Method of determining fluid saturations in reservoirs

Patent · Tue Jul 06 04:00:00 EDT 1971

OSTI ID:5557028

Cooke, Jr, C E

A method is described for determining fluid saturations in a subterranean reservoir formation containing one mobile fluid phase and 1 or 2 substantially immobile fluid phases. A carrier fluid which is miscible with the mobile fluid and substantially insoluble in the immobile phase or phases is injected into the formation at one location and displaced through the formation to a second location. The carrier fluid contains 2 or more tracers having different partition coefficients between the carrier fluid and immobile phase or phases. As the carrier fluid moves through the reservoir, one of the tracers is retarded more than the other due to its higher solubility in the immobile phase and the tracers separate. The degree of separation of the tracers is related to the quantities of mobile and immobile fluids in the reservoir. By monitoring formation fluids at the second location to detect the presence of the tracers, the relative fluid saturations can be determined using chromatographic analytical techniques. (10 claims)

• Assignee: Esso Production Res Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3590923
• OSTI ID: 5557028
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CHROMATOGRAPHY
ENGINEERING
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
INJECTION WELLS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
OIL WELLS
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCKS
SATURATION
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUBILITY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
WELLS