FINANCIAL METHODS FOR WATERFLOODING INJECTATE DESIGN
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir using an injectate, comprising:
- recovering a liquid hydrocarbon from the reservoir through primary extraction;
measuring physico-chemical data that are at least in part representative of electrostatic interactions between the liquid hydrocarbon and other reservoir materials;
determining a transition point between primary and secondary extraction based on a theoretical model of the electrostatic interactions using the physico-chemical data, and selected financial data; and
recovering the hydrocarbons from the reservoir through secondary extraction using an injectate at or after the transition point.
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Abstract
A method of selecting an injectate for recovering liquid hydrocarbons from a reservoir includes designing a plurality of injectates, calculating a net present value of each injectate, and selecting a candidate injectate based on the net present value. For example, the candidate injectate may be selected to maximize the net present value of a waterflooding operation.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir using an injectate, comprising:
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recovering a liquid hydrocarbon from the reservoir through primary extraction; measuring physico-chemical data that are at least in part representative of electrostatic interactions between the liquid hydrocarbon and other reservoir materials; determining a transition point between primary and secondary extraction based on a theoretical model of the electrostatic interactions using the physico-chemical data, and selected financial data; and recovering the hydrocarbons from the reservoir through secondary extraction using an injectate at or after the transition point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of selecting an injectate for recovering a liquid hydrocarbon from a reservoir, comprising:
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designing a plurality of injectates, each injectate having a distinct composition; calculating a net present value of each injectate of the plurality of injectates; and selecting a candidate injectate from the plurality of injectates based at least in part on the net present value of hydrocarbon recovery using each injectate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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measuring physico-chemical data that is at least in part representative of electrostatic interactions between the liquid hydrocarbon and the reservoir; and determining a transition point between primary and secondary extraction based on a theoretical model of the electrostatic interactions using the physico-chemical data and financial data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of determining the composition of an injectate for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir with a desired economic outcome, comprising:
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a. selecting (1) physico-chemical dynamic data for a plurality of injectate compositions, and (2) financial data for determining profitability of using the injectate compositions; b. calculating economic outcomes of the plurality of injectate compositions using the physico-chemical dynamic data and the financial data; and c. comparing the economic outcomes for the plurality of injectate compositions for determining an injectate composition with a desired economic outcome. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 39)
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29. A method for estimating a net present value of hydrocarbons in a subterranean reservoir, comprising the steps of:
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a. calculating an oil wettability state for the reservoir by using (1) an oil-reservoir electrostatic adhesion model, and (2) reservoir data; b. determining potential hydrocarbon production from the reservoir through at least one of a primary or secondary extraction process by using (1) the oil wettability state from step “
a”
, and (2) reservoir data; andc. estimating a net present value of hydrocarbons in the reservoir from a combination of (1) the potential hydrocarbon production from at least one of a primary or secondary extraction process from step “
b”
, (2) selected financial and/or market data for the hydrocarbons and available injectates. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification