Abstract: A downhole tool includes a metal carrier tool body having at least one cavity formed in and opening to an outer surface defining an outer diameter of the metal carrier tool body and one or more explosive notching elements mounted in the at least one cavity, wherein the one or more explosive notching elements are configured to install notches on a surface of an uncased formation.

Abstract: A pressure cell for sum frequency generation spectroscopy includes: a metal pressure chamber; a heating stage that heats the liquid sample; a pump, connected to an interior of the metal pressure chamber, that pressurizes the interior of the metal pressure chamber; and a controller that controls the pump and the heating stage to control a pressure of the interior of the metal pressure chamber and a temperature of a liquid sample. The metal pressure chamber includes: a base that retains the liquid sample; a removable lid that seals against the base to enclose the liquid sample in the metal pressure chamber; and a window in the removable lid that exposes the liquid sample to an exterior of the metal pressure chamber.

Abstract: A method of making a portion of a microfluidic channel includes lithographically patterning a first pattern into a first layer of photoresist disposed on a substrate, the first pattern representative of morphology of a reservoir rock; etching the first pattern into the substrate to form a patterned substrate; disposing a second layer of photoresist onto the patterned substrate; lithographically patterning a second pattern into the second layer of photoresist to reveal portions of the patterned substrate; and depositing calcite onto the exposed portions of the patterned substrate.

Abstract: An x-ray imaging device for imaging a borehole environment employs a housing that encloses an x-ray generator spaced from an x-ray detector which cooperate to obtain an image of the borehole environment.

Abstract: An intelligent completion module comprises a flowmeter that uses one or more electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) sensors and a flow control valve. The flow rate and the speed of sound in the production fluid from a production zone is measured and used to make reservoir management decisions. The flowmeter comprises at least two EMAT rings, comprising one or more EMAT sensors in a circular distribution which can be used in propagation or pulse-echo modes. In a segregated flow regime, a single EMAT sensor in pulse-echo mode is used to measure holdups of fluid components.

Abstract: A method for fabricating calcite channels in a nanofluidic device is described. A porous membrane is attached to a substrate. Calcite is deposited in porous openings in the porous membrane attached to the substrate. A width of openings in the deposited calcite is in a range from 50 to 100 nanometers (nm). The porous membrane is etched to remove the porous membrane from the substrate to form a fabricated calcite channel structure. Each channel has a width in the range from 50 to 100 nm.

Abstract: A system having an NMR measurement device make measurements on a region of investigation in which an NMR-active fluid has been injected. A source of the NMR-active fluid (e.g., methane) is provided, and the pressure of the region of investigation may be monitored. A sealing apparatus serves to isolate the region of investigation. A parameter is estimating using the obtained measurement. The parameter estimated may include the inter-granular porosity, intra-kerogen porosity, kerogen maturity, free gas volume, and/or adsorbed gas volume. A baseline measurement may be made prior to injecting the NMR-active fluid, and the region of investigation may be evacuated before injecting the NMR-active fluid. The obtained T2 distribution can be resolved and each peak attributed to different constituent sources of the signal. The system can be conveyed into a wellbore using a drillstring, a wireline, a slickline, or a coil tubing.

Abstract: A method for fabricating calcite channels in a nanofluidic device is described. A porous membrane is attached to a substrate. Calcite is deposited in porous openings in the porous membrane attached to the substrate. A width of openings in the deposited calcite is in a range from 50 to 100 nanometers (nm). The porous membrane is etched to remove the porous membrane from the substrate to form a fabricated calcite channel structure. Each channel has a width in the range from 50 to 100 nm.

Abstract: A scratch tester has at least one cutter that moves simultaneously both rotationally and axially relative to the rock it is cutting. When rotational and axial movements are constant, the cutter generates a helical groove in the rock. In borehole embodiments, the scratch tester is fixed at a desired location using centralizers, and the cutter is provided on a motorized platform/track that translates between the centralizers and rotates around a central axis. The cutter faces outward and extends via a cutter arm to engage and carve a helical groove in the borehole wall. A laboratory scratch tester includes a holder for a solid cylindrical core sample and a motorized translating frame on which a cutter extends. The cutter is directed toward the core sample, and the holder with the core sample is rotated by a motor so that as the cutter translates relative thereto, a helical groove is cut thereinto.

Abstract: A neutron imaging device employs a neutron source including a sealed enclosure, gamma ray detector(s) spaced from the neutron source, and particle detector(s) disposed in the sealed enclosure of the neutron source. The output of the particle detector(s) can be used to obtain a direction of particles generated by the neutron source and corresponding directions of neutrons generated by the neutron source. Such information can be processed to determine locations in the surrounding borehole environment where the secondary gamma rays are generated and determine data representing formation density at such locations. In one aspect, the gamma ray detector(s) of the neutron imaging device can include at least one scintillation crystal with shielding disposed proximate opposite ends of the scintillation crystal. In another aspect, the particle detector(s) of the neutron imaging device can include a resistive anode encoder having a ceramic substrate and resistive glaze.

