Method to measure fluid drift and immobile phase saturation

Patent · Tue Sep 02 04:00:00 EDT 1975

OSTI ID:7356308

Tomich, J F; Deans, H A

A method is described for determining the relative amounts of fluid phases in a subterranean oil-bearing formation in which one of the phases is mobile and the other is essentially immobile and in which the mobile fluid phase has a substantial degree of fluid drift within the subterranean formation. A carrier fluid containing two tracers having significantly different partition coefficients between the carrier fluid and the immobile phase is injected into the formation by means of a well. The well is then shut-in, and the carrier fluid with the two tracers is permitted to move within the formation solely under the influence of the fluid drift. Due to the difference in distribution coefficients of the two tracers, there will be a chromatographic separation of the tracers due to the movement in the formation under the influence of fluid drift during injection, shut-in and production. The well remains shut-in for a period which is sufficient to give a distinct and measurable separation of the two tracers due to the influence of fluid drift. Subsequently, the well is placed on production, and the concentration of the tracers in the produced fluids is measured as a function of time, volume or other chromatographic property. By applying the principles of chromatography to measured chromatographic properties of the process, the fluid saturations of the formation and the magnitude of fluid drift in the formation can be determined. (auth)

• Assignee: Exxon Production Research Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3902362
• OSTI ID: 7356308
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
023000 -- Petroleum-- Properties & Composition
EXPLORATION
FLUID FLOW
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
PERMEABILITY
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PHASE STUDIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS