientifique | Method of prospecting for radioactive deposits by thermoluminescence |
| WO1987004528A1 (en) * | 1986-01-24 | 1987-07-30 | Luminis Pty. Ltd. | Minerals and petroleum exploration using thermoluminescence |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104977624A (en) * | 2014-04-07 | 2015-10-14 | Ifp新能源公司 | Method for monitoring a site for exploration and exploitation of non-conventional hydrocarbons |
| CN105093348A (en) * | 2014-04-25 | 2015-11-25 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司 | Multilayer oil gas resource amount prediction method |
| CN105093348B (en) * | 2014-04-25 | 2017-08-04 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司 | A kind of multilayer petroleum resources amount Forecasting Methodology |
| CN104007483A (en) * | 2014-06-06 | 2014-08-27 | 马存飞 | Classification method of complex oil-gas blocked reservoirs |
| CN112505792A (en) * | 2021-01-21 | 2021-03-16 | 中国地质科学院矿产资源研究所 | Salt lake deep brine zone exploration method based on radon gas indication |
| CN112505792B (en) * | 2021-01-21 | 2021-11-19 | 中国地质科学院矿产资源研究所 | Salt lake deep brine zone exploration method based on radon gas indication |
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