Patent · US Expired

Determining dew precipitation and onset pressure in oilfield retrograde condensate

US7002142B2 · kind B2 · utility

16Cited by
10References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 3, 2002
Grant dateFeb 21, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 12, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N33/2823
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus detects dew precipitation and determines dew precipitation onset pressure in a sample of formation fluid located downhole in an oilfield reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes (a) isolating a sample of formation fluid downhole; (b) illuminating the sample downhole with fluorescence excitation light; (c) measuring at least one characteristic of fluorescence short from the sample; (d) reducing pressure on the sample; (e) repeating steps (b) to (d); (f) detecting dew precipitation when a change is detected in a parameter that is a function of the at least one characteristic of fluorescence emission; and (g) setting dew precipitation onset pressure equal to pressure on the sample when the change in the parameter is detected. The parameter preferably is a function of fluorescence intensity and fluorescence red shift, and the change is an increase in fluorescence intensity and detection of fluorescence red shift. Also, the function includes a ratio of a measured intensity at a first wavelength to a reference intensity, and the reference intensity is a function of a measured intensity at a second wavelength.

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