Method for analyzing solvent extracted sponge core
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorsWilliam E. Ellington, Clayton L. Calkin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for quantifying the volume of oil in the fluids produced by solvent extracted sponge core distills only a portion of the solvent from the solvent/oil mixture, then determines and subtracts the remaining solvent volume to yield the actual volume of oil removed from the sponge.
Claims7
For use in solvent extracted sponge core measurements of the oil saturation of earth formations, a method for quantifying the volume of oil in the fluids resulting from such extraction, comprising:
- (a) separating the solvent/oil mixture from the water in the extracted fluids,
- (b) distilling at least a portion of the solvent from the solvent/oil mixture substantially without co-distillation or loss of the light hydrocarbons in the mixture,
- (c) determining the volume contribution of the solvent remaining in the mixture, and
- (d) determining the volume of oil removed from the sponge by substracting the determined remaining solvent volume.
For use in Freon-11 solvent extracted sponge core measurements of the oil saturation of earth formations, a method for quantifying the volume of oil in the fluids resulting from such extraction, comprising:
- (a) separating the solvent/oil mixture from the water in the extracted fluids,
- (b) distilling at least a portion of the solvent from the solvent/oil mixture substantially without co-distillation or loss of the light C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 hydrocarbons in the mixture, by distilling to a vapor temperature limit of substantially 65.degree. C. using a Vigoreaux fractional distillation reflux column surmounted with a column condenser.
- (c) removing extracted sponge components from the solvent/ oil mixture by centrifugation,
- (d) determining the volume contribution of the solvent remaining in the mixture utilizing gas chromatography, and
- (e) determining the volume of oil removed from the sponge by subtracting the determined remaining solvent volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.