Detection of tracers used in hydrocarbon wells
First Claim
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1. A method of monitoring flow within a hydrocarbon well or within a hydrocarbon reservoir penetrated by the well, comprising:
- placing one or more tracer materials capable of undergoing a redox reaction at one or more subterranean locations from which they may potentially enter flow produced from the well,causing or allowing release of a said tracer from one or more said locations, and monitoring flow from the well by providing electrodes connected to a source of electrical potential, bringing a sample or portion of the flow into contact with the electrodes and applying potential to the electrodes to bring about an electrochemical reaction while measuring the current flow in order to determine the presence of one or more said tracers in the flow through electrochemical redox reaction of the one or more said tracers.
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Abstract
In an arrangement for monitoring of flow within a hydrocarbon well or reservoir by means of one or more tracers which are placed at subterranean locations such that they may be present in flow produced from the well, the analysis of the flow produced from the well is carried out using an electrochemical method, preferably voltammetry, to detect tracer chosen to undergo a detectable electrochemical reaction. The tracer may be provided as nanoparticles in the well fluid.
95 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring flow within a hydrocarbon well or within a hydrocarbon reservoir penetrated by the well, comprising:
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placing one or more tracer materials capable of undergoing a redox reaction at one or more subterranean locations from which they may potentially enter flow produced from the well, causing or allowing release of a said tracer from one or more said locations, and monitoring flow from the well by providing electrodes connected to a source of electrical potential, bringing a sample or portion of the flow into contact with the electrodes and applying potential to the electrodes to bring about an electrochemical reaction while measuring the current flow in order to determine the presence of one or more said tracers in the flow through electrochemical redox reaction of the one or more said tracers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of monitoring flow within a hydrocarbon well or within a hydrocarbon reservoir penetrated by the well, comprising:
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placing one or more tracer materials at one or more subterranean locations from which they may potentially enter flow produced from the well, wherein the one or more tracer materials comprise ions or compounds capable of electrochemical redox reaction; causing or allowing release of a said tracer from one or more said locations, and monitoring flow from the well by providing electrodes connected to a source of electrical potential, bringing a sample or portion of the flow into contact with the electrodes and applying potential to the electrodes to bring about electrochemical redox reaction of one or more said tracer materials, while measuring the current flow. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of monitoring flow within a hydrocarbon well or within a hydrocarbon reservoir penetrated by the well, comprising:
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placing one or more tracer materials at one or more subterranean locations from which they may potentially enter flow produced from the well, wherein the one or more tracer materials comprise ions or compounds capable of electrochemical redox reaction; causing or allowing release of a said tracer from one or more said locations, and monitoring flow from the well by providing electrodes connected to a source of electrical potential, applying potential to an electrode during a first stage so as to cause accumulation of tracer on the electrode, followed by varying the potential applied to the electrodes over a range during a second stage which is shorter than the first stage to bring about electrochemical redox reaction of tracer accumulated on the electrode, while measuring the current flow as potential is varied.
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Specification