Method and system for enhancing hydrocarbon operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10697295-B2
Application number	US-201815889920-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2018
Priority date	Mar 10, 2017
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

A method and system are described for imaging core samples associated with a subsurface region. The imaging results may be used to create or update a subsurface model and using the subsurface model and/or imaging results in hydrocarbon operations. The imaging techniques may include NMR imaging and CT imaging. Further, the imaging techniques may also include exposing the core sample to the imaging gas.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for generating and using imaging results of a core sample for hydrocarbon operations comprising:
obtaining a core sample associated with a subsurface region;
performing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging on the core sample to create NMR imaging results of the core sample;
performing computed tomography (CT) imaging on the core sample to create CT imaging results of the core sample wherein the NMR imaging results are used to constrain the selection of X-ray attenuation coefficients used to produce the CT imaging; and
outputting imaging results, wherein the imaging results comprise the NMR imaging results, the CT imaging results, and any combination thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining producible fluid for the core sample based on the imaging results.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining distribution of oil, water, or any combination thereof based on the imaging results.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining one or more of an amount of pores in the core sample, a distribution of pores in the core sample, and a content of the pores based on the imaging results.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising exposing a flood fluid to the core sample concurrently with the performing of the CT imaging on the core sample or NMR imaging.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the flood fluid comprises water or hydrocarbon recovery fluid.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein after performing the CT imaging or NMR imaging on the core sample, the method further comprising:
performing a second CT imaging on the core sample, wherein the core sample is exposed to a second flood fluid concurrently with the performing of the second CT imaging on the core sample; and
comparing imaging results for the imaging taken during the flood fluid and the second flood fluid to determine a more efficient hydrocarbon recovery fluid.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the flood fluid is doped with a doping agent that has a selectivity for hydrocarbons over water greater than 5.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising drilling a well to obtain a core sample from the subsurface region.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing a flow simulation based on one of the imaging results.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising performing a hydrocarbon operation based on one of the imaging results, the simulation results, and any combination thereof.

12. An imaging system, comprising:
a core sample unit comprising a housing and a plurality of valves, wherein the housing forms an interior region configured to hold a core sample and to isolate the interior region from external conditions, and wherein the plurality of valves are configured to provide fluid flow paths between the interior region and external locations to the interior region;
a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging system configured to create NMR imaging results of the core sample within the core sample unit;
a computed tomography (CT) imaging system configured to create CT imaging results of the core sample within the core sample unit, wherein the NMR imaging results are used to constrain the selectin of X-ray attenuation coefficients used to produce the CT imaging results;
memory configured to store the imaging results, wherein the imaging results comprise the NMR imaging results; the CT imaging results and any combination thereof; and
a monitor configured to display the imaging results.

13. The imaging system of claim 12 , further comprising a control system configured to communicate with the NMR imaging system, the CT imaging system, or any combination thereof, wherein the control system is configured to manage acquiring the NMR imaging result, the CT imaging results, or any combination thereof.

14. The imaging system of claim 12 , wherein a control system is further configured to manage pressure conditions that the core sample is exposed to during the creation of the NMR imaging results or the creation of the CT imaging results, temperature conditions that the core sample is exposed to during the creation of the NMR imaging results or the creation of the CT imaging results, or any combination thereof.

15. The imaging system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a heating unit coupled to the core sample unit, wherein the heating unit is configured to communicate with the control unit and to adjust the temperature within the core sample unit; and
a temperature sensor coupled to the heating unit, the core sample unit, or any combination thereof, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure temperature data within the core sample unit and to communicate the temperature data with the control unit, the heating unit, or any combination thereof.

16. The imaging system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a pressure unit coupled to the core sample unit, wherein the pressure unit is configured to communicate with the control unit and to adjust the pressure within the core sample unit; and
a pressure sensor coupled to the pressure unit, the core sample unit, or any combination thereof, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure pressure data within the core sample unit and to communicate the pressure data with the control unit, the pressure unit, or any combination thereof.

17. The imaging system of claim 12 , further comprising a flood fluid unit in fluid communication with the core sample unit, wherein the flood fluid unit is configured to expose the core sample with a flood fluid.

18. The imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the flood fluid unit is configured to communicate with the control unit and to manage fluid flow of the flood fluid into the interior region of the core sample unit.

Assignees

• Buono Antonio S
• Fullmer Shawn
• King Jr Hubert E
• Sansone Michael
• Kortunov Pavel
• Dunsmuir John H
• Gao Bo
• Kralik James G
• Xu Ye
• Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co

Inventors

• Buono Antonio S
• Fullmer Shawn
• King Jr Hubert E
• Sansone Michael
• Kortunov Pavel
• Dunsmuir John H
• Gao Bo
• Kralik James G
• Xu Ye

Classifications

• G01N24/081 Primary

  Making measurements of geologic samples, e.g. measurements of moisture, pH, porosity, permeability, tortuosity or viscosity · CPC title

• G01R33/305

  specially adapted for high-pressure applications · CPC title

• G01V3/14

  operating with electron or nuclear magnetic resonance · CPC title

• G01V3/32

  operating with electron or nuclear magnetic resonance · CPC title

• E21B49/02 Primary

  by mechanically taking samples of the soil · CPC title