Coreflood Testing System and Methods for Simultaneous Measurement of Key Core Properties
AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorsRobin Gupta, Robert Longoria, Jeffrey D. Spitzenberger, David C. Laverick, Christopher A. Crowell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Herein disclosed are apparatuses and methods related to coreflood testing apparatuses and methods for determining key physical properties of core specimens. More particularly, disclosed herein are coreflood inlet end-piece designs, coreflood testing systems and coreflood testing methods to enable simultaneous testing to obtain necessary data for determination for determining key physical properties of core specimens, which include the relative permeability and the capillary pressure, as well as, optionally the wettability of the core sample.
Claims25
An inlet end-piece for a coreflood testing system, comprising:
- a first surface;
- a first phase inlet port substantially located at the first surface;
- and
- a second phase inlet port substantially located at the first surface;
- wherein substantially within the plane of the first surface, the first phase inlet port and the second phase inlet port are separated by at least one isolation member.
A coreflood testing system comprising:
- a coreholder which comprises:
- a cavity;
- a core sample placed with the cavity;
- an inlet end-piece at a first end of the cavity;
- and
- an outlet end-piece at a second end of the cavity, wherein the second end of the cavity is opposite of the first end of the cavity;
- wherein the inlet end-piece comprises:
- a first surface;
- a first phase inlet port substantially located at the first surface;
- and
- a second phase inlet port substantially located at the first surface;
- wherein substantially within the plane of the first surface, the first phase inlet port and the second phase inlet port are separated by at least one isolation member;
- and
- wherein the isolation member is in contact with the first surface and a first end of the core sample, and creates a seal that fluidly isolates the first phase inlet port from the second phase inlet port substantially within the plane of the first surface.
A coreflood testing process, comprising:
- flowing a first phase fluid through a first phase fluid inlet of an inlet end-piece of a coreholder and into a first inlet face of a core sample, wherein the core sample is located within a cavity of the coreholder;
- and
- flowing a second phase fluid through a second phase fluid inlet of the inlet end-piece to the coreholder and into the first inlet face of the core sample;
- wherein substantially with in the plane of the first inlet face of the core sample, the first phase fluid is fluidly isolated from the second phase fluid by at least one isolation member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.