Optical Density Measurement for Fluid Contamination Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurate determination of contamination levels in fluid samples from wells is challenging due to contamination from drilling mud filtrate, which can take significant time to reduce to acceptable levels, hindering timely analysis of formation fluid quality.
Innovation Solution
A method using optical density measurements at multiple wavelengths to compute the contamination level of fluid samples by determining the optical densities of both the contaminant and the target fluid, employing relationships derived from past measurements to accurately assess contamination levels in real-time or offline, allowing for the identification of clean samples for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional methods are used to determine contamination levels, then measurement accuracy can be achieved, but the process takes significant time to reduce contamination to acceptable levels
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary optical density measurements at multiple wavelengths to calculate contamination levels before the contamination naturally reduces to acceptable levels. This allows operators to identify when clean samples are available without waiting for passive contamination reduction, thereby resolving the time loss issue while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If optical density measurements at multiple wavelengths are used, then contamination level determination accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical density measurement system serves multiple functions: it measures contamination levels, identifies fluid types (oil, gas condensate, gas), and determines sample cleanliness status. By making the measurement system multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate specialized equipment, thereby managing device complexity while improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system measures optical density at multiple wavelengths (parameter change) to differentiate between various fluid types and contamination levels. This multi-parameter approach enables accurate contamination determination without requiring complex single-parameter measurement systems, thus balancing precision improvement with complexity management.
3Productivity
If real-time monitoring is implemented, then timely collection of clean samples is enabled, but measurement and processing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors contamination levels in real-time and self-determines when clean samples are available for collection. This automated self-service approach eliminates the need for continuous manual monitoring and intervention, thereby improving productivity through timely sample collection while reducing operational costs associated with manual processing.
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 real-time monitoring and accurate determination of contamination levels, facilitating timely collection of clean fluid samples for analysis and predicting fluid composition even when contaminated, thus improving the reliability of formation fluid quality assessment.
Implementation Method 1
receiving optical densities of a fluid sample at a plurality of wavelengths
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, an optical density of a contaminant in a fluid sample is computed. An optical density of a target fluid in the fluid sample is computed using optical densities of the fluid sample at a plurality of wavelengths. Based on the computed optical density of the contaminant and the computed optical density of the target fluid, a level of contamination by the contaminant in the fluid sample is determined.