Volatile Compound Analysis for Rock Property Characterization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high costs and low quality of rock property analysis in horizontal wells, particularly due to the prohibitive expense and time-consuming nature of wire line logs and core sampling, hinder efficient petroleum production operations by limiting the ability to accurately characterize rock properties and identify favorable production areas.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the extraction and analysis of volatile compounds such as benzene and toluene from rock samples to characterize rock properties, using a single aliquot method that can identify differences in rock properties even in formations with uniform oil deposits, and directing drilling and fracking operations based on these characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If wire line logs are used to characterize rock properties in horizontal wells, then rock property information can be obtained, but the cost becomes prohibitively high and the quality deteriorates compared to vertical wells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts volatile compounds (benzene and toluene) from rock samples obtained during horizontal well drilling operations. By analyzing the ratio of these extracted volatiles, the method characterizes rock properties without requiring expensive wire line logs, thereby resolving the contradiction between obtaining rock property information and maintaining cost-effectiveness while achieving reliable characterization.
2Measurement precision
If core sampling is performed to analyze rock properties, then detailed rock property data can be obtained, but the time required increases significantly and costs become prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses drill cuttings—small, inexpensive rock fragments already produced during drilling—as the sampling medium instead of time-consuming core samples. These cuttings are analyzed for volatile content immediately, providing rapid rock property characterization without extending drilling time or incurring core sampling costs, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and time loss.
3Productivity
If conventional methods are used to identify productive areas in horizontal wells, then some characterization is achieved, but the ability to identify favorable production areas deteriorates due to cost and time constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the analytical parameter from physical rock properties (requiring core analysis) to chemical volatile content ratios (benzene/toluene) that can be rapidly measured. This parameter transformation enables detailed rock property characterization across multiple sampling points in horizontal wells, providing the information needed to identify productive areas and improve petroleum production efficiency without the constraints of conventional methods.
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 allows for cost-effective and timely characterization of rock properties in horizontal wells, enabling more accurate targeting of productive areas and improving petroleum production efficiency by identifying areas with favorable or unfavorable production properties.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting the rock samples to conditions that cause the release of detectable amounts of benzene and toluene from the rock samples
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of analyzing the rock content of a geologic formation are provided herein. The methods typically comprise obtaining samples from the formation and subjecting the samples to conditions that will cause the extraction and/or release of one or more volatile compounds from the samples, if present in the samples, and then analyzing the amount of such one or more volatile compounds released/extracted from the sample and then further relating such results to the physical and/or rock content composition of two or more regions of the geologic formation. The results can be used to inform or guide oil and/or gas exploration and/or production operations, such as placement of fracking operations.