The present application is a U.S. National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/US2014/032999 filed Apr. 4, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
The present disclosure relates generally to downhole drilling operations and, more particularly, to a method and systems for producing consistently a sample fluid stream to characterize isotopic composition.
Hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, are commonly obtained from subterranean formations that may be located onshore or offshore. The development of subterranean operations and the processes involved in removing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation are complex. Typically, subterranean operations involve a number of different steps such as, for example, drilling a wellbore at a desired well site, treating the wellbore to optimize production of hydrocarbons, and performing the necessary steps to produce and process the hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation.
A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features.
While embodiments of this disclosure have been depicted and described and are defined by reference to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, such references do not imply a limitation on the disclosure, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those skilled in the pertinent art and having the benefit of this disclosure. The depicted and described embodiments of this disclosure are examples only, and not exhaustive of the scope of the disclosure.
The present disclosure relates generally to downhole drilling operations and, more particularly, to a method and systems for producing consistently a sample fluid stream to characterize isotopic composition.
To facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, the following examples of certain embodiments are given. In no way should the following examples be read to limit, or define, the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applicable to horizontal, vertical, deviated, or otherwise nonlinear wellbores in any type of subterranean formation. Embodiments may be applicable to injection wells as well as production wells, including hydrocarbon wells. Embodiments may be implemented with tools that, for example, may be conveyed through a flow passage in tubular string or using a wireline, slickline, coiled tubing, downhole robot or the like.
The terms “couple” or “couples” as used herein are intended to mean either an indirect or a direct connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection or through an indirect mechanical or electrical connection via other devices and connections. Similarly, the term “communicatively coupled” as used herein is intended to mean either a direct or an indirect communication connection. Such connection may be a wired or wireless connection such as, for example, Ethernet or LAN. Such wired and wireless connections are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and will therefore not be discussed in detail herein. Thus, if a first device communicatively couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection, or through an indirect communication connection via other devices and connections.
For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communication with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. It may also include one or more interface units capable of transmitting one or more signals to a controller, actuator, or like device.
For the purposes of this disclosure, computer-readable media may include any instrumentality or aggregation of instrumentalities that may retain data and/or instructions for a period of time. Computer-readable media may include, for example, without limitation, storage media such as a direct access storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive or floppy disk drive), a sequential access storage device (e.g., a tape disk drive), compact disk, CD-ROM, DVD, RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or flash memory; as well as communications media such wires, optical fibers, microwaves, radio waves, and other electromagnetic and/or optical carriers; and/or any combination of the foregoing.
Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail herein. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation may be described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions are made to achieve the specific implementation goals, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure.
A fluid extraction and analysis system 54 is fluidly coupled to the drilling circulation system via conduit 56 to extract an effluent gas sample from the drilling fluid existing borehole 17 via return pipe 23. Extractor 54 is also fluidly coupled to supply pipe 22 via conduit 52 to thereby extract an influent gas sample from drilling fluid entering borehole 17. Extractor 54 may be any variety of such devices, as understood in the art.
In some example embodiments, the drilling fluid passes through a sensor 235 before entering the temperature change unit 230. Examples of sensor 235 are configured to measure one or more of the mass, volume, and density of the drilling fluid. A degasser 240 is configured to remove a separated fluid from the drilling fluid. The separated fluid may be referred to as a sample. Degasser 240 may be referred to a separator. In some example embodiments, the separation of the sample from the drilling fluid may be performed by the temperature change unit 235 alone or in combination with the external degasser 240. The liquid portion of the drilling fluid is gathered by a liquid trap 245 and fed to a return pump 250, which returns the liquid to the drilling rig. Certain example embodiments use a gravity drain in place of the return pump 250.
