Final Project Report

Transcription

1 Capillary Pressure Measurement of Petroleum Reservoir Cores Final Project Report PRAC Project No: T150 Dr. Bruce Balcom University of New Brunswick July 2010

2 Contents 1. Summary Scientific Objectives Methodology Research Team Dissemination and Technology Transfer Journal Articles / Refereed Conference Proceedings Conference Presentations / Posters Presented at Conferences Patents Funding Expenditures of PRAC Funds Next Steps

3 1. Summary Petroleum and the petroleum industry are vital parts of the Canadian economy, and the lifeblood of economic prosperity in the industrialized world. Despite increased interest in renewable and alternate energy sources, developed economies will depend on petroleum resources for at least the next several decades. Two major drivers for change in the petroleum industry have prompted this research project. (1) Petroleum reservoir recovery is typically low (around 40%) and improved recovery is critical to extracting the greatest value from existing petroleum reservoirs, in addition to prolonging use and access to these non renewable energy resources. (2) New petroleum reservoirs world wide are increasingly found in challenging physical environments (arctic and offshore) or are considered marginal because of challenging reservoir properties (heavy oil, low permeability). Extracting petroleum from a reservoir in such cases, given the significant investment required, requires better knowledge of fluid (water and oil) properties in the pore space. In many cases the detailed knowledge required to evaluate a reservoir comes from laboratory testing of rock core samples (core plugs) retrieved from the reservoir. A variety of tests are undertaken by the international core analysis industry. One such test is a measure of capillary pressure, which reports on the interaction of the fluids in the rock (principally water and oil) with the pore space. Traditional capillary pressure tests are slow, expensive and often error prone. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an ideal methodology to undertake studies of such behaviors in laboratory samples (core plugs). Traditional measurements are usually bulk measurements, but MRI introduces the possibility of a spatial variable to the analysis. This results in better and faster measurements, which are considered very high value by the major international petroleum companies, who routinely pay $1000 per test. This I2I Phase 2 project extended the methodologies developed in our Phase 1 project, tested them on a large cohort of samples solicited from industry, and helped reduce the measurement to routine practice. Most importantly this study was the scientific foundation of Green Imaging Technologies (GIT), a new start up company. GIT were intimately involved in the research project, and were one of the supporting organizations. Petroleum Research Atlantic Canada was also a supporting organization. As an industry association, with membership spanning the major international petroleum companies, they were able to help make industry contacts and to solicit industry test samples and independent test data. The project was outstandingly successful. It led directly to the first 'product' of Green Imaging Technologies. The major international petroleum companies, who engaged in the project, through provision of test samples and data, quite naturally became the first customers of GIT. The company had revenue of almost one million dollars in The founders of GIT and the principal applicant were nominated for a 2010 Manning Innovation award based in large part on the work undertaken in this project. 2

4 2. Scientific Objectives The I2I Phase 2 project follows a very successful I2I Phase 1 project that established the validity of the idea and proof of concept. The Phase 1 project success lead to the establishment of a start up company, Green Imaging Technologies, founded by UNB graduates who returned to Canada from the US for this purpose. Green Imaging Technologies, in conjunction with Petroleum Research Atlantic Canada (PRAC) became the supporting organizations for this I2I Phase 2 project. The intent of the Phase 2 project was to (1) produce a prototype instrument, (2) enhance the measurement in response to industry feedback, and (3) undertake an extensive Beta test of third party core plugs. Good progress was made in all three areas. (1) The hardware foundation of a prototype instrument was provided by Bruker Canada in the form of a one year loan of a Bruker Minispec with a large bore permanent magnet. This was received in the summer of 2006, assembled at UNB with image acquisition and processing software developed by Green Imaging Technologies, as part of the project, and then installed at Core Labs in Houston for on site tests through Simultaneously GIT purchased a Bruker Minispec for installation at UNB. This instrument was employed for the vast majority of capillary pressure tests undertaken as part of this research project. (2) The air/water capillary pressure test was further developed and installed on the Minispec hardware platform with modifications in the basic procedures resulting from industry feedback. The water/oil measurement proved more difficult to reduce to standard practice, but this test was also installed and proven reliable on the Minispec hardware platform. The GIT software for capillary pressure testing is not linked to a specific hardware platform. In response to industry feedback, particularly from Core Lab, GIT developed the measurement for installation on instruments sold by Oxford Instruments. This relationship has continued to develop with GIT software now a standard option on instruments sold by Oxford for core testing. (3) An extensive Beta test of core plugs. In addition to core plugs held by the UNB MRI Centre, core plugs and complementary data were received from a range of companies including Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell, and the NS Offshore Petroleum Board. The largest number of samples was provided by Chevron. More than 130 core plugs were ultimately tested to prove the measurement to industry. The original proposal spoke of developing an industry consortium for Beta testing with one or more core testing laboratories and major oil companies. A formal consortium was not established. Bilateral relationships with the above companies were more than sufficient in terms of supplying samples and complimentary data. The prototype instrument, run in Houston with Core Lab, functioned as a very effective adjunct test program to the one based at UNB. Several research publications and presentations resulted with Core Lab co authors. The testing at Core Lab was very valuable since it was undertaken with contemporary test samples in a routine testing environment. We will elaborate on the project progress by reference to the individual milestones in the original application. 3

