Analyzing hydrocarbon flow into multi-lateral wells by releasing tracers from the surface
US12331632B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 2023 |
| Grant date | Jun 17, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B47/11
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Hydrocarbon flow into multi-lateral wells is analyzed by controlled release of tracers from the surface. Hydrocarbons flow into a lateral formed from a wellbore into a subterranean zone. A wellbore production tubing is installed within the wellbore and extends toward the lateral. The wellbore production tubing defines an annulus between an outer surface of the tubing and an inner wall of the wellbore. Hydrocarbons flowing from the lateral into the annulus flow within an internal volume defined by a body attached to the outer surface of the tubing. The hydrocarbons mix with tracers residing within the internal volume. A mixture of the hydrocarbons with the tracers flow out of the internal volume and towards the surface. At the surface, a concentration of the tracers in the mixture flowed to the surface is analyzed. Based on a result of the analyzing, properties of hydrocarbon flow into the lateral are determined.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.