Rock Cuttings Tracer Analysis for Reservoir Flow Path Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for analyzing fluid flow paths in hydrocarbon reservoirs using tracers are limited by the expense of drilling additional wells and lack detailed spatial information about tracer paths, leading to uncertainties in reservoir characterization and inefficient well placement.
Innovation Solution
Analyze rock cuttings from production wells for the presence of tracers previously injected into the reservoir, eliminating the need for additional drilling operations and providing detailed spatial information on fluid flow paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional production tracer methods are used to obtain spatial information about fluid flow paths, then detailed tracer path information can be obtained, but additional drilling operations are required which increase expense and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses rock cuttings as an intermediary medium to carry tracer information from the reservoir to the surface for analysis. Instead of requiring additional drilling operations to inject and retrieve tracers, the method utilizes cuttings naturally brought to the surface during production well operations, which contain trapped tracer substances that reveal fluid flow paths and tracer migration information.
2Loss of information
If production tracers are injected into specific injector wells and retrieved from producer wells, then timing information about tracer injection and recovery can be obtained, but detailed spatial information about tracer paths is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to tracer detection by analyzing rock cuttings from multiple production wells across the reservoir. Instead of only measuring tracer concentration at single injector and producer well locations, the method examines cuttings from various production wells to map the three-dimensional distribution and migration paths of tracers through the reservoir, providing comprehensive spatial information about fluid flow patterns.
3Loss of information
If drilling additional wells is performed to gain insights into reservoir flow paths, then more detailed reservoir characterization can be achieved, but drilling expenses increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing production wells serve a dual purpose: producing hydrocarbons and providing rock cuttings for tracer analysis. The production wells naturally bring reservoir rock cuttings to the surface during their normal operation, and these cuttings contain trapped tracer substances. This self-service approach allows the wells to simultaneously generate production data and reservoir characterization data without requiring separate investigative drilling operations.
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
Enhances reservoir characterization by reducing uncertainties and improving well placement decisions through the detection of tracers in rock cuttings, offering valuable spatial information without additional drilling costs.
Implementation Method 1
Tracers are easily identifiable substances, e.g. radioactive elements, that can be introduced into a borehole or formation and retrieved to provide information
Implementation Method 2
Tracers may be dyes, chemicals, nanoparticles, radioactive elements, fluorescent dyes including fluorescein, rhodamine, amino G, pyranine and the like
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the analysis of fluid flow paths in a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir by analyzing rock cuttings from drilling new wells. Previously injected tracers may be isolated from the rock cuttings and analyzed with reference to the history of when and where they were injected. In this way, further information about fluid flow paths in the reservoir may be obtained from different locations in the reservoir without injecting fresh tracers. Cuttings may be analyzed from either production or injection wells.