Infiltration point detection

Abstract

A method of detecting one or more potential infiltration points in ground based on cone penetration testing, CPT, data, obtained from CPT measurements throughout a depth interval, and hydraulic profiling tool, HPT, data, obtained from HPT measurements throughout the depth interval, and determining a vertical profile indicating the potential infiltration points and potential matrix failure processes. Unlocking insights from Geo-Data, the present invention further relates to improvements in sustainability and environmental developments: together we create a safe and liveable world.

1 . A method of detecting one or more infiltration points in ground, the method comprising:
 providing Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) data, obtained from CPT measurements throughout a depth interval of the ground;   providing Hydraulic Profiling Tool (HPT) data, obtained from HPT measurements throughout the depth interval;   determining the one or more infiltration points from analysis of the CPT data in combination with the HPT data.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 from the CPT data, determining initial effective vertical stress, σ′vi, and/or initial effective horizontal stress, σ′hi, over the depth interval,   from the HPT data, determining a corrected overpressure over the depth interval; and   from the initial effective vertical stress and/or the initial effective horizontal stress in combination with the corrected overpressure, determining ground disruption parameters, the ground disruption parameters predicting onset of one or more types of ground disruption at the corrected overpressure over the depth interval.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the one or more infiltration points are determined as one or more locations at which no ground disruption has been predicted. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising determining a vertical infiltration profile over the depth interval, the vertical infiltration profile indicating potential infiltration locations representing the one or more infiltration points along the depth interval and potential ground disruption along the depth interval. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising determining an ideal well depth from the vertical infiltration profile. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 from the determined ideal well depth, and values of an absolute permeability along the depth interval, determining a transmissivity over the depth interval.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising determining a maximum injection pressure profile as function of the depth interval. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the maximum injection pressure profile is calculated from CPT data. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising determining a maximum well injection capacity from the maximum injection pressure profile. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the CPT data and the HPT data are obtained simultaneously during CPT-HPT probing. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the CPT data and the HPT data are obtained from previous measurements and/or previously known data. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing mini pumping test (MPT), measurement data, obtained by one or more pressure testing series performed at one or more depths along the depth interval. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising determining, from the MPT measurement data, a specific absolute permeability over the depth interval, and determining, from the specific absolute permeability and from relative permeability determined from the HPT data, a cohesive strength and an absolute permeability over the depth interval. 
     
     
         14 . System for determination of one or more infiltration points in ground along a depth interval in the ground, the system comprising:
 a probe equipped with an opening for injecting fluid at a set fluid injection flow rate and at least one pressure sensor for measuring a pressure response in the ground; and   a processor, configured to:   provide Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) data, obtained from CPT measurements throughout a depth interval of the ground;   provide Hydraulic Profiling Tool (HPT) data, obtained from HPT measurements throughout the depth interval; and   determine the one or more infiltration points from analysis of the CPT data in combination with the HPT data.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 from the CPT data, determining initial effective vertical stress, σ′vi, and/or initial effective horizontal stress, σ′hi, over the depth interval,   from the HPT data, determining a corrected overpressure over the depth interval; and   from the initial effective vertical stress and/or the initial effective horizontal stress in combination with the corrected overpressure, determining ground disruption parameters, the ground disruption parameters predicting onset of one or more types of ground disruption at the corrected overpressure over the depth interval.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more infiltration points are determined as one or more locations at which no ground disruption has been predicted. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine a vertical infiltration profile over the depth interval, the vertical infiltration profile indicating potential infiltration locations representing the one or more infiltration points along the depth interval and potential ground disruption along the depth interval.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine an ideal well depth from the vertical infiltration profile.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 from the determined ideal well depth, and values of an absolute permeability along the depth interval, determining a transmissivity over the depth interval.   
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by a processor of a system configured to determine of one or more infiltration points in ground along a depth interval in the ground, causes the system to:
 configured a probe, the probe equipped with an opening for injecting fluid at a set fluid injection flow rate and at least one pressure sensor for measuring a pressure response in the ground;   provide Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) data, obtained from CPT measurements throughout the depth interval of the ground;   provide Hydraulic Profiling Tool (HPT) data, obtained from HPT measurements throughout the depth interval; and   determine the one or more infiltration points from analysis of the CPT data in combination with the HPT data.