INJECTION WELL IDENTIFICATION USING TRACER PARTICLES

摘要

A method for observing a subterranean reservoir penetrated by a production well and two or more injection wells. A first set of magnetic tracer particles is delivered to the reservoir by one injection well, while a second set of magnetic tracer particles is delivered to the reservoir via a second injection well. The first set of tracer particles includes a first identification element while the second set of tracer particles includes a second identification element. The presence or absence of particles from the first set or second set of tracer particles in fluid produced from the production well is determined by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy or another analogous technique using the identification elements in the production fluid. The tracer particles are concentrated in the production fluid by magnetic extraction. The fluid flow (or absence thereof) from a particular injection well to the production well can thus be determined.