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US 2026/0194428 A1Published application
Analyzing carbon isotopes of methane produced by microorganisms after exogenous carbon addition to geologic formations
AssigneeTransworld Technologies Inc.
InventorsGary VANZIN, Roland P. DEBRUYN, Joseph Edward ZEMETRA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described are techniques for distinguishing between biomethane and fossil methane using isotopic analysis. Examples include evaluating a methane source using radioisotope analysis stable isotope analysis. In some cases, radioisotope analysis is used for purposes of calibrating a stable isotope analysis technique or for verifying precision or reliability of a stable isotope analysis result.
Claims33
A method, comprising:
- injecting a biogenic feedstock into a geologic formation, the geologic formation containing a consortium of symbiotic microorganisms, wherein the consortium of symbiotic microorganisms at least partly anaerobically digests the biogenic feedstock to generate a gaseous product, wherein the biogenic feedstock contains a known amount of a radioisotope;
- producing a fluid from the geologic formation, the fluid comprising the gaseous product;
- and
- performing a radioisotope analysis of at least a portion the fluid, using the known amount of the radioisotope, to identify an amount of the gaseous product in the fluid derived from the biogenic feedstock.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- identifying one or more stable isotope analysis calibration factors;
- injecting a biogenic feedstock into a geologic formation, the geologic formation containing a consortium of symbiotic microorganisms, wherein the consortium of symbiotic microorganisms at least partly anaerobically digests the biogenic feedstock to generate a gaseous product;
- producing a fluid from the geologic formation, the fluid comprising the gaseous product;
- and
- performing a stable isotope analysis of at least a portion of the fluid, using the one or more stable isotope analysis calibration factors, to determine an amount of the gaseous product in the fluid derived from the biogenic feedstock.
2 more elements
A system, comprising:
- one or more pumps in fluid communication with a geologic formation containing a consortium of symbiotic microorganisms, the one or more pumps configured to:
- inject a biogenic feedstock into the geologic formation, wherein the consortium of symbiotic microorganisms at least partly anaerobically digests the biogenic feedstock to generate gaseous product, and
- produce a fluid from the geologic formation, the fluid comprising the gaseous product;
- and
- a computing device configured to:
- identify an isotopic distribution for stable isotopes included in the biogenic feedstock,
- identify an isotopic distribution for the stable isotopes included in the gaseous product in the fluid, and
- determine an amount of the gaseous product in the fluid derived from the biogenic feedstock using:
- the isotopic distribution for the stable isotopes included in the biogenic feedstock,
- the isotopic distribution for the stable isotopes included in the gaseous product in the fluid, and
- one or more stable isotope analysis calibration factors.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.