Flowpath identification and characterization

摘要

Systems and methods for analyzing produced fluids in a mature water flood (or EOR scheme) and determining whether the introduction of an EOR agent, such as a chemical or a gas additive, or some other alteration in treatment, is enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbon from parts of the reservoir otherwise untouched by injected fluids. The monitoring can be used to identify subtle changes in the produced fluid caused by their flow through different pore structures. In a carbonate formation for example, ions and salts from the rock fabric are dissolved into the reservoir fluids, whether they are water or oil. These can be detected by various fluid analysis and particularly water analysis methods. The changes in reservoir fluid paths associated with the injection of an EOR agent are detected in the observation well.

主权项

1. A method of evaluating impact of a treatment scheme on production of reservoir fluids in a subterranean formation comprising:
treating the hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formation in a first treatment phase to enhance hydrocarbon recovery from the formation; altering the treatment of the hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formation in a second treatment phase to further enhance hydrocarbon recovery, the second phase including injecting a fluid into the formation from an injection well; monitoring produced fluid being produced from the formation at a monitoring well, the monitoring including measuring quantities of formation material present in the produced fluid; and evaluating geometry characteristics of flowpaths in the formation through which the produced fluid traveled based at least in part on the measuring of quantities of the formation material present in the produced fluid.