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U.S. Department of Energy
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Method for determining fluid saturations in petroleum reservoirs

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5061316
A method is described for determining the relative amounts of the immiscible fluid phases present in a subterranean formation containing at least one mobil fluid phase. A carrier fluid miscible with the mobile fluid phase contains low concentrations of at least 2 chemical substances. One substance is a precursor that reacts in the formation to form a tracer material that partitions between the immiscible fluid phases differently than the precursor. A second substance, a substantially nonreactive tracer material, is injected through a well and displaced into the formation away from the well. The well is shut in for a period sufficient for the precursor to react, and the well thereafter is returned to production. The produced fluids are analyzed for the presence of the tracer materials, and the fluid saturations of the formation determined by applying the principles of chromatography. (12 claims)
Assignee:
Union Oil Co.
Patent Number(s):
US 3856468
OSTI ID:
5061316
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English