Tracers for heavy oil
AssigneeTexaco Inc.
InventorsWilliam C. Richardson, Kevin D. Kimber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process of using a non-radioactive tracer in the monitoring of the flow of a traced fluid is disclosed. The process includes injecting a tracer containing fluid at a first point and analyzing at least one sample from a second point in the flow of the fluid for the tracer compound. In one embodiment heavy oil is traced with a long chain hydrocarbon having a primary chain of more than 25 carbon atoms, the compound preferably being a saturated hydrocarbon. Exemplary tracer compounds include pentacosane (C25H52); hexacosane (C26H54), heptacosane (C27H56), octacosane(C28H58), nonacosane(C29H60), triacontane(C30H62), hentriacontane(C3lH64), dotriacontane(C32H66), tritriacontane (C33H68), tetratriacontane (C34H70) and the like.
Claims12
A process for monitoring the flow of a traced fluid in a subterranean formation, the process comprising:
- injecting a tracer containing fluid into at least one injection well, said well being in fluid communication wit the subterranean formation;
- and
- analyzing at least one sample from at least one producing source, said producing source being in fluid communication with the subterranean formation,
- wherein the term comprises an organic compound having more than 25 carbons that:
- is at least patally soluble in the traced fluid;
- is compatible with the characteristics of the thawed fluid;
- is involatile upon the injection of steam into the subterranean formation;
- is thermally and chemically stable under the conditions encountered in the subterranean formation and has a negligible effect on metals content.
A process for monitoring the flow of a traced fluid in a subterranean formation, the process comprising:
- injecting a tracer containing fluid into at least one injection well, said well being in fluid communication with the subterranean formation;
- and
- analyzing at least one sample from at least one producing source, said producing source being in fluid communication with the subterranean formation,
- wherein the tracer comprises an organic compound having more than 25 carbons that;
- is at least partially soluble in the traced fluid;
- is compatible with the characteristics of the traced fluid;
- is involatile upon the injection of steam into the subterranean formation;
- is thermally and chemically stable under the conditions encountered in the subterranean formation and wherein the tracer is an organic compound selected from long chain hydrocarbons having a primary chain of more than 25 carbon atoms and has a negligible effect on trace metals content of the traced fluid.
A process for monitoring the flow of oil from a first point in a subterranean formation to a second point in a subterranean formation, the process comprising:
- injecting a tracer containing fluid into at least a first well, said first well being in fluid communication with the first point in the subterranean formation;
- analyzing at least one sample from at least a second well, said second well being in fluid communication with the second point in the subterranean formation
- wherein the tracer comprises an oil soluble organic compound having more than 25 carbons that:
- is compatible with the characteristics of the subterranean oil;
- is involatile upon the injection of steam into the subterranean formation;
- is thermally and chemically stable under the conditions encountered in the subterranean formation, has no effect upon the metals content of the oil, and is present in a concentration such that it can be detected in the sample from the producing well.
A process for monitoring the flow of oil from a first point in a subterranean formation to a second point in a subterranean formation, the process comprising:
- injecting a tracer containing fluid into at least a first well, said first well being in fluid communication with the first point in the subterranean formation;
- analyzing at least one sample from at least a second well, said second well being in fluid communication with the second point in the subterranean formation
- wherein the tracer comprises an oil soluble organic compound having more than 25 carbons that:
- is compatible with the characteristics of the subterranean oil;
- is involatile upon the injection of steam into the subterranean formation;
- is thermally and chemically stable under the conditions encountered in the subterranean formation and is present in a concentration such that it can be detected in the sample from the producing well and wherein the tracer is an organic compound selected from long chain hydrocarbons having a primary chain of more that 25 carbon atoms and has a negligible effect on trace metals content of the traced fluid.
A process of monitoring the flow of an oil from a first point to a second point, the first point being in fluid communication with the second point, the process comprising:
- injecting a oil soluble tracer into the oil at the first point and
- analyzing at least one sample from the second point for the tracer
- wherein the tracer comprises an oil soluble organic compound having more than 25 carbons that:
- is compatible with the characteristics of the oil;
- is thermally and chemically stable under the conditions encountered between the first point and the second point, has no impact on the metals content of the oil, and is present in a concentration such that it can be detected in the sample from the second point.
A process of monitoring the flow of an oil from a first point to a second point, the first point being in fluid communication with the second point, the process comprising:
- injecting a oil soluble tracer into the oil at the first point and
- analyzing at least one sample from the second point for the tracer
- wherein the tracer comprises an oil soluble organic compound having more than 25 carbons that:
- is compatible with the characteristics of the oil;
- is thermally and chemically stable under the conditions encountered between the first point and the second point and is present in a concentration such that it can be detected in the sample from the second point and wherein the tracer is selected from long chain hydrocarbons having a primary chain of more that 25 carbon atoms and has a negligible effect in trace metals content of the traced fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.