Hydrated-State ToF-SIMS Analysis of Formation Fluids and Rocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ToF-SIMS methods rely on air drying and vacuum desiccation, which may alter the chemical properties of samples, particularly for hydrated biological samples and earth samples, limiting their applicability in analyzing formation fluids and rocks.
Innovation Solution
A workflow that extracts and isolates the oil-water interface of formation fluids and analyzes formation rocks using a ToF-SIMS instrument to determine mass spectra, enabling characterization of interfacial properties and fluid inclusions, kerogen, and biomarkers in a vacuum environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air drying and vacuum desiccation are used to prepare samples for ToF-SIMS analysis, then the measurement can be conducted in a vacuum environment, but the chemical properties of samples may be altered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inert atmosphere principle by conducting the entire ToF-SIMS measurement process in a vacuum environment without removing the sample from its hydrated state. The vacuum chamber serves as an inert environment that allows both the preservation of chemical properties and the operation of the mass spectrometer, eliminating the need for air drying and vacuum desiccation steps that would otherwise alter the sample composition.
2Stability of the object's composition
If hydrated samples are analyzed directly in vacuum environment, then chemical properties are preserved, but conventional ToF-SIMS measurement procedures cannot be applied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by developing a modified ToF-SIMS methodology that can handle both conventional dry samples and hydrated samples in their native states. The system is adapted to perform mass spectrometry measurements on samples that remain in liquid or hydrated environments, making the technique universally applicable to a broader range of sample types including biological tissues, hydrogels, and other hydration-sensitive materials.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional sample preparation methods are used, then the measurement process is standardized, but interfacial properties of formation fluids may be altered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the preliminary action principle by carefully controlling the sample introduction process into the vacuum chamber. Samples are sealed in microfluidic devices or capillaries before introduction, and the sealing process is optimized to prevent contamination or alteration of interfacial properties. This preliminary preparation ensures that the oil-water interfaces remain in their native state throughout the measurement process, enabling precise characterization of formation fluid properties.
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 accurate characterization of oil-water interfacial properties, salinity, thermal maturity, and biomarker distribution in formation fluids and rocks, enhancing reservoir evaluation and production insights.
Implementation Method 1
Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is an analytical method that applies a pulsed ion beam that removes ionic species from a sample surface in a vacuum environment.
Implementation Method 2
The removed ionic species are further accelerated into a flight tube and their mass determined by time-of-flight detection.
Implementation Method 3
the measurement is conducted in a vacuum environment
Data Source
AI summary
A workflow is provided that extracts and isolates an oil/water interface of a formation fluid sample and employs a ToF-SIMS instrument to characterize properties of the oil-water interface of the formation fluid sample. Additionally or alternatively, the workflow can use a ToF-SIMS instrument to analyze a formation rock sample and characterize properties of the formation rock sample. The workflow can also involve combining the at least one property related to the oil-water interface of the formation fluid sample and the least one property related to the formation rock sample for output or display to a user.