Abstract: An x-ray imaging device for imaging a borehole environment employs a housing that encloses an x-ray generator spaced from an x-ray detector which cooperate to obtain an image of the borehole environment.

Abstract: A method for fabricating calcite channels in a nanofluidic device is described. A photoresist layer is coated onto a top surface of a silicon nitride (SiN) substrate. After coating the photoresist layer, the photoresist layer is scanned with an electron beam in a predefined pattern. The scanned photoresist is developed to expose portions of the top surface of the SiN substrate in the predefined pattern. Calcite is deposited in the predefined pattern using atomic layer deposition (ALD) using a calcite precursor gas. Using a solvent, a remaining portion of the photoresist layer is removed to expose the deposited calcite in the predefined pattern and on the top surface of the SiN substrate, where a width of the deposited calcite is in range from 50 to 100 nanometers (nm).

Abstract: A method for fabricating calcite channels in a nanofluidic device is described. A photoresist layer is coated onto a top surface of a silicon nitride (SiN) substrate. After coating the photoresist layer, the photoresist layer is scanned with an electron beam in a predefined pattern. The scanned photoresist is developed to expose portions of the top surface of the SiN substrate in the predefined pattern. Calcite is deposited in the predefined pattern using atomic layer deposition (ALD) using a calcite precursor gas. Using a solvent, a remaining portion of the photoresist layer is removed to expose the deposited calcite in the predefined pattern and on the top surface of the SiN substrate, where a width of the deposited calcite is in range from 50 to 100 nanometers (nm).

Abstract: A method for fabricating calcite channels in a nanofluidic device is described. A porous membrane is attached to a substrate. Calcite is deposited in porous openings in the porous membrane attached to the substrate. A width of openings in the deposited calcite is in a range from 50 to 100 nanometers (nm). The porous membrane is etched to remove the porous membrane from the substrate to form a fabricated calcite channel structure. Each channel has a width in the range from 50 to 100 nm.

Abstract: Methods may include emplacing a downhole tool within a wellbore, sampling a fluid downhole with the downhole tool; analyzing the fluid, and calculating an interfacial tension (IFT), wherein calculating the acid-base IFT contribution comprises measuring a concentration of a surface-active species directly. Apparatuses for measuring an interfacial tension (IFT) in a fluid downhole may be part of a downhole tool and may include a sampling head to sample the fluid; and a downhole fluid analysis module that includes a spectrometer capable of measuring a concentration of a surface-active species in the fluid, and a processor configured to determine the IFT of the fluid downhole based on the measured concentration of the surface-active species.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for fabricating calcite channels in a nanofluidic device is described. A photoresist layer is coated onto a top surface of a silicon nitride (SiN) substrate. After coating the photoresist layer, the photoresist layer is scanned with an electron beam in a predefined pattern. The scanned photoresist is developed to expose portions of the top surface of the SiN substrate in the predefined pattern. Calcite is deposited in the predefined pattern using atomic layer deposition (ALD) using a calcite precursor gas. Using a solvent, a remaining portion of the photoresist layer is removed to expose the deposited calcite in the predefined pattern and on the top surface of the SiN substrate, where a width of the deposited calcite is in range from 50 to 100 nanometers (nm).

Abstract: A composition for increased hydrocarbon production from a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir. The composition includes a saltwater solution suitable for injection into the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir for water flooding, the saltwater solution having a salinity; and a plurality of nanocapsules, where the nanocapsules are operable to be suspended amongst the saltwater solution, where the nanocapsules have an overall positively charged outer surface at respective outer shells of the nanocapsules, where the nanocapsules encapsulate water molecules within the nanocapsules, and where the nanocapsules are operable to release the water molecules in the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir proximate overall negatively charged zones.

Abstract: A mineralogy composition of a formation of interest is determined using core samples or downhole measurements. A dry permittivity is determined for each identified mineral. A volumetric mixing law is employed using the determined mineralogy composition and the determined dry permitivities. An effective matrix permittivity is determined using results from the volumetric mixing law. Dielectric dispersion measurements of the subject formation are acquired using the core samples or the downhole measurements. A dielectric petrophysical model is produced using the dielectric dispersion measurements and the effective matrix permittivity. A water saturation is estimated based on the dielectric petrophysical model. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) T2 measurements having short echo spacings are acquired. A NMR petrophysical model is generated based on the NMR T2 measurements. A total porosity is determined based on the generated NMR petrophysical model.

Abstract: A tool having a pump-out unit, pumping unit, and NMR unit is disposed in a wellbore. On a pump-up cycle, after removing borehole fluids, a fluid is injected into a region of investigation. NMR measurements are made while fluid migrates into the region of investigation. On a production cycle, pressure is removed, allowing fluid to exit the formation while NMR measurements are made. A rate of fluid production is estimated using the time-dependent NMR measurements. Alternatively, the mass of a sample is measured. Fluid is injected into the sample and the mass of the injected sample is measured. Pressure is removed and the mass of the injected sample as the fluid migrates out of the sample is measured. The change in mass of the injected sample as the fluid migrates out of the sample is determined and a rate of fluid production is estimated using the determined change in mass.