Method for collecting and analyzing hydrocarbons
This patent describes a method for separating and collecting hydrocarbons which include methane from a gas obtained from the vicinity of an earth formation and obtaining information from such a gas which is useful in predicting the hydrocarbon potential of such an earth formation, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a sample of a gas from the vicinity of an earth formation, the sample including methane; removing any water, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide from the sample and passing the sample through a cryogenic trap to separate and collect any interfering gases and hydrocarbons having at least two carbon atoms from the sample into the cryogenic trap. The removing and passing steps produce a first gas which contains the methane from the sample but which is free of water, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, interfering gases, and hydrocarbons having at least two carbon atoms; converting the methane in the first gas to form a condensed carbon dioxide sample; carrying out the removing, passing, and converting steps under a continuous subatmospheric pressure in such a manner as to prevent condensation of any oxygen in the cryogenic trap and to prevent any atmospheric carbon dioxide from entering into the sample, the first gas, the cryogenic trap, and the condensed carbon dioxide sample; determining the stable carbon isotope ratio of the condensed carbon dioxide sample which can be then be used to predict the hydrocarbon potential of the earth formation.
- Assignee:
- Union Oil Co. of California, Los Angeles, CA
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4792526
- OSTI ID:
- 6339791
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 30 Jan 1987
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
03 NATURAL GAS
METHANE
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
GEOCHEMISTRY
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE
CRYOGENICS
DRILL CORES
EXPLORATORY WELLS
GAS SATURATION
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
SAMPLING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
WATER SATURATION
WELL LOGGING
ALKANES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROCARBONS
MINERAL RESOURCES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESOURCES
SATURATION
SURVEYS
WELLS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
030200 - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration