In-Situ Spectroscopy for Drilling Fluid Water Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current equipment for distinguishing formation water from drilling fluid in the hydrocarbon industry is inefficient, often requiring external laboratories and prolonged time for analysis, and struggles with differentiating between similar salinity levels of formation and production water, leading to inaccurate content analysis and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A tool and method utilizing an in-situ spectroscopy system with a sampling chamber, pulse micro heater, and photo receivers to analyze drilling fluid directly at the well site, enabling real-time detection and differentiation of formation or production water by processing spectra and communicating results externally, even in transition zones with mixed salinity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If external laboratories are used for analyzing drilling fluid composition, then measurement precision may be improved, but loss of time and device complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent analysis accuracyVSAvoidanalysis time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary in-situ spectroscopy system that acts as a mediator between the drilling fluid and external laboratories. The spectroscopy tool contains optical components (light source, spectrometer, fiber optics) that enable composition analysis directly at the well site, eliminating the need to transport samples to external laboratories while maintaining measurement precision through spectral analysis of formation water and drilling fluid components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical sample collection, transportation, and laboratory analysis with an optical spectroscopy system. The spectroscopy tool uses light interaction with the drilling fluid to determine composition components (formation water, oil, gas, sand, chemicals) in real-time, substituting the entire mechanical sample handling chain with non-contact optical measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If formation testers with current sensors are used to differentiate water components, then measurement capability is provided, but measurement precision deteriorates when salinity levels are similar

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater differentiation capabilityVSAvoidcontent analysis accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from electrical conductivity (current sensors) to optical spectral characteristics. The spectroscopy system measures the interaction of light with different fluid components, detecting formation water, oil, gas, sand, and chemicals based on their unique spectral signatures. This parameter change enables precise differentiation even when salinity levels are similar, as spectral analysis provides multiple independent measurement dimensions beyond what electrical sensors can distinguish.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If more pumping time is allocated to ensure production capacity analysis, then measurement precision improves, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction capacity determination accuracyVSAvoiddrilling operation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous real-time composition analysis of drilling fluid as it flows through the well site. The spectroscopy tool continuously measures formation water content, oil concentration, and other parameters without interrupting drilling operations or requiring additional pumping time. This continuous measurement provides ongoing production capacity assessment, eliminating the need to pause operations for extended analysis while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 accurate and rapid identification of formation or production water composition, allowing for informed decision-making on oil production and reserve estimation, reducing costs and complexity by providing immediate data on oil concentration and water content directly at the drill site.

Implementation Method 1

spectroscopy components to perform spectroscopy of the drilling fluid bypassed from a flow line into the bypass line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpectroscopy: Absorption Spectroscopy

Implementation Method 2

A tool and method utilizing an in-situ spectroscopy system with a sampling chamber, pulse micro heater, and photo receivers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20230141107A1Mixed salinity impact on interpretation and remedial detection technique

Publication Date: 2023.05.11 BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure is for a tool and a method using or making the tool for detection of production or formation water in drilling fluid. The tool includes a sampling chamber to receive a bypass line from a flow line at a well site. The tool further includes spectroscopy components to perform spectroscopy of the drilling fluid bypassed from a flow line into the bypass line. Processing components are provided in the tool to process spectra from the spectroscopy of the drilling fluid and to generate data associated with at least identification formation or production water in the drilling fluid. The tool includes a communication module to transmit the data externally from the tool.