Oil Allocation via Chromatographic Peak Ratios
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for allocating oil production using gas chromatography (GC) fingerprints face challenges in accuracy due to under-determination in equations, systematic biases, and uncertainties in peak measurements, particularly with absolute and single peak measurements, which can lead to unreliable results in commingled oil allocation.
Innovation Solution
The method employs peak ratios from chromatographic analyses, incorporating prior quality and uncertainty assessments to estimate end-member proportions in mixtures, using a maximum likelihood approach that combines simultaneous equation resolution and peak ratio uncertainty estimation, with additional chromatographic analyses to refine measurements and optimize injected masses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If absolute measurements or single peak measurements are used in GC fingerprint analysis, then the allocation process is simpler, but the accuracy and reliability of production allocation results deteriorate due to under-determination and systematic biases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the chromatogram into multiple peaks and uses ratios between peaks rather than absolute measurements. This segmentation approach transforms the under-determined single-peak measurement problem into a multi-peak ratio system that provides more constraints and improves accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from absolute peak heights or single peak areas to ratios between multiple peaks. This parameter transformation eliminates systematic biases related to injection volume and detector response variations, improving measurement precision without significantly complicating the allocation process.
2Productivity
If traditional GC fingerprint methods are used, then the analysis is faster and less complex, but the results suffer from uncertainties and systematic biases that reduce reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary selection of multiple peaks and calculation of their ratios before the actual allocation calculation. This preliminary action establishes a more robust measurement foundation that reduces uncertainties and systematic biases, improving reliability while maintaining analysis speed through efficient pre-processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the allocation results are used to refine the understanding of peak ratios and their uncertainties. This iterative feedback process improves the reliability of results by continuously reducing uncertainties based on accumulated data and statistical analysis.
3Measurement precision
If more peaks and complex mathematical models are used, then the accuracy of allocation improves, but the device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a selective subset of peaks from the chromatogram rather than all possible peaks. This partial action approach provides sufficient accuracy for production allocation without requiring the full complexity of analyzing every peak, thus improving accuracy while limiting the increase in system complexity to manageable levels.
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
This approach provides more accurate and reliable estimates of oil production allocation by reducing uncertainty and systematic biases, ensuring precise characterization of end-member contributions in oil mixtures.
Implementation Method 1
performing a chromatographic analysis of each of the known mixture, the end-members, and the unknown mixture
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments include one or more of a method, computing device, computer-readable medium and system for allocating oil production from geochemical fingerprints. In an example embodiment, a method may include providing a known mixture comprising known proportions of a plurality of end-members; providing an unknown mixture comprising unknown proportions of the end-members; performing a chromatographic analysis of each of the known mixture, the end-members, and the unknown mixture; determining a plurality of peak ratios, and prior peak ratio qualities related to the peak ratios, using the chromatographic analysis; and estimating an estimate of the unknown proportions of the end-members using the peak ratios, the prior peak ratio qualities, and the known proportion of the end-members.