Formation fluid characterization using flowline viscosity and density data an oil-based mud environment
First Claim
1. A method for characterizing formation fluid using flowline viscosity and density data in an oil-based mud (OBM) environment, said method comprising:
- a) providing an initial estimate of at least one of the density and viscosity of the crude oil and oil filtrate components of the mixture of formation fluid and OBM;
b) measuring the volume fractions, and at least one of the density and viscosity of the total mixture of formation fluid and OBM;
c) computing at least one of the density and viscosity of the total mixture using the estimate and the measured volume fractions;
d) comparing the at least one of the computed density and viscosity of the total mixture with the at least one of the measured density and viscosity of the total mixture; and
e) updating the estimate of the at least one of the density and viscosity of the individual components of the formation fluid based on the comparison of the computed density and viscosity of the total mixture with the measured density and viscosity of the total mixture.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for characterizing formation fluid using flowline viscosity and density data in an oil-based mud environment includes: making an initial estimate of the density and viscosity of the individual components of the sampled fluid; measuring the volume fractions, density, and viscosity of the total mixture of formation fluid; computing the density and viscosity of the total mixture using the estimate and the measured volume fractions; comparing the computed values with the measured values; and updating the estimate based on the comparison until convergence. The process is repeated as additional data are acquired until the converged computed values differ only by an acceptable amount.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method for characterizing formation fluid using flowline viscosity and density data in an oil-based mud (OBM) environment, said method comprising:
-
a) providing an initial estimate of at least one of the density and viscosity of the crude oil and oil filtrate components of the mixture of formation fluid and OBM;
b) measuring the volume fractions, and at least one of the density and viscosity of the total mixture of formation fluid and OBM;
c) computing at least one of the density and viscosity of the total mixture using the estimate and the measured volume fractions;
d) comparing the at least one of the computed density and viscosity of the total mixture with the at least one of the measured density and viscosity of the total mixture; and
e) updating the estimate of the at least one of the density and viscosity of the individual components of the formation fluid based on the comparison of the computed density and viscosity of the total mixture with the measured density and viscosity of the total mixture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for characterizing hydrocarbon fluid in a reservoir, comprising:
-
a) estimating the expected viscosity and density of the components of the hydrocarbon fluid;
b) calculating the density and viscosity of the hydrocarbon fluid based on the estimates of the viscosity and density of the components;
c) measuring the viscosity and density of the hydrocarbon fluid;
d) comparing the calculated density and viscosity with the measured density and viscosity; and
e) updating the estimates of the viscosity and density of the components based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification