Method for near real time surface logging of a geothermal well, a hydrocarbon well, or a testing well using a mass spectrometer

• US 9,528,366 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Selman and Associates Limited
• Original Assignee: Selman and Associates Limited
• Inventors: Selman, Thomas H., Jennings, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Satanovsky, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUAN, JOHN CHUNYANG
• Application Number:
  US14/038,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20150012218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/022 of the borehole, e.g. using geomagnetism
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/005 Testing the nature of borehole walls or the formation by using drilling mud or cutting data
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0027 Methods for using particle spectrometers

Abstract

A method for providing geological trends and real time mapping of a geological basin by forming a geochemical surface well log. The method provides in real time, information from a mass spectrometer on fluid samples from a wellbore, into a geochemical well log template using computer instructions to create a plurality of graphical tracks. The dataset includes geochemical, engineering, and geological information. The geochemical surface well log is transmitted to and viewable on a client device. The geochemical surface well log provides information on well fluids and rock. The mass spectrometer receives fluid samples and performs analysis on the fluid samples, and then communicates fluid testing data in real time to a geochemical surface well log with a plurality of graphical tracks which is then further communicated to a client device via a network.

Claims

1. An automatic method for creating a geochemical surface well log for a wellbore in near real time for a geothermal well, a hydrocarbon well, or testing well, using a well fluid processor to collect analyzed data from fluid analyzers, form the geochemical surface well log, and communicate the geochemical surface well log to at least one client device using a network, the method comprising:

a. electronically connecting a well fluid processor and well fluid data storage to a network;

b. electronically connecting a mass spectrometer to the network and fluidly connecting the mass spectrometer to receive fluid samples from at least one total hydrocarbon analyzer and the wellbore, the mass spectrometer comprising;

i. a mass spectrometer processor;

ii. a mass spectrometer data storage;

iii. computer instructions in the mass spectrometer data storage to measure a mass to charge ratio of molecular weights for components in fluid samples from the wellbore; and

iv. computer instructions in the mass spectrometer data storage to communicate the measured mass to charge ratio in fluid samples from the wellbore to the well fluid processor;

c. forming a geochemical well log template using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage;

d. calculating molecular concentrations of molecular species of the fluid samples using the mass to charge ratio measured by the mass spectrometer using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage;

e. calculating a plurality of graphical molecular curves from the calculated molecular concentrations and plotting the plurality of graphical molecular curves into the geochemical well log template using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage;

f. populating the geochemical well log template with user information, well information, and at least one of;

engineering information from a third party processor connected to downhole sensors, engineering information from rig sensors, additional fluid analysis information from a total hydrocarbon analyzer, measured values from a carbon dioxide sensor, and measured values from a hydrogen sulfide sensor forming the geochemical surface well log using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage;

g. transmitting the formed geochemical surface well log to the at least one client device using the network using computer instructions in the well fluid data storages;

h. creating at least one graphical drilling track in the geochemical surface well log for the geothermal well, the hydrocarbon well, or the testing well using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage; and

i. using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to edit values of the geochemical surface well log using a pointer and performing the steps of;

i. providing a pattern when the pointer connects with a track;

ii. automatically displaying a selected pattern and a percent value of the selected pattern where the pointer connects with the track;

iii. automatically changing a percent value of the selected pattern by moving the pointer in the track; and

iv. connecting the pointer to an index of the track and inserting the selected pattern into the track by moving the pointer along the index.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising connecting the well fluid processor to at least one of:

a. at least one rig sensor on a drilling rig;

b. at least one downhole sensor in a wellbore;

c. a third party processor with third party data storage that receives sensor information from at least one downhole sensor in the wellbore;

or

d. a remote processor with remote data storage containing engineering information on equipment in the wellbore; and

using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to obtain information from the at least one;

sensor and processor for populating the geochemical well log template forming the geochemical surface well log.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising:

calculating a plurality of well sensor curves using rig sensor information, downhole sensor information using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage and plotting the plurality of calculated well sensor curves into the geochemical surface well log template.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising scaling at least one of the plurality of well sensor curves, at least one of a plurality of synthetic curves, at least one of the plurality of graphical molecular curves, using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising calculating ratios using calculated molecular concentrations, forming the plurality of synthetic curves for the calculated molecular concentrations and plotting the plurality of synthetic curves into the geochemical well log template using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising at least one of the following:

a. using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to identify trends in the plurality of synthetic curves, the plurality of graphical molecular curves, and the plurality of well sensor curves and place a visual marker across at least one of;

the plurality of synthetic curves, the plurality of graphical molecular curves, and the plurality of well sensor curves;

b. using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to determine when a value in at least one of;

the plurality of graphical molecular curves, the plurality of synthetic curves, and the plurality of well sensor curves exceeds or falls below a first user defined preset limit, stored in at least one;

the well fluid data storage, and a client device data storage and generating and transmitting a first alarm to the at least one client device using the network;

c. using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to identify when at least one of;

i. at least two graphical molecular curves of the plurality of graphical molecular curves intersect;

ii. at least two synthetic curves of the plurality of synthetic curves intersect; and

iii. at least one graphical molecular curve of the plurality of graphical molecular curves and at least one synthetic curve of the plurality of synthetic curves intersect; and

d. creating and transmitting a second alarm to the at least one client device connected to the network when the intersections are identified.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to calculate for at least one of:

the plurality of graphical molecular curves, the plurality of well sensor curves and the plurality of synthetic curves, with at least one of the following;

a. a slope;

b. a rate of change for the slope; and

c. a difference between slopes or a difference between rates of change for the slopes and a second user defined preset limit, wherein the second user defined preset limit is in at least one of;

the client device data storage and the well fluid data storage and further using the difference to determine if an anomaly is present for either;

a drilling process, a rock formation, or for a drilling process and a rock formation.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising using the geochemical surface well log to form at least one of:

a safety interpretation for drilling and economic analysis;

a geochemical interpretation for at least one of;

mapping regionally, mapping locally, timeline modeling of a geological reservoir, economic analysis, and operations;

a geological interpretation for at least one of;

drilling, mapping, modeling, operations, and economic analysis; and

an engineering interpretation for at least one of;

drilling, operations, and economic analysis;

in near real time.

9. The method of claim 5, comprising using computer instructions to create an executive dashboard that can present user information and fluid testing data from the executive dashboard into the geochemical surface well log template and forming the geochemical surface well log with at least one of:

a. a microview log plot comprising;

i. at least one of;

a graphical molecular curve of the plurality of graphical molecular curves, a well sensor curve of the plurality of well sensor curves, and a synthetic curve of the plurality of synthetic curves; and

ii. at least one of;

a measured depth index and a measured time index; and

b. a macroview log plot comprising;

i. at least one of;

a graphical molecular curve of the plurality of graphical molecular curves, a well sensor curve of the plurality of well sensor curves, and a synthetic curve of the plurality of synthetic curves; and

ii. a compressed view of an entire drilling project at any point in time during drilling and at all the depths of the wellbore.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the macroview log plot and the microview log plot are displayed simultaneously on the geochemical surface well log.

11. The method of claim 9, comprising:

a. using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to import well event based observational data comprising lithology analysis and drill cuttings analysis from a remote data storage into the geochemical well log template;

b. using computer instructions in at least one of the well fluid data storage and a client device data storage to present the imported well event based observational data as a lithology track in the geochemical well log template; and

c. using computer instructions in at least one of the well fluid data storage and the client device data storage to present drill cuttings analysis from the mass spectrometer and the at least one total hydrocarbon analyzer as a graphical drill cuttings track in the geochemical well log template.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

a. using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to allow insertion of lithology observational comments into the geochemical well log template; and

b. using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to automatically update the geochemical surface well log continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, comprising;

updating at least one of the plurality of graphical molecular curves, the plurality of synthetic curves, the plurality of well sensor curves, the engineering data, and geological information including lithology observational comments.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to form an operator dashboard for viewing analysis from (i) the mass spectrometer and (ii) at least one rig sensor to present:

a real time depth graphical display;

a lag depth graphical display;

a lag depth digital display;

a hole depth;

a mass spectrometer reaction chamber pressure;

a current value of analyzed components of a fluid sample; and

well sensor information.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising computer instructions for importing into the operator dashboard downhole sensor data from the third party data storage.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising using computer instructions to import into the geochemical well log and the operator dashboard, fluid testing analysis from at least one:

(1) the at least one total hydrocarbon analyzer, (2) the carbon dioxide sensor, and (3) the hydrogen sulfide sensor.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising using computer instructions in at least one of:

a client device data storage and the well fluid data storage to;

form a track header for the curves, wherein the track header can have at least one of;

a. a benzene concentration;

b. a toluene concentration;

c. an ethyl benzene concentration;

d. a xylene concentration;

e. a naphthalene concentration;

f. a naphthene and cylcloalkane concentration;

g. an acetic acid concentration;

h. a nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and water vapor concentration;

i. a carbon dioxide, helium and hydrogen concentration;

j. a sulfur species concentration;

k. a methane concentration (C1);

l. an ethane concentration (C2);

m. a propane concentration (C3);

n. a butane concentration (C4);

o. a pentane concentration (C5);

P. a hexane concentration (C6);

q. a heptane concentration (C7);

r. an octane concentration (C8);

s. a nonane concentrate (C9); and

t. a decane concentration (C10).

17. The method of claim 16, comprising using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage and the client device data storage in the to provide track header curves, the track header having at least one of:

a. a Pixler ratio;

b. a wetness ratio;

c. a balance ratio;

d. a character ratio; and

e. an air to hydrocarbon ratio.

18. The method of claim 9, further comprising using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to present a report using the geochemical surface well log.

19. The method of claim 5, further comprising using computer instructions in at least one of the well fluid data storage and a client device data storage, to form a plurality of job buttons on the geochemical surface well log comprising at least one of:

a. create a new job;

b. open an existing job;

c. restore a job from backup;

d. close an open job;

e. import data into the geochemical surface well log template comprising well sensor data, fluid testing data;

f. export data from the geochemical surface well log template;

g. print the geochemical surface well log;

h. edit the geochemical surface well log;

i. save the geochemical surface well log; and

j. exit the geochemical surface well log.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to form color coded comments in the at least one graphical drilling track of the geochemical surface well log, wherein the colors are selected to separately indicate at least one of:

a. a trend identification;

b. at least one drill pipe connection;

c. survey comments to authenticate actual survey information or reference actual survey information;

d. a drilling parameter;

e. a gas peak indicated as a text value on the top of each total gas peak;

f. at least one piece of faulty equipment;

g. a dated depth; and

h. a gas show.

21. The method of claim 1, comprising using computer instructions in at least one of:

the well fluid data storage and a client device data storage, to plot on the geochemical surface well log at least one of;

a. a porosity histogram track;

b. a gas graph track;

c. a symbol track;

d. a horizontal line track; and

e. a wellbore profile track.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to present a sample picture in the geochemical surface well log.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising using computer instructions in the well fluid data storage to change the geochemical surface well log from a plurality of graphical information tracks to a grid view.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising using computer instructions to import pictures into a picture track of the geochemical well log template.