Test method to simulate shale oil recovery

• US 10,557,785 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2019
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alchemy Sciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alchemy Sciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Acosta, Erick
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Herbert K
• Application Number:
  US16/378,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20190317005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/267 reinforcing fractures by propping
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/00 Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0806 Details, e.g. sample holders, mounting samples for testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/082 Investigating permeability by forcing a fluid through a sample
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0826 and measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. permeation rate or pressure change
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0034 in solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0846 by use of radiation, e.g. transmitted or reflected light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/24 Earth materials G01N33/42 takes precedence

Abstract

A fracture simulated oil recovery test apparatus includes a sleeve, the sleeve positioned within an oven and an oil saturated matrix positioned within the sleeve. The fracture simulated oil recovery test apparatus further includes a proppant pack positioned within the oil saturated matrix, the proppant pack having an inlet an outlet and a controller, the controller adapted to control the pressure within the oil saturated matrix.

Claims

1. A fracture simulated oil recovery test apparatus comprising:

a sleeve, the sleeve positioned within an oven;

an oil saturated matrix positioned within the sleeve;

a proppant pack positioned within the oil saturated matrix, the proppant pack having an inlet an outlet; and

a controller, the controller adapted to control the pressure within the oil saturated matrix.

2. The fracture simulated oil recovery test apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a treatment fluid reservoir, the treatment fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet through a pump; and

a collector, the collector in fluid communication with the outlet through a flow valve.

3. The fracture simulated oil recovery test apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is adapted to control the pressure within the oil saturated matrix using the flow valve.

4. The fracture simulated oil recovery test apparatus of claim 2, wherein the collector is an autosampler.

5. The fracture simulated oil recovery test apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proppant pack comprises proppant surrounded by a permeable membrane.

6. The fracture simulated oil recovery test apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a high pressure cell, the high pressure cell disposed around and encompassing the sleeve.

7. The fracture simulated oil recovery test apparatus of claim 6, wherein the sleeve is an elastomer.

8. The fracture simulated oil recovery test apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a pressure controller, the pressure controller in signal communication with a pressure inlet and a pressure outlet, the pressure inlet and pressure outlet disposed on the high pressure cell.

9. The fracture simulated oil recovery test apparatus of claim 1, wherein the soil saturated matrix includes crushed cores, crushed cuttings, outcrop, reservoir cores, or combinations thereof.

10. The fracture simulated oil recovery test apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a CT scanner, the CT scanner adapted for imaging the oil saturated matrix.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of forming an oil saturated matrix comprises:

extracting a crushed core, crushed cutting, outcrop, reservoir core, or combination thereof from the reservoir to be tested;

and

saturating the crushed core, crushed cutting, outcrop, reservoir core, or combination thereof with oil.

11. A process for fracture simulated oil recovery comprising:

forming an oil saturated matrix;

positioning the oil saturated matrix within a sleeve;

positioning a proppant pack within the oil saturated matrix;

flowing a treatment fluid through the proppant pack;

maintaining the pressure and temperature of the proppant pack at a temperature and pressure approximating a low permeability reservoir; and

measuring an effluent from the proppant pack to determine oil recovery.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the proppant pack is formed by placing a proppant within a low permeability membrane.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the temperature of the proppant pack is maintained using an oven.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the pressure of the proppant pack is mainlined by:

measuring a pressure at an inlet to the proppant pack and an outlet to the proppant pack;

and

adjusting pressure using a control valve at the outlet of the proppant pack.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the control valve is operated with a controller.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

enclosing the sleeve within a high pressure cell; and

increasing the pressure within the high pressure cell.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising imaging the oil saturated matrix with a CT scanner.