Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for closed-loop control of a system using one or more electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) sensors located on-site. With such EPR sensors, a change can be applied to the system, the EPR sensors can measure the effect(s) of the change, and then adjustments can be made in real-time. This feedback process may be repeated continuously to control the system.

Method of exploiting and/or of monitoring the exploitation of a fluid such as a hydrocarbon fluid present in at least one geologic layer of an underground formation. From consecutive pressure and spontaneous potential measurements taken at least at one measurement point in at least one well drilled through at least the geologic layer of interest, the slope of a curve showing the evolution of the spontaneous potential gradient as a function of the pressure gradient is determined. Then, from this slope and from a graph representative of the evolution of the electrokinetic coupling coefficient as a function of the salinity for the layer considered, a salinity value is determined at the measurement point.

Naturally-occurring, electromagnetic signals generated by interaction of solar wind with earth's magnetosphere adjacent a borehole are measured by an electromagnetic sensor positioned adjacent the borehole in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Electromagnetic signals generated within the borehole are measured over a period of time by a borehole sensor positioned within the borehole. The electromagnetic signals change over the period of time due to variations in fluid distributions within the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Electromagnetic changes to the electromagnetic signals generated within the borehole and to the passive, naturally-occurring electromagnetic signals over the period of time are determined by one or more processors. A computational model of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation is generated based in part on the electromagnetic changes.

Naturally-occurring, electromagnetic signals generated by interaction of solar wind with earth's magnetosphere adjacent a borehole are measured by an electromagnetic sensor positioned adjacent the borehole in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Electromagnetic signals generated within the borehole are measured over a period of time by a borehole sensor positioned within the borehole. The electromagnetic signals change over the period of time due to variations in fluid distributions within the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Electromagnetic changes to the electromagnetic signals generated within the borehole and to the passive, naturally-occurring electromagnetic signals over the period of time are determined by one or more processors. A computational model of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation is generated based in part on the electromagnetic changes.

Method of exploiting and/or of monitoring the exploitation of a fluid such as a hydrocarbon fluid present in at least one geologic layer of an underground formation.

From consecutive pressure and spontaneous potential measurements taken at least at one measurement point in at least one well drilled through at least the geologic layer of interest, the slope of a curve showing the evolution of the spontaneous potential gradient as a function of the pressure gradient is determined. Then, from this slope and from a graph representative of the evolution of the electrokinetic coupling coefficient as a function of the salinity for the layer considered, a salinity value is determined at the measurement point.

Drilling systems and related methods are disclosed. A drilling systems may include a tool configured to be positioned at an end of a drill string adjacent a drill bit, and the tool may be configured to detect localized seismo-electromagnetic conversion from one or more predetermined positions within a medium ahead of the drill bit. The tool may include two or more pressure sources configured to generate focused acoustic and/or elastic energy at the one or more predetermined positions to generate the localized seismo-electric conversion.

An electromagnetic (EM) receiver system for measuring EM signals. The EM receiver system includes a survey EM transmitter for generating survey EM signals within a first frequency range; a calibration EM transmitter for generating a calibration signal; a receiver section, including a receiver housing and a receiver, that measures both the survey EM signals and the calibration signal; and a calibration device connected to the calibration EM transmitter and to the receiver, the calibration device configured to control a frequency and waveform of the calibration signal. The calibration device is further configured to calculate a response function of the receiver, based on the calibration signal.

An electromagnetic (EM) receiver system for measuring EM signals. The EM receiver system includes a survey EM transmitter for generating survey EM signals within a first frequency range; a tracking EM transmitter for generating tracking signals within a second frequency range; and a receiver section including a receiver that measures both the survey EM signals and the tracking signals.

Naturally-occurring, electromagnetic signals generated by interaction of solar wind with earth's magnetosphere adjacent a borehole are measured by an electromagnetic sensor positioned adjacent the borehole in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Electromagnetic signals generated within the borehole are measured over a period of time by a borehole sensor positioned within the borehole. The electromagnetic signals change over the period of time due to variations in fluid distributions within the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Electromagnetic changes to the electromagnetic signals generated within the borehole and to the passive, naturally-occurring electromagnetic signals over the period of time are determined by one or more processors. A computational model of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation is generated based in part on the electromagnetic changes.

An electromagnetic (EM) receiver system for measuring EM signals. The EM receiver system includes a survey EM transmitter for generating survey EM signals within a first frequency range; a tracking EM transmitter for generating tracking signals within a second frequency range; and a receiver section including a receiver that measures both the survey EM signals and the tracking signals.