Pressurized NMR Core Holder for Fluid Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Core samples from subterranean formations lose accuracy upon reaching the surface due to the escape of gases and light fluids, as they are brought from high native pressure conditions, leading to an incomplete representation of the formation's properties.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a pressurized NMR core holder that maintains core samples at their native downhole pressure and fluid saturation state, using a coring device with NMR capabilities to analyze the samples while preserving the native conditions, employing a chamber fluid to prevent fluid leakage and maintain the core's state for accurate NMR measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If core samples are brought to the surface for analysis, then they can be examined using standard laboratory equipment, but gases and light fluids escape from the core sample causing loss of accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
A pressurized NMR core holder is introduced as an intermediary device between the core sample and the analysis equipment. This holder maintains the native pressure conditions of the subterranean formation, preventing gas and light fluid escape while enabling NMR analysis. The pressurized environment acts as a mediator that preserves the core sample's native state during transportation and analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from atmospheric pressure (surface conditions) to maintained native pressure (downhole conditions). By keeping the core sample under its original formation pressure throughout the analysis process, the physical and chemical properties of the sample are preserved, preventing fluid loss and maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Reliability
If core samples are preserved by hermetic sealing or freezing, then the core sample is protected from degradation, but the native pressure conditions are lost causing fluid escape
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using hermetic sealing or freezing methods that compromise pressure conditions, the patent maintains the native pressure parameter throughout the preservation and analysis process. This allows the core sample to retain its original fluid distribution and composition while still being protected from degradation through controlled pressurized containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical preservation methods (hermetic sealing, freezing) with a pressurized containment system. This substitution allows the core sample to maintain its native pressure state while being protected, eliminating the need for methods that compromise either preservation or pressure stability.
3Device complexity
If standard NMR analysis is performed on core samples at surface pressure, then the analysis process is simple, but the core sample no longer represents the subterranean formation accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The pressurized NMR core holder serves as an intermediary that enables NMR analysis to be performed while maintaining native pressure conditions. This device allows the analysis process to remain relatively simple while preventing the loss of critical formation property information through fluid escape.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressurized NMR core holder performs multiple functions: it maintains native pressure conditions, prevents fluid escape, enables NMR analysis, and preserves the core sample's representative character. This multi-functionality allows a single device to address multiple requirements without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
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 method effectively maintains the core samples' native state, preventing fluid loss and allowing for accurate NMR analysis, providing more reliable data on porosity, fluid distribution, and other properties, enhancing the accuracy of subterranean formation analysis.
Implementation Method 1
performing 1H NMR measurements and 19F NMR measurements on the at least one of the one or more core samples in the pressurized NMR core holder
Data Source
AI summary
Pressure coring where the core apparatus drills the core sample and seals the core sample at its native downhole pressure (e.g., several thousand psi) may be expanded to include nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging components to produce a pressurized NMR core holder that allows for NMR imaging of the core samples having been maintained in a downhole fluid saturation state. NMR imaging performed may include 1H and also 19F imaging depending on the chamber fluid used in the pressurized NMR core holder.