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US 12,631,612 B2Granted
Fluorescent dye molecules for tracer applications in subterranean formations
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorWei Wang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composition includes a functionalized fluorescent dye. The functionalized fluorescent dye includes an isothiocyanate-containing dye functionalized with a functional group. The functional group includes an aromatic compound with a primary amine. The functionalized fluorescent dye can be mixed with a fluid to form a tracer fluid for tracing fluid flow in a subterranean formation.
Claims18
A composition comprising:
- a functionalized fluorescent dye, wherein the functionalized fluorescent dye is formed from an isothiocyanate-containing dye reacted with a primary amine, wherein:
- the isothiocyanate-containing dye is selected from the group consisting of fluorescein isothiocyanate, an isomer thereof, Rhodamine B isothiocyanate, an isomer thereof, tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate, and an isomer thereof, and
- the primary amine is selected from the group consisting of 2-aminoanthracene, 6-chrysenamine, 9-aminophenanthrene, 2-aminofluorene, 9-aminoacridine, 9H-carbazol-2-amine, and 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole.
A method of making a functionalized fluorescent dye, comprising:
- dissolving a water-soluble isothiocyanate-containing fluorescent dye in an aqueous solvent to yield an aqueous dye solution, wherein the water-soluble isothiocyanate-containing fluorescent dye is selected from the group consisting of fluorescein isothiocyanate, or an isomer thereof, Rhodamine B isothiocyanate, or an isomer thereof, tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate, and an isomer thereof;
- dissolving a primary amine in an organic solvent to yield a primary amine solution, wherein the primary amine is selected from the group consisting of 2-aminoanthracene, 6-chrysenamine, 9-aminophenanthrene, 2-aminofluorene, 9-aminoacridine, 9H-carbazol-2-amine, and 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole;
- mixing the aqueous dye solution and the primary amine solution to form an emulsion;
- separating the emulsion into an aqueous phase and an organic phase;
- and
- extracting the functionalized fluorescent dye from the organic phase, wherein the functionalized fluorescent dye is a reaction product of the water-soluble isothiocyanate-containing dye and the primary amine.
3 more elements
A method of tracing fluid flow in a subterranean formation, comprising:
- mixing a functionalized fluorescent tracer and a fluid to form a tracer fluid, wherein the functionalized fluorescent tracer is formed from an isothiocyanate-containing dye reacted with a primary amine, wherein:
- the isothiocyanate-containing dye is selected from the group consisting of fluorescein isothiocyanate, an isomer thereof, Rhodamine B isothiocyanate, an isomer thereof, tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate, and an isomer thereof;
- and
- the primary amine is selected from the group consisting of 2-aminoanthracene, 6-chrysenamine, 9-aminophenanthrene, 2-aminofluorene, 9-aminoacridine, 9H-carbazol-2-amine, and 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole;
- flowing the tracer fluid into a first subterranean formation;
- recovering a sample from the first subterranean formation or a second subterranean formation connected to the first subterranean formation;
- and
- analyzing the sample for a fluorescent signal.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.