In certain example embodiments, a purge gas unit 255 introduces a purge or carrier gas into the drilling fluid from before the drilling fluid reaches the degasser 240. The purge or carrier gas may be used, for example, to increase surface area for fluid extraction or separation. An example purge or carrier gas is nitrogen. In some example embodiments, the separated fluid in a carrier fluid from the degasser 240 undergoes a second separation using a controlled addition or removal of energy. In certain example embodiments, this second separation is to remove or reduce undesirable chemical species, such as water. The remaining fluid that is not part of the sample is returned to the drilling rig fluid system by pump or gravity drain. In one example embodiment, the second separation is performed by vortex cooler 257, condensate separator 255, and condensate pump 260. The same is sent to analyzer 270 for isotopic characterization. Analyzer 270 may be controlled by processor 275, which is an information handling system. Processor 275 may further monitor and control one or more of pumps 210, 220, 250, temperature change unit 230, sensor 235, degasser 240, vortex cooler 257, condensate separator 255, and condensate pump 260. In certain example embodiments processor 275 is local to the drilling rig system 100.
In certain embodiments, a single gas extraction system or dual gas extraction system with a single or multiple analyzers for each or both systems can be used. If a complete dual system is used, the background isotopic concentration can be determined from fluid flowing into the well bore and subtracted from the isotopic concentration determined from the fluid flowing out of the well bore.
In one example embodiment, the analyzer 270 determines a concentration of one or both of 13C and 12C in each of the sampled individual chemical species of C1 (methane), C2 (ethane), C3 (propane), and CO2. In one example embodiment, the analyzer 270 determines a concentration of 13C versus a standard in each of the sampled individual chemical species of C1 (methane), C2 (ethane), C3 (propane), and CO2. In other embodiments, the analyzer 270 identifies isotopic concentrations of one or more of carbon, hydrogen, helium, sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or other isotopes in one or more of C4 (butane), C5 (pentane), C6 (hexane), benzene, toluene, octane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide chemical species from the fluid sample.
In some example embodiments, the isotope identification is a specific compound or individual chemical species. In some example embodiments the system performs an identification of isotopes of one or more of carbon, hydrogen, helium, sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen for one or more hydrocarbons (for example, methane, ethane, or propane) in the sample. In some example embodiments the system further performs an identification of isotopes of one or more of carbon, hydrogen, helium, sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen for CO2 in the sample. In one example embodiment, processor 275 determines the concentration of 13C to 12C isotopes in an individual chemical species of a fluid sample relative to the concentration of those isotopes in a standard based, at least in part, on the following equation.
In other example embodiments the isotope identification is based on a bulk determination of the sample. In some example embodiments, the isotopic concentration is reported as a ratio relative to a standard value. In some example embodiments, the isotopic concentration is reported as a concentration, for example, in parts-per-million (ppm) or as percentage of the overall fluid.
The analyzer 270 produces data in the form of a set of one or more isotopic concentrations on a discrete basis against time (block 320). In certain example embodiments, the analyzer 270 produces data at or around fixed time intervals. Example time intervals are 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes. The isotopic concentration data may be output to a user of the system in real time to aid in the drilling process or other operations. As described below, the data may be output in real time along with one or more other well parameters or chemical concentrations. As used herein, “real time” is at or near the time that the analyzer 270 determines the isotopic concentrations. In some example implementations, the time for each discrete analysis is correlated to a depth in the well bore based, at least in part on a pump rate of the drilling fluid, well bore geometry, and dimensions of the drillstring.
In some example implementations, the data from the analyzer 270 is displayed on a display or in a strip log with one or more other well parameters or chemical concentrations. The other well parameters or chemical concentrations include, for example, gas chromatography data, gamma, resistivity, interpreted lithology, neutron, azimuthal lithodensity (ALD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or other data from down hole tools or surface tools. In some example implementations, the discrete data points are connected by lines. The connecting lines may be mathematically smoothed in some implementations. In some example embodiments, the processor 275 sends isotopic concentration data to remote databases, computers, or other devices on or off rig site (block 325).
In some example embodiments, the processor determines one or more fluid or formation characteristics based, at least in part, on the measured isotopic concentration data for one or more time intervals (block 330). In one example embodiment, the presence of a reservoir is determined by processor 275 based, at least in part, on the concentration of sulfur isotopes versus the concentration of carbon isotopes. In one example embodiment, processor 275 determines the concentration of 34S to 32S isotopes in an individual chemical species of a fluid sample relative to the concentration of those isotopes in a reference based, at least in part, on the following equation.
Values of δ34S isotopes are between −50 to 40. Values of the ratio determined by Eq. 2 are between −100 and 100.
