Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Measurement of physical and chemical properties of hydrocarbons plays an important role in the exploration and production of oil wells. In situ measurement of chemical properties of hydrocarbons makes use of visible and near-infrared (vis-NIR) absorption spectra of hydrocarbons. Uncertainty analysis of these fluid properties is central to developing a fundamental understanding of the distribution of hydrocarbons in the reservoir. In this manuscript, we describe an algorithm called the fluid comparison algorithm (FCA), which provides a statistical framework to quantify and compare hydrocarbon fluid properties and associated uncertainties derived from vis-NIR measurements. The inputs to FCA are the magnitude and uncertainty of vis-NIR spectroscopy data of two hydrocarbons. The output of FCA is a probability that two fluids are statistically different. FCA lays the foundations for subsequent optimization and capture of representative reservoir hydrocarbons. Furthermore, in some circumstances, it can also enable real-time decisions to identify reservoir compartmentalization and hydrocarbon composition gradients in natural oil reservoirs.

Keywords

Uncertainty analysis Hydrocarbons Reservoir compartmentalization Optimized fluid sampling Fluid comparison algorithm FCA

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Workman

Jr. , J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 4, 69 (1996).

Fujisawa

Agthoven

M. A.

Jenet

Rabitto

P. A.

and Mullins

O. C

, Appl. Spectrosc. 56, 1615 (2002).

Dong

Hegeman

P. S.

Elshahawi

Mullins

O. C.

Fujisawa

and Kurkjian

, “Advances in Downhole Contamination Monitoring and GOR Measurement of Formation Fluid Samples”, SPWLA, 44th Annual Logging Symposium, paper FF (2003).

Mullins

O. C.

Schroer

and Beck

G. F

, “Real-Time Quantification of OBM Filtrate Contamination during Openhole Wireline Sampling by Optical Spectroscopy,” SPWLA 41st Annual Logging Symposium, SS (2000).

Mullins

O. C.

Elshahawi

Hashem

M. N.

and Fujisawa

, “Identification of vertical compartmentalization and compositional variation by downhole fluid analysis: Towards a continuous downhole fluid log”, SPWLA 46th Annual Logging Symposium (2005).

Mullins

O. C.

Hashem

Elshahawi

Fujisawa

Dong

Betancourt

and Terabayashi

, “Compartment identification by downhole fluid analysis”, Petrophysics, Vol. 46, No. 4, August 2005.

Beeunas

M. A.

Baskin

D. K.

Jurgens

J. L.

Dincau

A. R.

and Schoell

, “Application of Gas Geochemistry for Reservoir Continuity Assessment, Gulf of Mexico: AAPG/EAGE Research Symposium, Compartmentalized Reservoirs: Their Detection, Characterization and Management”, Abstract (1996).

Mullins

O. C.

and Sheu

E. Y

, Eds., Structures and Dynamics of Asphaltenes (Plenum Press, New York, 1998), Chap. 2.

Mullins

O. C.

Mitra-Kirtley

and Zhu

, Appl. Spectrosc. 46, 1405 (1992).

10.

Mullins

O. C.

Daigle

Crowell

Groenzin

and Joshi

N. B

, Appl. Spectrosc. 55, 197 (2001).

11.

Van Agthoven

M. A.

Fujisawa

Rabbito

and Mullins

O. C

, Appl. Spectrosc. 56, 593 (2002).

12.

Hashem

M. N.

Thomas

E. C.

McNeil

R. I.

and Mullins

O. C

, Proc. SPIE-Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 39093 (1997).

Uncertainty Analysis of Visible and Near-Infrared Data of Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References