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US 11,635,541 B2Granted
Microfluidic device and method for parallel pressure-volume-temperature analysis in reservoir simulations
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Michael Jones, Michael T. Pelletier, Robert S. Atkinson, Jr., Songhua Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and microfluidic device to perform reservoir simulations using pressure-volume-temperature (“PVT”) analysis of wellbore fluids.
Claims28
A method to perform a reservoir simulation using a pressure-volume-temperature (“PVT”) analysis of wellbore fluid obtained, the method comprising:
- receiving a wellbore fluid sample into an inlet port of a microfluidic device, the wellbore fluid sample being a first wellbore fluid;
- communicating a volume of the wellbore fluid sample to a plurality of microfluidic channels;
- applying a pressure or temperature to each fluid sample volume within the microfluidic channels such that a pressure or temperature of at least one fluid sample volume within the channels is altered such that a pressure and temperature combination of at least one fluid sample volume is different from that of at least one other fluid sample volume within the plurality of channels, thus altering a phase of at least one of the fluid sample volumes within the channels;
- using an apparatus positioned adjacent the microfluidic channels to determine fluid characteristics of each fluid sample volume within the microfluidic channels;
- generating first signals corresponding to fluid characteristics of each fluid sample volume within the microfluidic channels, the phase characteristics of each fluid sample volume being dependent upon the pressure or temperature applied to the fluid sample volume;
- performing a PVT analysis based upon the first signals;
- and
- performing a reservoir simulation using the first signals.
5 more elements
A microfluidic device for performing a reservoir simulation using pressure-volume-temperature (“PVT”) analysis of wellbore fluid, the device comprising:
- an inlet port to receive a wellbore fluid sample;
- a plurality of microfluidic channels in fluid communication with the inlet port to thereby receive a volume of the wellbore fluid sample and to apply a pressure or temperature to each fluid sample volume such that a pressure or temperature of at least one fluid sample volume within the channels is altered such that a pressure and temperature combination of at least one fluid sample volume is different from that of at least one other fluid sample volume within the plurality of channels, thus altering a phase of at least one of the fluid sample volumes within the channels;
- an apparatus positioned adjacent to the microfluidic channels to determine fluid characteristics of each fluid sample volume within the microfluidic channels and generate corresponding first signals, wherein the fluid characteristics of each fluid sample volume are dependent upon the pressure and temperature applied to the fluid sample volume;
- and
- processing circuitry communicably coupled to the apparatus to conduct operations comprising:
- performing a PVT analysis using the first signals;
- and
- performing a reservoir simulation using the first signals.
5 more elements
A method to perform a reservoir simulation using a pressure-volume-temperature (“PVT”) analysis of wellbore fluid obtained, the method comprising:
- receiving a wellbore fluid sample into an inlet port of a microfluidic device having a plurality of channels;
- applying a pressure or temperature to the fluid sample within the microfluidic device such that a pressure or temperature of at least one fluid sample within the channels is altered such that a pressure and temperature combination of at least one fluid sample is different from that of at least one other fluid sample within the plurality of channels, thus altering a phase of at least one of the fluid sample within the channels;
- determining fluid characteristics of the fluid sample;
- and
- using the determined fluid characteristics to perform a reservoir simulation.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.