Downhole spectroscopic hydrogen sulfide detection

US8058071B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Li Jiang · Nanhu, CN
• Oliver C. Mullins · Ridgefield, US
• Gale Gustavson · Brookfield, US
• Christopher Harrison · Vashon, US
• Bhavani Raghuraman · Wilton, US
• Ronald E. G. van Hal · Watertown, US
• Jimmy Lawrence · Cambridge, US
• Kosta Ladavac · Somerville, US
• Albert Ballard Andrews · Wilton, US
• Timothy Gareth John Jones · Cottenham, GB
• Rogerio Tadeu Ramos · Bethel, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 19, 2011
• Grant date: Nov 15, 2011
• Expiry date: Jan 19, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/184
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Methods and related apparatuses and mixtures are described for detecting hydrogen sulfide in a formation fluid downhole. A detection mixture is combined with the formation fluid downhole. The detection mixture includes metal ions for reacting with hydrogen sulfide forming a metal sulfide, and charged nanoparticles sized so as to inhibit significant aggregation of the metal sulfide so as to enable spectroscopic detection of the metal sulfide downhole. The combined mixture and formation fluid is then spectroscopically interrogated so as to detect the presence of the metal sulfide thereby indicating the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the formation fluid. The mixture also includes chelating ligands for sustaining thermal endurance of the mixture under downhole conditions.