Permeability Measurement Leakage Detection Using Pressurized Helium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining pressure-dependent shale gas permeability in unconventional reservoirs are inefficient and prone to leakage errors, making it challenging to accurately measure permeability and porosity, especially in small-scale shale formations where slip flow and Knudsen diffusion effects are significant.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize pressurized helium within a measurement cell to detect leakage in permeability measurement systems, allowing for precise location identification of leaks and eliminating the need for creating a vacuum, while using gas sensors to detect even slight gas flow rates, thereby ensuring accurate permeability and porosity measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional pulse-decay permeability tests are performed under different gas pressures, then pressure-dependent permeability data can be obtained, but the system requires long equilibration time between tests and is highly sensitive to leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary leakage detection using pressurized helium and gas sensors before conducting permeability tests. This preliminary action ensures the system is leak-free, eliminating the need for lengthy equilibration periods between tests and allowing rapid sequential testing at different pressures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical leakage detection methods with a gas-based detection system using pressurized helium and sensitive gas sensors. This substitution enables rapid, non-intrusive leakage detection that does not interfere with subsequent permeability measurements, thereby reducing equilibration time.
2Reliability
If multiple pressure transducers and mechanical pumps are used in the measurement system, then permeability can be measured under controlled conditions, but the system complexity increases and leakage detection becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Pressurized helium serves as an intermediary substance for leakage detection. It is introduced into the system through dedicated injection points and detected by gas sensors at strategic locations, allowing leakage detection without requiring complex modifications to the existing pressure control system with multiple transducers and pumps.
Solution Approach 2:
The leakage detection system is segmented into independent injection points and sensor locations along the flow lines. This segmentation allows targeted leakage detection at specific sections of the system without requiring a complete system overhaul, thereby managing complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Measurement precision
If vacuum-based helium detection is used to identify leaks, then leakage can be detected, but the detection is limited and requires creating a vacuum which disturbs the system
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating a vacuum to draw helium into the system for detection, the invention inverts the approach by pressurizing helium into the system and detecting it as it leaks out. This reversal eliminates the need for vacuum creation, avoiding system disturbance while maintaining high leakage detection accuracy through the use of sensitive gas sensors.
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 enhances the efficiency and accuracy of permeability and porosity measurements by precisely locating leaks and minimizing system disturbances, allowing for more reliable characterization of shale gas reservoirs and improved gas production modeling.
Implementation Method 1
A method and apparatus that utilize pressurized helium within a measurement cell to detect leakage in permeability measurement systems
Implementation Method 2
using gas sensors to detect even slight gas flow rates
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for detecting leakage in a permeability measurement system. The method includes connecting a plurality of flow lines to a first dimension of a core sample assembly, connecting one or more flow lines to a second dimension of the core sample assembly, placing the core sample assembly with the connections in a measurement cell such that the flow lines are accessible from outside of the measurement cell, connecting one or more gas sensors to one end of each of the flow lines, connecting an inlet of the measurement cell to a gas tank, setting fluid pressure inside the measurement cell to a predetermined value, and detecting a leakage in the core sample assembly by the one or more gas sensors coupled to the flow lines.