Method of monitoring fluid flow from a reservoir using well treatment agents
First Claim
1. A method of determining the source of a produced fluid from a multiple zone subterranean formation penetrated by a well comprising:
- (a) introducing a first well treatment fluid in a first zone and a second well treatment fluid in a second zone of the subterranean formation, wherein the first well treatment fluid and the second well treatment fluid each contain a composite comprising a well treatment agent having a taggant joined thereto and wherein either;
(i) the composite of the first well treatment fluid comprises the tagged well treatment agent adsorbed onto a water-insoluble adsorbent and/or the composite of the second well treatment fluid comprises the tagged well treatment agent adsorbed onto a water-insoluble adsorbent;
(ii) the composite of the first well treatment fluid comprises the tagged well treatment agent immobilized on a support and/or the composite of the second well treatment fluid comprises the tagged well treatment agent immobilized on a support;
or(iii) the composite of the first well treatment fluid comprises the tagged well treatment agent immobilized on or within a porous particulate and/or the composite of the second well treatment fluid comprises the second tagged well treatment agent immobilized on or within a porous particulate;
and further wherein the taggant joined to the well treatment agent of the composite of the first well treatment fluid and the taggant joined to the well treatment agent of the composite of the second well treatment fluid are different and distinguishable by physical or chemical analysis;
(b) releasing the tagged well treatment agent from the composite of the first treatment fluid and/or the composite of the second treatment fluid;
(c) inhibiting and/or preventing the deposition of contaminants within the well and/or subterranean formation by the released tagged well treatment agent of step (b);
(d) transporting produced fluid from the well and/or subterranean formation, the transported produced fluid containing at least a portion of the released tagged well treatment agent of step (b);
(e) collecting at least a portion of the transported produced fluid;
(f) detecting the tagged well treatment agent of the first treatment fluid and/or second treatment fluid in the collected fluid by physical or chemical analysis of the taggant; and
(g) determining the source of the collected fluid from the detected taggant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of treating a multi-zoned subterranean formation with composites having well treatment agents is disclosed. The well treatment agent treated in each zone is distinguishable. At least a portion of the well treatment agent is released from one of the composites into the well or formation. The formation of undesirable contaminants may be inhibited or prevented in the well or in the formation by the release of the well treatment agent from one or more of the composites. The well treatment agent also serves as a tracer. When fluid transported from the formation or well is collected, the source of the transported fluid may be determined by comparing a chemical or physical parameter of the well treatment agent with a working set of known taggants.
123 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of determining the source of a produced fluid from a multiple zone subterranean formation penetrated by a well comprising:
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(a) introducing a first well treatment fluid in a first zone and a second well treatment fluid in a second zone of the subterranean formation, wherein the first well treatment fluid and the second well treatment fluid each contain a composite comprising a well treatment agent having a taggant joined thereto and wherein either; (i) the composite of the first well treatment fluid comprises the tagged well treatment agent adsorbed onto a water-insoluble adsorbent and/or the composite of the second well treatment fluid comprises the tagged well treatment agent adsorbed onto a water-insoluble adsorbent; (ii) the composite of the first well treatment fluid comprises the tagged well treatment agent immobilized on a support and/or the composite of the second well treatment fluid comprises the tagged well treatment agent immobilized on a support;
or(iii) the composite of the first well treatment fluid comprises the tagged well treatment agent immobilized on or within a porous particulate and/or the composite of the second well treatment fluid comprises the second tagged well treatment agent immobilized on or within a porous particulate; and further wherein the taggant joined to the well treatment agent of the composite of the first well treatment fluid and the taggant joined to the well treatment agent of the composite of the second well treatment fluid are different and distinguishable by physical or chemical analysis; (b) releasing the tagged well treatment agent from the composite of the first treatment fluid and/or the composite of the second treatment fluid; (c) inhibiting and/or preventing the deposition of contaminants within the well and/or subterranean formation by the released tagged well treatment agent of step (b); (d) transporting produced fluid from the well and/or subterranean formation, the transported produced fluid containing at least a portion of the released tagged well treatment agent of step (b); (e) collecting at least a portion of the transported produced fluid; (f) detecting the tagged well treatment agent of the first treatment fluid and/or second treatment fluid in the collected fluid by physical or chemical analysis of the taggant; and (g) determining the source of the collected fluid from the detected taggant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 24)
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13. A method of determining the source of a fluid transported from a well penetrating a multi-zone subterranean formation comprising:
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(a) introducing into two or more of the multiple zones a well treatment fluid containing a composite comprising a well treatment agent having a taggant joined thereto wherein (i) the well treatment agent is a scale inhibitor, paraffin inhibitor, corrosion inhibitor, salt inhibitor, gas hydrate inhibitor or asphaltene inhibitor;
(ii) the size of the taggant is between from about 0.001 microns to about 100 microns;
(iii) the taggant of the tagged well treatment agent of the composite introduced to each of the two or more multiple zones is different; and
(iv) wherein the tagged well treatment agent is adsorbed onto a water-insoluble adsorbent;(b) collecting at least a portion of fluid transported from the well during or after completion of a well treatment operation; and (c) determining the zone of the subterranean formation from which the transported fluid originates by detecting the taggant of the tagged well treatment agent in the transported fluid by a physical or a chemical detection method. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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16. A method of inhibiting or preventing the deposition of contaminants within a subterranean formation or a well penetrating the subterranean formation and determining the source of a fluid transported from a subterranean formation, wherein the subterranean formation has multiple zones penetrated by the well, the method comprising:
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(a) introducing into two or more of the multiple zones a composite comprising a well treatment agent having a taggant bonded to or complexed with the well treatment agent and wherein the tagged well treatment agent is adsorbed onto a water-insoluble adsorbent and further wherein the taggant bonded to or complexed with the well treatment agent introduced into each of the two or more multiple zones is different; (b) inhibiting or prevent the deposition of contaminants in the subterranean formation and/or well by disassociating the tagged well treatment agent from the water-insoluble adsorbent under in-situ conditions; (c) collecting at least a portion of fluid transported from the well during or after completion of a well treatment operation, wherein the collected fluid contains the disassociated tagged well treatment agent; and (d) determining the zone of the subterranean formation from which the transported fluid originated by detecting the taggant of the tagged well treatment agent in the transported fluid by a chemical or physical method. - View Dependent Claims (17, 22, 23)
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Specification