The application of the self potential profiling method in the delineation of buried geothermal reservoirs

The self potential measurement has long been a widely used geophysical tool to delineate geological parameters. Borehole applications are well known, and when used in profiling observed potentials across an area, ore bodies can be located and boundaries defined. The self-potential profiling technique has been applied in the discovery and delineation of geothermal reservoirs in sedimentary sequences of strata. Laboratory data show that upon the introduction of heat to simulated reservoir systems, at differing physical boundaries where coupling exists, electric currents are generated which can be measured at the surface. Field work was carried out over shallow oil reservoirs undergoing thermal recovery projects, representing artificial geothermal reservoirs. By profiling self-potential measurements across the pattern in which high heat flow was introduced, the method has shown the ability to locate, delineate, and trace the movement of the high temperature system through the life of the field under production. Field techniques are still unrefined, and the applicability of the method to delineate heat movements of thermal projects in oilfields may necessitate control of on-site facilities. The method may further be limited by the geological characteristics of the surface layers of rock

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Engineering

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Petroleum Engineering

Grantor

University of Texas at Austin

Year dc:date.issued

1978

Author dc:creator

• Dahlgren, Duane Christopher

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Dorfman, Myron

• Self-potential method
• Prospecting
• Geothermal reservoirs
• Sedimentary strata
• Oil reservoirs
• Geothermal reservoir location
• Geothermal reservoir delineation
• Thermal projects

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the Libraries' web site by University Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.26153/tsw/55666

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/129151