Abstract:
A technique facilitates detection and analysis of constituents, e.g. chemicals, which may be found in formation fluids and/or other types of fluids. The technique comprises intermittently introducing a first fluid and a second fluid into a channel in a manner which forms slugs of the first fluid separated by the second fluid. The intermittent fluids are flowed through the channel to create a mixing action which mixes the fluid in the slugs. The mixing increases the exchange, e.g. transfer, of the chemical constituent between the second fluid and the first fluid. The exchange aids in sensing an amount of the chemical or chemicals for analysis. In many applications, the intermittent introduction, mixing, and measuring can be performed in a subterranean environment.
Abstract:
A test method and test apparatus is provided that employs a microfluidic device to characterize properties of a fluid. The microfluidic device has a first inlet port, an outlet port, and a microchannel as part of a fluid path between the first inlet port and the outlet port. While generating a flow of the fluid through the microchannel of the microfluidic device, fluid pressure at the first inlet port of the microfluidic device is measured and recorded in conjunction with varying the controlled temperature of the microchannel of the microfluidic device to characterize the properties of the fluid that flows through the microchannel of the microfluidic device. The properties of the fluid can relate to the clathrate hydrate formation condition of the fluid at the pressure of the flow through the microchannel of the microfluidic device.
Abstract:
A method of evaluating an asphaltene inhibitor includes providing a centrifugal microfluidic system including: a disc mounted to rotate about an axis; a microfluidic device mounted on the disc, the device having sample, solvent, inhibitor, and precipitant reservoirs and an analysis chamber in fluid communication with the sample, solvent, inhibitor, and precipitant reservoirs; and an optical detection system coupled to the analysis chamber and configured to measure the optical transmission of fluid in the analysis chamber. The method includes filling the sample, solvent, inhibitor, and precipitant reservoirs, respectively, with a sample, solvent, inhibitor, and precipitant; rotating the disc to generate centrifugal force to cause the sample, solvent, inhibitor, and precipitant to travel radially outward to the analysis chamber; and measuring the optical transmission of a mixture of the sample, solvent, inhibitor, and precipitant in the analysis chamber as a function of radial distance of the analysis chamber.
Abstract:
A system for measuring asphaltene content of crude oil, includes a microfluidic chip, the microfluidic chip having a crude oil sample inlet port, a solvent port, a mixer and reactor section in fluid communication with the crude oil sample inlet port and the solvent port, and a filter in fluid communication with the mixer and reactor section, the filter having an inlet side and an outlet side, a waste port in fluid communication with the inlet side of the filter, and a product port in fluid communication with the outlet side of the filter. The system further includes an optical cell in fluid communication with the product port.
Abstract:
A technique facilitates detection and analysis of constituents, e.g. chemicals, which may be found in formation fluids and/or other types of fluids. The technique comprises intermittently introducing a first fluid and a second fluid into a channel in a manner which forms slugs of the first fluid separated by the second fluid. The intermittent fluids are flowed through the channel to create a mixing action which mixes the fluid in the slugs. The mixing increases the exchange, e.g. transfer, of the chemical constituent between the second fluid and the first fluid. The exchange aids in sensing an amount of the chemical or chemicals for analysis. In many applications, the intermittent introduction, mixing, and measuring can be performed in a subterranean environment.
Abstract:
A system for characterizing crude oil fractions includes a maltenes sample reservoir, a first solvent reservoir, a second solvent reservoir, and a third solvent reservoir. The system further includes a valve in fluid communication with the first solvent reservoir, the second solvent reservoir, and the third solvent reservoir and a pump in fluid communication with the valve. The system further includes a packed bed in fluid communication with the maltenes sample reservoir and the pump, a flowthrough cell in fluid communication with the packed bed, a spectrometer operably associated with the flowthrough cell, and a computer operably associated with the spectrometer. A method for characterizing crude oil fractions includes providing a maltene sample, eluting saturates, aromatics, and resins of the maltene sample, determining an optical density of each, and determining a concentration of each of the saturates, aromatics, and resins based upon optical densities over time for each.
Abstract:
A method for determining an asphaltene yield curve and an asphaltene flocculation point includes obtaining a crude oil sample and measuring an optical spectrum of the crude oil sample. A titrant is then mixed with the crude oil sample at different concentrations. At each concentration, precipitated asphaltenes are filtered from the mixture and the optical spectrum of the filtrate is measured. The optical spectrum of the filtrate is then subtracted from the optical spectrum of the crude oil sample. A fractional asphaltene precipitation is determined for each concentration of titrant. A flocculation point is determined corresponding to an inflection point in the fractional asphaltene precipitation for each concentration of titrant.
Abstract:
Embodiments present a method for fluid type identification from a downhole fluid analysis that uses machine learning techniques that are trained and derived from a computer model using pressure, temperature and downhole optical characteristics of sampled fluid.
Abstract:
Embodiments presented provide for a method and apparatus for testing a sample fluid for asphaltene deposition. The apparatus provides two testing cylinders and a transfer pump to transfer fluid from the first cylinder to the second cylinder and back again while pressure is varied on the testing fluid, while a spectrometer evaluates the fluid during the pressure variation.
Abstract:
A microfluidic apparatus has a microchannel that includes at least one vertically oriented segment with a top section having a relatively wide opening and a bottom section having a relatively narrow opening. The top section is larger in volume relative to the bottom sections, and the middle sections taper down in at least one dimension from the top section to the bottom section. One or tens or hundreds of vertically-oriented segments may be provided, and they are fluidly coupled to each other. Each segment acts as a pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) cell, and the microchannel apparatus may be used to determine a parameter of a fluid containing hydrocarbons such as the dew point of the fluid or the liquid drop-out as a function of pressure.