Flow-Through Piston for Dynamic Fluid Testing of Crushed Shale

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for testing hydrocarbon production from low permeability formations, such as shale, are inadequate as they cannot accurately evaluate the effectiveness of chemical treatments due to limitations in permeability and lack of dynamic fluid flow, leading to inaccurate differentiation between chemicals that enhance or hinder hydrocarbon production.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for dynamically testing the effect of chemicals on crushed reservoir formation materials under conditions of applied stress, using a modified unconfined compressive strength cell with a flow-through piston to simulate in-situ conditions, allowing for the evaluation of various chemical treatments and their impact on hydrocarbon recovery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional uncrushed formation dynamic testing methods are used, then testing can be performed on formation materials, but the methods are ineffective for low permeability formations such as shale due to insufficient permeability to allow fluid flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplicability to low permeability formationsVSAvoidaccuracy of chemical effectiveness evaluation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The formation material is crushed into smaller particles to increase permeability and enable fluid flow. This segmentation of the formation material into crushed particles allows conventional testing equipment to handle low permeability formations that would otherwise be impossible to test dynamically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state of the formation material is changed from uncrushed to crushed, altering its permeability parameter. This parameter change enables fluid flow through the sample while maintaining representativeness of the formation characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If static bottle tests are used to evaluate chemical treatments, then chemical effectiveness can be observed, but the tests cannot distinguish between chemicals that enhance production from those that hinder production due to lack of dynamic fluid flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedifferentiation between chemical effectiveness typesVSAvoidhydrocarbon production evaluation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The testing method transitions from static to dynamic conditions by implementing continuous fluid flow through the crushed formation sample. This dynamic testing allows observation of real-time chemical interactions with formation materials under flowing conditions, enabling differentiation between chemicals that enhance versus hinder hydrocarbon production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Fluid flow is maintained continuously through the formation sample during testing, allowing ongoing observation of chemical interactions. This continuous dynamic action provides accurate measurement of chemical effectiveness in real-time, distinguishing between productive and non-productive chemicals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If core flow permeameters are used to measure formation permeability, then dynamic evaluation of oil and chemical treatments can be performed, but the permeameters are ineffective for impermeable oily shale due to insufficient permeability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic evaluation capabilityVSAvoidpermeability measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The formation core is crushed into particles to increase permeability. This segmentation allows fluid flow through the sample while maintaining the ability to perform dynamic chemical effectiveness evaluations that would be impossible with intact cores from impermeable formations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 the quantitative and qualitative comparison of chemical treatments on hydrocarbon recovery from low permeability formations, effectively distinguishing between chemicals that enhance or hinder production, thereby improving the accuracy of hydrocarbon extraction methods.

Implementation Method 1

applying a compressional stress to the saturated crushed formation sample

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompressive stress: Compression

Implementation Method 2

flowing a test solution through the crushed formation sample while the crushed formation sample is subjected to the applied compressional stress

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

substantially saturating the pore spaces of a crushed formation sample with hydrocarbon

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPore space saturation: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS9377392B2Methods and systems for testing fluids on crushed formation materials under conditions of stress

Publication Date: 2016.06.28 PROPTESTER

AI summary

Methods and systems that may be employed to dynamically test the effect of fluids (e.g., well treatment chemicals such as well stimulation treatment chemicals, enhanced oil recovery “EOR” chemicals, etc.) on hydrocarbon recovery from crushed reservoir formation materials under conditions of applied stress. The disclosed methods and systems may be used in one embodiment to dynamically test types of low permeability formations (e.g., such as shale, limestone, quarried rock, etc.).