Method of Detecting Flow Assurance Using a Tagged Asphaltene Inhibitor
AssigneeBaker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
InventorsNaima Bestaoui-Spurr, Frances H. DeBenedictis, Sumit Bhaduri
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Abstract
Reservoir monitoring of a producing well consists of use of a tagged asphaltene inhibitor to determine deposition of asphaltene in the well. A renewable amount of tagged asphaltene inhibitor may be introduced into the well once the amount of tagged inhibitor in the well approaches a pre-determined minimum inhibitory concentration of the tagged asphaltene inhibitor.
Claims20
A method of monitoring the level of asphaltene inhibitor needed to inhibit or prevent deposition of asphaltene in a producing well, the method comprising:
- (a) determining a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of P-tagged asphaltene inhibitor required to inhibit deposition of asphaltenes in a sample of fluid recovered from the producing well, the P-tagged asphaltene inhibitor comprising an asphaltene inhibitor covalently bonded to a phosphorus containing taggant;
- (b) introducing into the producing well a pre-determined quantitative amount in excess of the MIC of the P-tagged asphaltene inhibitor;
- (c) determining the concentration of the P-tagged asphaltene inhibitor in an aliquot of fluid removed from the producing well;
- (d) comparing the concentration of the P-tagged asphaltene inhibitor in the aliquot to the MIC;
- and
- (e) introducing additional P-tagged asphaltene inhibitor into the producing well once the concentration of P-tagged asphaltene inhibitor in the aliquot is less than or equal to 175% of the MIC.
A method of maintaining a requisite amount of asphaltene inhibitor in a producing well during production of hydrocarbons from the well, the method comprising:
- (a) determining a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of tagged asphaltene inhibitor required to inhibit deposition of asphaltenes in a sample of fluid recovered from the producing well;
- (b) introducing into the producing well the tagged asphaltene inhibitor in a sufficient amount to inhibit deposition of asphaltene in the producing well, the tagged asphaltene inhibitor comprising the asphaltene inhibitor and a taggant attached thereto;
- (c) determining the concentration of the tagged asphaltene inhibitor in an aliquot of fluid removed from the producing well;
- (d) comparing the concentration of tagged asphaltene inhibitor in the aliquot to the MIC;
- and
- (e) introducing additional tagged asphaltene inhibitor into the producing well once the concentration of asphaltene inhibitor in the aliquot approaches the MIC.
A method of minimizing asphaltene deposition in a producing well, the method comprising:
- (a) determining a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of tagged asphaltene inhibitor required to inhibit deposition of asphaltenes in a sample of fluid recovered from the producing well, the tagged asphaltene inhibitor comprising a taggant coupled to an asphaltene inhibitor;
- (b) introducing into the producing well a quantity of the tagged asphaltene inhibitor, the asphaltene inhibitor being capable of inhibiting the deposition of asphaltene deposits in the producing well;
- (c) monitoring an amount of tagged asphaltene inhibitor released in crude oil from a producing well by determining the concentration of the tagged asphaltene inhibitor in an aliquot of fluid removed from the producing well and comparing the concentration of the tagged asphaltene inhibitor in the aliquot to the MIC;
- and
- (d) minimizing asphaltene deposition in the producing well by introducing additional tagged asphaltene inhibitor into the producing well once the concentration of tagged asphaltene inhibitor in the aliquot is less than or equal to 175 percent of the MIC.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.