Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

Method and apparatus for investigating earth formations according to the present invention include positioning an opening of a fluid reservoir in contact with the surface of an earth formation to be investigated and injecting the fluid at high pressures through the opening into the formation to cause a transient electrokinetic potential to form in the formation. The transient streaming potentials generated are detected by appropriate electrodes, and the outputs of the electrodes, representative of the generated potentials, are then processed to determine a characteristic response time of these streaming potentials. Thereafter, from a knowledge of the characteristic response time of the detected streaming potentials a measurement of the permeability of the formation is derived.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim