# US 10,246,962 B2 · Methods and apparatus for collecting and preserving core samples from a reservoir

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- Number: US 10,246,962 B2
- Document ID: US10246962B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/012,190
- Filed: 2018-06-19
- Published: 2018-10-18
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2015-09-30
- Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Inventors: Anuj Gupta; Daniel T. Georgi; Katherine L. Hull
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246962B2

## CPC

- E21B 25/08: Coating, freezing, consolidating cores (E21B25/06 takes precedence); Recovering uncontaminated cores or cores at formation pressure
- E21B 25/005: {Above ground means for handling the core, e.g. for extracting the core from the core barrel}
- E21B 49/06: using side-wall drilling tools {pressing} or scrapers
- E21B 49/082: {Wire-line fluid samplers (E21B49/083 takes precedence)}
- E21B 49/086: {Withdrawing samples at the surface}
- G01N 33/24: Earth materials (G01N33/42 takes precedence)
- G01V 5/04: specially adapted for well-logging
- G01N 23/046: using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02)

## Abstract

Provided herein are methods and apparatus for collecting and preserving core samples from a reservoir. In some embodiments, a method includes obtaining core samples from a reservoir using a rock and fluid sampling tool and depositing the core samples in a vessel filled with a hydrogen-free fluid such that a portion of the hydrogen-free fluid is displaced by the core samples and the core samples are immersed in the hydrogen-free fluid. The method also includes transferring a gas into the vessel to occupy a space in the vessel and sealing the vessel via a cap on an end of the vessel. Methods of analyzing the core samples core samples collected from a reservoir and a rock and fluid sampling tool are also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of analyzing a core sample collected from a reservoir, comprising:
providing a pressurized vessel comprising the core sample, the pressurized vessel sealed downhole in a wellbore extending into a reservoir after collecting the core sample from the reservoir
reducing, in one or more steps, a pressure of the pressurized vessel to atmospheric pressure, each step comprising:
releasing an amount of a gas, an amount of a fluid or any combination thereof, to reduce the pressure of the pressurized vessel by a pressure value; and
determining the released amount of the gas, the released amount of the fluid, or any combination thereof;
determining, after reducing the pressure of the pressurized vessel to atmospheric pressure, a total amount of the gas released and a total amount of the fluid released; and
calculating a hydrocarbons-in-place value based on the total amount of the gas released and the total amount of the fluid released.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising heating the pressurized vessel to a temperature value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the temperature value is substantially equal to a temperature of the reservoir.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure value is a first pressure value, the method comprising pressuring the pressurized vessel to a second pressure value before reducing, in one or more steps, the pressure of the pressurized vessel to atmospheric pressure.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the second pressure value is substantially equal to a pressure of the reservoir.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the core sample is immersed in a hydrogen-free fluid in the pressurized vessel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen-free fluid comprises a fluorocarbon-based fluid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the gas comprises nitrogen.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the vessel comprises a eutectic metal component.