Patent · US Active

Method for characterization of hydrocarbon reservoirs

US11280191B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
7References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 17, 2013
Grant dateMar 22, 2022
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 8, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B49/0875
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A methodology that performs fluid sampling within a wellbore traversing a reservoir and fluid analysis on the fluid sample(s) to determine properties (including asphaltene concentration) of the fluid sample(s). At least one model is used to predict asphaltene concentration as a function of location in the reservoir. The predicted asphaltene concentrations are compared with corresponding concentrations measured by the fluid analysis to identify if the asphaltene of the fluid sample(s) corresponds to a particular asphaltene type (e.g., asphaltene clusters common in heavy oil). If so, a viscosity model is used to derive viscosity of the reservoir fluids as a function of location in the reservoir. The viscosity model allows for gradients in the viscosity of the reservoir fluids as a function of depth. The results of the viscosity model (and/or parts thereof) can be used in reservoir understanding workflows and in reservoir simulation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.