Diamondoid Fluorescence for Real-Time Reservoir Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current reservoir monitoring techniques, such as logging operations and traceable materials, are inefficient and costly, especially for long horizontal boreholes and CO2 leakage detection, as they require production cessation and struggle with distinguishing injected CO2 from atmospheric CO2.
Innovation Solution
A downhole monitoring system using ultraviolet spectrometers with diamondoids, which are injected or naturally occurring, to continuously measure and analyze fluid properties, allowing real-time reservoir profiling and connectivity determination by exciting and detecting diamondoids in isolated compartments along the wellbore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If logging operations are used to monitor reservoir, then local flow properties can be examined, but production must be stopped causing financial loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical logging operations with optical detection using UV spectrometers that detect diamondoid markers in the fluid stream. This substitution allows continuous monitoring without mechanical intervention that would require stopping production, thereby maintaining both measurement precision and production continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces diamondoid markers as intermediary substances that are injected into the reservoir and carried by production fluids. These markers serve as mediators that enable continuous monitoring of fluid properties and reservoir characteristics without interrupting production, resolving the contradiction between monitoring needs and production continuity
2Measurement precision
If logging tools are sent into wellbore to examine flow properties, then fluid flow amounts can be calculated, but special equipment is required for long horizontal boreholes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical logging tools with simpler UV spectrometer systems that detect chemical markers. This substitution eliminates the need for specialized equipment required to insert and operate logging tools in long horizontal boreholes, while maintaining measurement precision through optical detection of diamondoid markers in the fluid stream
3Measurement precision
If traceable materials are used to monitor CO2 leakage, then carbon dioxide leaks can be detected, but direct determination is difficult due to atmospheric CO2 presence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using specifically deuterated diamondoid markers that are injected with CO2 into the reservoir. These markers have distinct isotopic signatures that differentiate them from atmospheric CO2, allowing precise local detection of injected CO2 leakage without interference from ambient atmospheric carbon dioxide
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses deuterated diamondoid markers as intermediary substances that are co-injected with CO2 and serve as traceable indicators. These markers act as mediators that enable direct determination of CO2 leakage by providing a detectable signal distinct from atmospheric CO2, resolving the measurement difficulty
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
Enables continuous, real-time monitoring of fluid production, improving reservoir profiling and connectivity analysis without production cessation, and effectively differentiates injected CO2 from atmospheric CO2, enhancing production management and leak detection.
Implementation Method 1
an ultraviolet source that excites diamondoids, a photomultiplier to quantify the excited diamondoids
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole monitoring system for continuously measuring in real-time a fluid produced from a reservoir includes a tubing extending into a wellbore, spaced apart packers forming annular seals between the tubing and a wall of the wellbore, isolated compartments formed between the spaced apart packers, each compartment having an opening in the tubing to allow fluid communication from the reservoir to surface equipment, and an ultraviolet spectrometer installed in each compartment. The ultraviolet spectrometer includes an ultra-violet source that excites diamondoids, a photomultiplier to quantify the excited diamondoids, and an electronic circuit that digitizes a response from the photomultiplier and sends the response to the surface of the wellbore. Additionally, a method includes continuously monitoring and in real-time a fluid produced from a reservoir and determining reservoir connectivity and reservoir profiling.