# US 11,603,746 B2 · Method for selection of improved hydrocarbon recovery agents for hydrocarbon reservoirs

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- Number: US 11,603,746 B2
- Document ID: US11603746B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/228,161
- Filed: 2021-04-12
- Published: 2021-10-21
- Granted: 2023-03-14
- Earliest claimed: 2020-04-20
- Assignees: Alchemy Sciences, Inc.
- Applicants: Alchemy Sciences, Inc.
- Inventors: Luchao Jin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11603746B2

## CPC

- E21B 43/267: reinforcing fractures by propping
- G01N 15/0826: {and measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. permeation rate or pressure change}
- E21B 47/002: by visual inspection
- E21B 2200/20: Computer models or simulations, e.g. for reservoirs under production, drill bits
- 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)

## Abstract

A physical modeling method that includes providing a reservoir core plug, the reservoir core plug having a wellbore interface end, an outlet interface end, and a cylindrical face and saturating the reservoir core plug with hydrocarbon and brine to form a saturated core plug. The method also includes positioning the saturated core plug within a flooding apparatus and pumping the fracturing fluid through saturated core plug to displace a portion of the hydrocarbon to form a displaced hydrocarbon plug. In addition the method includes positioning the displaced hydrocarbon plug in an imbibition cell and conducting an imbibition test to form an imbibed core plug having brine and hydrocarbon. Further the method includes positioning the imbibed core plug in core-flooding apparatus and displacing a portion of the brine and hydrocarbon from the imbibed core plug.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A physical modeling method comprising:
providing a reservoir core plug, the reservoir core plug having a wellbore interface end, an outlet interface end, and a cylindrical face;
saturating the reservoir core plug with hydrocarbon and brine to form a saturated core plug;
positioning the saturated core plug within a core-flooding apparatus;
pumping a fracturing fluid through the saturated core plug to displace a portion of the hydrocarbon to form a displaced hydrocarbon plug;
sealing the outlet interface end and the cylindrical face positioning the displaced hydrocarbon plug in an imbibition cell;
conducting an imbibition test to form an imbibed core plug having brine and hydrocarbon;
positioning the imbibed core plug in the core-flooding apparatus; and
displacing a portion of the brine and hydrocarbon from the imbibed core plug.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The physical modeling method of claim 1, wherein the reservoir core plug is saturated with the hydrocarbon and the brine through the wellbore interface end.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The physical modeling method of claim 1, further comprising while pumping the fracturing fluid through saturated core plug: collecting displaced hydrocarbon; and recording the amount of displaced hydrocarbon.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The physical modeling method of claim 1, further comprising calculating hydrocarbon recovery.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The physical modeling method of claim 4, wherein the hydrocarbon recovery is calculated by measuring the weight of the displaced hydrocarbon plug and the imbibed core plug.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The physical modeling method of claim 1, wherein in the step of displacing a portion of the brine and hydrocarbon from the imbibed core plug, hydrocarbon is pumped from the outlet interface and both hydrocarbon and brine solution are displaced from the wellbore interface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The physical modeling method of claim 6, wherein the displaced hydrocarbon and brine are collected and hydrocarbon and brine recovery versus time is determined.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The physical modeling method of claim 7, wherein effective permeability of the hydrocarbon is determined based on the determination of hydrocarbon and brine recovery versus time.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The physical modeling method of claim 1, wherein the saturated core plug is an aged saturated core plug.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The physical modeling method of claim 1, wherein the saturated core plug is a non-aged saturated core plug.

### Claim 11

A physical modeling method comprising:
providing a reservoir core plug, the reservoir core plug having a wellbore interface end, an outlet interface end, and a cylindrical face;
saturating the reservoir core plug with hydrocarbon and brine to form a saturated core plug;
positioning the saturated core plug within a core-flooding apparatus;
pumping a fracturing fluid through the saturated core plug to displace a portion of the hydrocarbon to form a displaced hydrocarbon plug;
positioning the displaced hydrocarbon plug in an imbibition cell;
conducting an imbibition test to form an imbibed core plug having brine and hydrocarbon;
positioning the imbibed core plug in the core-flooding apparatus;
displacing a portion of the brine and hydrocarbon from the imbibed core plug; and
calculating hydrocarbon recovery by measuring the weight of the displaced hydrocarbon plug and the imbibed core plug.