Method of determining material properties in the earth by measurement of deformations due to subsurface pressure changes
November 10, 2013. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 3741653 Method of determining change in subsurface structure due to application of fluid pressure to the earth Method of determining the azimuth and length of a deep vertical fracture in the earth Process for structural geologic analysis of topography and point data Subterranean formation treating with delayed crosslinking gel fluids Methods for monitoring temperature-vs-depth characteristics in a borehole during and after hydraulic fracture treatments Method of evaluating subsurface fracturing operations Sequential hydraulic fracturing of a subsurface formation Controlling fracture growth Method for acid fracturing a subterranean formation Patent #: 5310003 InventorsApplicationNo. 150697 filed on 11/10/1993US Classes:73/37, WITH FLUID PRESSURE73/152.59, By measurement of response due to force73/807, Applied directly by fluid pressure166/254.1, Determining position of earth zone or marker175/58, Sampling of earth formations324/330By aerial surveyExaminersPrimary: Noland, TomAssistant: Wiggins, J. David International ClassG01N 019/02AbstractThis invention relates to a method of determination of the deformation of the surface or subsurface of the earth resulting from an applied pressure change at a selected point, at a selected depth, in the earth, by measuring at least one physical parameter of the deformation above the point of application of pressure change. The method involves positioning a plurality of tiltmeters on or below the surface of the earth above the point of application of pressure change arranged in a known array, and measuring the change of angle of tilt of earth's surface or subsurface at the point of placement of each sensor while varying the pressure and flow rate of fluid into or out of the earth at the selected point. This invention further teaches how the individual values of incremental tilt at selected points on or below the earth's surface can be processed to determine material properties at selected points in the earth. | |
