Wettability Analysis via Tightly-Associated Liquid Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining wettability characteristics of materials are time-consuming, prone to errors, and costly, especially in petroleum exploration, where distinguishing between water-wet and oil-wet reservoirs is crucial for effective oil production, and existing technologies struggle to identify pay zones in complex geological formations.
Innovation Solution
The development of methods to analyze tightly-associated liquids (TALs) through selective extraction and characterization, using techniques such as vacuum conditions, temperature changes, and surfactant-based release-enhancing compositions to determine wettability characteristics without altering the material's physical structure, allowing for quick and inexpensive assessment of oil-wet or water-wet properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional well logging methods are used to identify pay zones, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and analyzes tightly-associated liquids (TALs) from rock samples outside the wellbore, eliminating the need for complex downhole logging equipment. By bringing the analysis to the surface through simple core sampling and laboratory extraction, the method achieves pay zone identification without requiring sophisticated in-situ measurement devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses tightly-associated liquids as intermediary substances that carry information about the rock's wettability and fluid content. Instead of directly measuring electrical resistivity in the wellbore, the method extracts TALs that mediate between the rock matrix and the analysis instrument, enabling indirect but accurate determination of pay zone characteristics.
2Measurement precision
If well logging is performed in horizontal wells to identify pay zones, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and cost increase prohibitively
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs pay zone identification during the drilling operation itself by analyzing TALs from drill cuttings or core samples as they are brought to surface. This preliminary action eliminates the need for separate, time-consuming logging operations after the well is completed, allowing real-time or near-real-time identification of pay zones.
3Ease of operation
If conventional extraction methods are used to analyze liquids from rock samples, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to distinguish tightly-associated liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the extraction parameters by applying controlled vacuum conditions and temperature variations to selectively release different types of associated liquids. By systematically varying these parameters, the method distinguishes between loosely-associated and tightly-associated liquids, achieving both operational simplicity and measurement precision through a structured extraction protocol.
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 wettability characteristics, aiding in the identification of petroleum reservoirs and pay zones, even in challenging geological formations, and facilitating more effective oil production strategies.
Implementation Method 1
modifying one or more of (a)-(d) changes the amount of volatile hydrocarbons, water, or both volatile hydrocarbons or water released from the material
Implementation Method 2
subjecting the material to (a) one or more vacuum conditions; (b) one or more temperature conditions
Implementation Method 3
one or more immediate environmental conditions having, e.g., a saline or surfactant nature
Data Source
AI summary
The invention described here provides new methods of analyzing materials, e.g., geologic materials, to identify wettability characteristics of such materials. Methods of the invention comprise analyzing the amount of easily extracted water obtained from samples of a material, such as a geologic area, analyzing release resistant water obtained from such samples or co-located samples, and/or optionally calculating or analyzing the combined water in or obtained from such samples, and utilizing such values alone or in comparison to one another to assess the wettability characteristics of the material.