Pressure-core measurements in tight sandstone lenses during the multiwell experiment
A pressure-coring operation was performed in two tight sandstone lenses of the Mesaverde group during the drilling of one well of DOE's Multiwell Experiment (MWX). The goals were (1) to obtain accurate water saturation data; (2) to measure the amount and composition of gas on a foot-by-foot basis; and (3) to recover fluids for water-chemistry analysis. This application of pressure coring had not been tried before; it was felt to be a novel approach for accurate water-saturation measurements in tight sandstone core. Several changes to usual pressure-coring procedures were adopted, including the development of an organic, noninvasive coring fluid compatible with the oil-based drilling fluid used to help preserve the original water saturation. The pressure-core assembly was modified so that gas samples could be taken directly from the inner barrel and would allow the capture of any gas not trapped during the process; however, none was found. Water-saturation data were obtained on the pressure core by both Dean-Stark distillation and vacuum-oven drying. The analyses of all recovered core suggest that water-extraction procedures should be carried on for a long time and that the Dean-Stark procedure may not be the water-extraction procedure of choice for tight sandstone core. These analyses showed no appreciable water-saturation difference on rock with the same porosities. No fluid was recovered during thawing alone; the rock was too tight. Gas was obtained in the pressure-coring process and measured on a foot-by-foot basis.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs. (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 6636302
- Journal Information:
- SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Format. Eval.; (United States), Vol. 3:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Pressure core measurements in tight sandstone lenses during the multi-well experiment. [Mesaverde group]
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Related Subjects
NATURAL GAS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
SANDSTONES
DRILL CORES
WATER SATURATION
CORING FLUIDS
DRILLING FLUIDS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
US DOE
WELL DRILLING
DATA
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
INFORMATION
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
ROCKS
SATURATION
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
US ORGANIZATIONS
033000* - Natural Gas- Properties & Composition
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing