Reservoir Fluid Composition From Crushed Rock Gas Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining petroleum reservoir fluid composition are limited by high costs, uncertainty due to non-equilibrium conditions, and the inability to characterize individual molecular components, leading to inaccurate predictions of fluid phase behavior.
Innovation Solution
A method using mechanical crushing of rock samples to release gases for analysis by gas chromatography, allowing determination of molecular quantities of hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbons, reconstructing a detailed composition profile from C1 to C36 by combining analyses of multiple subgroups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If down-hole sampling and well testing are used to collect petroleum fluid samples, then fluid composition data can be obtained, but the cost becomes extremely high and sample availability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts hydrocarbon information directly from rock samples by applying mechanical energy to release trapped gases, eliminating the need to extract actual fluid samples through expensive down-hole sampling. The method takes out the analytical information needed while leaving the costly sampling process behind.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a proxy measurement by analyzing the composition of gases released from rock samples, which copy the fluid composition information without requiring the actual fluid samples. This copying approach provides compositional data at a fraction of the cost of direct sampling.
2Measurement precision
If down-hole sampling is performed to obtain fluid samples, then compositional analysis can be conducted, but the technical complexity and difficulty of sampling increase due to low permeability and reservoir architecture
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extracting fluid from the reservoir through complex sampling equipment, the invention inverts the approach by introducing mechanical energy directly to the rock sample to release the trapped hydrocarbons. This reversal eliminates the need for complex sampling infrastructure and low-permeability penetration issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the complex mechanical sampling system (down-hole tools, separators, flow lines) with a simpler mechanical crushing system applied to rock samples. This substitution maintains the ability to obtain compositional data while dramatically reducing technical complexity.
3Productivity
If traditional analysis methods are used to quantify hydrocarbon components, then data can be obtained, but the ability to characterize individual molecular components is lost and uncertainty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the hydrocarbon analysis into individual molecular component detection using gas chromatography, rather than lumped pseudo-component analysis. This segmentation allows characterization of specific molecules (methane, ethane, propane, etc.) while maintaining high productivity through automated analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the analytical parameter from bulk compositional groups to individual molecular species detection. By using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection, the method resolves the composition into detailed molecular parameters while maintaining efficient data acquisition through automated processing.
4Ease of manufacture
If fewer samples are taken due to high cost, then cost is reduced, but uncertainty in spatial reservoir fluid composition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables analysis of multiple rock samples from different locations and depths by applying the mechanical energy method to each sample individually. This segmentation approach allows building a spatial composition profile without the prohibitive cost of multiple fluid samples, thereby reducing spatial uncertainty while maintaining cost effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides high-resolution, cost-effective, and accurate fluid characterization suitable for industry workflows, enabling detailed 3D representations of fluid distributions and reducing uncertainty in reservoir fluid composition.
Implementation Method 1
a first analysis of first released gasses, that are released following to the application of a mechanical action, preferably a crushing action, on a first rock sub-sample
Implementation Method 2
analysis by gas chromatography, allowing determination of molecular quantities of hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbons
Data Source
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Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Method for determining the fluid composition of a reservoir, in particular of a petroleum reservoir, by using at least one rock sample (1) of the reservoir, said method comprising: - a first analysis (11) of first released gasses, that are released following to the application of a mechanical action, preferably a crushing action, on a first rock sub-sample of said rock sample, so as to determine the molecular quantities of a first hydrocarbons subgroup (12), - a second analysis (21) of second released gasses and/or a further analysis (61) of further released gasses, that are released following to the application of a mechanical action, preferably a crushing action, on a second rock sub-sample of said rock sample, so as to determine the molecular quantities of a second hydrocarbons subgroup (22) overlapping at least partially with said first hydrocarbons subgroup (12), and/or a further analysis (61) of further released gasses, that are released following to the application of a mechanical action, preferably a crushing action, on a further rock sub-sample of said rock sample, so as to determine the molecular quantities of non-hydrocarbons, preferably carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, and also of at least one hydrocarbon belonging to said first hydrocarbons subgroup (12), - determining (30) the molecular quantities of an hydrocarbons group (31) comprising said first hydrocarbons subgroup (12) and second hydrocarbons subgroup (22) by using the molecular quantities so determined by means of said first analysis (11) and said second analysis (21) and/or determining (63) the molecular quantities of non-hydrocarbons, preferably carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, by using the molecular quantities so determined by means of said first analysis (11) and by said further analysis (61).