Abstract: The invention relates to monitoring of fluid-filled domains in various media including, for example, subterranean formations, construction elements, bones. Claimed are a method for determining characteristic sizes of a fluid-filled crack in a medium and a system for implementation thereof. In accordance with this method, oscillations of the fluid-filled crack are registered. Wave characteristics of standing interface waves propagating along the fluid-filled crack surfaces are determined based on the registered oscillations taking medium and fluid properties into account. The fluid-filled crack characteristic sizes are calculated based on the determined wave characteristics of the standing interface waves.

Abstract: A device and method for determining a geophysical characteristic of a borehole using at least one logging device is provided, wherein the at least one logging device includes at least one sensing device. The method includes associating the at least one sensing device with the borehole, wherein the at least one sensing device includes a sensing device measurement length. The method also includes operating the at least one sensing device to generate borehole data responsive to a borehole portion disposed essentially adjacent the sensing device measurement length, wherein the borehole data includes start time of scan, location of the at least one sensing device at start time of scan, stop time of scan and location of the at least one sensing device at stop time of scan. Furthermore, the method includes correlating the borehole data to determine the geophysical characteristic.

Abstract: A method for selectively blocking water inflow from a water-producing formation of a hydrocarbon well provides for injecting into the well a controlled-gelation aqueous solution containing a hydrophobically-aggregating gelling agent and an effective amount of an inhibitor which suppresses hydrophobic aggregation of the gelling agent. The gelling agent is a water soluble-copolymer comprising hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomer units. The inhibitor is soluble in water so that when the controlled-gelation aqueous solution contacts aqueous media the inhibitor disperses so that gelation occurs and the formation is blocked. However, the inhibitor is substantially insoluble in hydrocarbons so that when the controlled-gelation aqueous solution contacts hydrocarbon media the inhibitor continues to suppress said hydrophobic aggregation and gelation is suppressed. The solution may be used to control the flow of water into oil wells, making it possible to reduce the water cut.

Abstract: A tool generates signals indicative a shear wave slowness of the formation surrounding a borehole. The tool comprises a collar portion adapted for mounting in a drill string, a quadrupole sonic transmitter mounted to the collar portion, and a quadrupole sonic receiver array mounted to the collar spaced apart from the transmitter. A method determines shear wave slowness of the formation. The method includes propagating quadrupole wave energy into the formation and detecting quadrupole dispersive waveform received at a second location. Formation shear wave slowness is calculated using dispersive slowness time coherence processing.

Abstract: A method for automated extraction of surface primitives from seismic data is presented. A preferred embodiment of the method includes defining, typically with sub-sample precision, positions of seismic horizons through an extrema representation of a 3D seismic input volume; deriving coefficients that represent the shape of the seismic waveform in the vicinity of the extrema positions; sorting the extrema positions into groups that have similar waveform shapes by applying classification techniques with the coefficients as input attributes using unsupervised or supervised classification based on an underlying statistical class model; and extracting surface primitives as surface segments that are both spatially continuous along the extrema of the seismic volume and continuous in class index in the classification volume.

Abstract: A method of measuring characteristics of a flowing fluid is described including: (a) providing a flowing fluid; (b) applying a static field gradient to the flowing fluid; (c) applying a series of nuclear magnetic resonance pulses to the flowing fluid; (d) detecting signals from the flowing fluid, wherein the signals are generated in response to the nuclear magnetic resonance pulses; and (e) analyzing the real and imaginary components of the signals to determine one or more characteristics of the flowing fluid. Also described is an apparatus for implementing this method.

Abstract: A controlled-gelation aqueous solution is proposed. The solution contains a hydrophobically-aggregating gelling agent, and an effective amount of an inhibitor which suppresses hydrophobic aggregation of the gelling agent. The inhibitor is soluble in water so that when the controlled-gelation aqueous solution contacts aqueous media the inhibitor disperses and gelation occurs. However, the inhibitor is substantially insoluble in hydrocarbons so that when the controlled-gelation aqueous solution contacts hydrocarbon media the inhibitor continues to suppress said hydrophobic aggregation and gelation is suppressed. The solution may be used to control the flow of water into oil wells, making it possible to reduce the water cut.

Abstract: A logging tool includes an elongated body housing a neutron source and at least one neutron detector positioned along one side of the neutron source. Some embodiments of the logging tool include at least one gamma ray detector longitudinally separated from and to one end of the neutron source, and may be used to make simultaneous gamma ray and neutron logging measurements. In some embodiments, the logging tool also includes a (n, 2n)-neutron shield positioned to one end of the neutron detector, longitudinally between the neutron detector and the neutron source.