This determination may further be based on one or more additional parameters or chemical concentrations including, for example, gas chromatography data, gamma, resistivity, interpreted lithology, neutron, azimuthal lithodensity (ALD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or other data from down hole tools or surface tools.
In one example embodiment, the presence of an overly mature system, and the system carriage and type (e.g., terrestrial or marine) are determined by processor 275 based, at least in part, on the concentration of carbon isotopes versus the concentration of nitrogen isotopes. In one example embodiment, processor 275 determines the concentration of 15N to 14N isotopes in an individual chemical species of a fluid sample relative to the concentration of those isotopes in a reference based, at least in part, on the following equation.
δ15N(‰)=[((15N/14N)sample/(15N/14Nair))−1]×1000 (Eq. 3)
Values for of δ15N are between −10 to 30. Values of the resulting ratio calculated by equation 3 are between −100 and 100.
This determination may further be based on one or more additional parameters or chemical concentrations including, for example, gas chromatography data, gamma, resistivity, interpreted lithology, neutron, azimuthal lithodensity (ALD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or other data from down hole tools or surface tools.
In one example embodiment, the total age of a formation and a maturity of the formation are determined by processor 275 based, at least in part, on the concentration of oxygen isotopes (e.g., one or more of 18O and 16O) versus the concentration of carbon isotopes. This determination may further be based on one or more additional parameters or chemical concentrations including, for example, gas chromatography data, gamma, resistivity, interpreted lithology, neutron, azimuthal lithodensity (ALD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or other data from down hole tools or surface tools.
In one example embodiment, the total age of a formation and a maturity of the formation are determined by processor 275 based, at least in part, on the concentration of sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen isotopes in one or more individual chemical species of the fluid sample. This determination may further be based on one or more additional parameters or chemical concentrations including, for example, gas chromatography data, gamma, resistivity, interpreted lithology, neutron, azimuthal lithodensity (ALD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or other data from down hole tools or surface tools.
In certain embodiments, the processor 275 monitors alarm conditions (block 335). Specific concentrations of isotopes can designated to initiate alarms in real-time or delayed basis to inform parties on or off rig site to indicate a change in isotopic concentration. The specific concentrations can be limits or arbitrary values designated before or during operations that can be in reference to known or estimated isotopic concentrations that are of interest. Alternatively, the isotopic concentrations can related to other parameters through fuzzy logic to produce an alarm for interested parties on or off rig site.
In certain example embodiments, the processor 275 determines if a decrease in an isotopic ratio over a time period is above a set alarm value (block 410). In one example embodiment, the alarm is activated for a 10% or greater decrease in the isotopic ratio over the period of time. In one example embodiment, the alarm is activated for a 5% or greater decrease in the isotopic ratio over the period of time. The set alarm value for the change in the isotopic concentration may be specified by a user of processor 275 or it may be determined by processor 275. In certain example embodiments, the processor 275 determines if an absolute isotopic concentration or a ratio of isotopic concentrations are outside of an alarm range of concentrations or ratios of concentrations (block 410). In certain example embodiments, the alarm range is determined based on or more of estimates, customer data, or data from one or more offset wells. The alarm range of concentrations or ratios of concentrations may be specified by a user of processor 275 or they may be determined by processor 275. In certain example embodiments, the processor 275 determines if there is an abnormal trend in isotopic concentrations. For example, when isotopic concentrations of C3 are above C1, the processor 275 may determine that the reservoir is degraded. In certain example embodiments where the ration of C3/C1 is at or near 1, the processor 275 may determine a lack of methane production due to reservoir or fluid being highly degraded or missing a gas phase.
If one or more of the alarm conditions of blocks 405, 410, 415, or 420 are met, the processor 275 takes on or more alarm actions (block 425). Example alarm actions include a providing a visual or audible alert to one or more users. Other example alarm actions include sending a message to one or more users by email, SMS/MMS text messaging, pager, or other messaging methods.
Therefore, the present invention is well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the present invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. The indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are each defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces.
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PCT/US2014/032999 | 4/4/2014 | WO | 00 |
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WO2015/152943 | 10/8/2015 | WO | A |
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