5 2.1. Methodology Prototype. Bruker Minispec: Install and commission new Minispec. Complete with initial prototype instrument installed in Houston. This instrument was eventually returned to Bruker following the loan period. GIT purchased a second Minispec instrument which was installed at UNB. It is currently operational in GIT s own lab facilities. Prototype. RF probe and Gradient coil: Complete. Prototype. Program measurement on Minispec: MRI measurement, data processing and user interface programmed. Complete. Dr. Green was joined in this work by GIT s first employee Josh Dick. The original proposal had Derrick Green undertaking the majority of this work. Prototype. Test and Debug New Measurement and Instrument: Complete. Prototype. 1H and 2D probe: Complete but deemed not advantageous and not pursued in final instrumentation. Prototype. Ongoing test of new measurement protocol: Implementation of 2D detection for water/oil Pc measurement. Not pursued based on measurement experience. Method. Time Scale of Fluid Redistribution: Complete. Some samples are pathological nand redistribute rapidly, but in general some number of hours are required before significant fluid redistribution occurs. Method. Measurement with Inhomogeneous samples: Complete. Measurements are possible in such samples but homogeneous samples are far easier. Method. Rotational speed, Equilibration time: Determine and verify guidelines for speed and equilibration time in a large number of samples. Complete. Guidelines were developed based on experimental results and experience rather than theory. Testing in Houston with Core Labs has suggested that the best implementation of the method is not with an inexpensive desktop centrifuge, as originally envisioned. Rather they advocate the use of conventional core testing centrifuges which monitor fluid loss by design thus making a determination of equilibration time facile. They also advocate the use of a small number of centrifuge speeds (2 4) with equilibration at each speed to better span the range of capillary pressures desired for measurement. These developments (higher speed centrifuge and multiple speeds) were incorporated into routine practice. Method. Overburdened samples, sample holder: Undertaken in the second year of the project as a Mechanical Engineering design class project. The class project was not very successful and the idea abandoned as part of the Phase 2 project. It has been continued by GIT outside of the Phase 2 project. Method. Pc curve measurement, overburdened samples: Not started. Reasoning as per the previous objective. 4

6 Method. H/D exchange: Confirm H/D exchange from pore walls has minimal effect. Complete. Method. Direct deuterium detection of water: Determine feasibility of direct deuterium detection of water phase. Complete, but not pursued since simpler methods suffice. Beta testing. Install and commission core aging equipment: Not undertaken. Industry partners did not believe that core aging was required as part of this study. Beta testing. Sample selection and acquisition: Complete. We had a good response from industry supplying samples and complementary test data. Beta testing. Core plug cleaning and aging as required: Complete. Core plug cleaning was undertaken with equipment installed in Laura Romero Zeron s Petroleum Engineering laboratory with undergrads hired for this purpose. Some samples were also cleaned in UNB MRI facilities. GIT installed their own core cleaning equipment late in the project. As outlined above core aging was not implemented. Beta testing. Consortium agreement: Complete. As outlined in the original agreement, to speed industry acceptance we wished to tie this research program to an industry site for measurement of fresh samples with the ideal case involving siting the first prototype instrument (or an early production instrument) at an industry partner site. In parallel, bilateral agreements with industry partners provided more than sufficient samples. Beta testing. Expanded sample pool through consortium: Complete. Beta testing. Pc Determination of Core Plugs: Pc measurement; emphasizing oil/water drainage and imbibition Pc curves. Complete. Beta testing. New versions of MRI Pc test: Incorporate new versions of the basic test (overburdened, D detection) as they are developed. Not undertaken as outlined above. Beta testing. Report results to Industry: Complete. The project resulted in seven research papers, ten conference presentations, twelve invited lectures and one industry report. The Society of Core Analysts (SCA) conference was targeted as the most appropriate venue to reach the core testing community. This comprised professionals inside the major oil companies and the core testing service companies. Papers and presentations were given in 2006, 2007 and 2008 in Norway, Calgary and Abu Dhabi. GIT is hosting the 2010 annual SCA conference in Halifax N.S. Dr. Green has, in addition, given many presentations and lectures to the oil industry partners. The dissemination strategy adopted has been very effective as a marketing tool for GIT since they have proven their technology to the satisfaction of decision makers throughout the industry. There have been minimal deviations from the experimental plan. The major change was not implementing core aging and overburdened sample handling. This was not a significant change to the experimental plan and did not impact the core mission of the research project. 5

7 3. Research Team Bruce Balcom, Principal Investigator Conception of the original idea, responsible for all aspects of the project. Mike Pougnet, Undergraduate Student RF probe hardware Owen MacGregor, Undergraduate Student Core plug cleaning. Charles Couturier, Undergraduate Student Initial data processing. Bing Zhou, Postdoctoral Fellow Water/Oil Capillary pressure measurement. Jesus Cano, Research Associate Water/Oil Capillary pressure measurement. Bryce MacMillan, Research Associate Experimental guidance to post doc Zhou and technician (coop student) MacPhee. Evaluation of deuterium detection and H/D exchange. Michelle MacPhee, Technician Water/air capillary pressure measurement. Sample handling and storage. Mike MacAloon, Technician Water/air capillary pressure measurement. Sample handling and storage. Heather Hickey, Technician Water/air capillary pressure measurement. Sample handling and storage. Derrick Green, Industry Research Partner Prototype hardware, industry liaison, data processing. Josh Dick, Industry Research Partner Software, data processing and data handling. 4. Dissemination and Technology Transfer The main technology developed and proven as part of this project is now a commercial product for GIT. This measure of capillary pressure (termed GIT CAP) is the first example of the value of spatial resolution through MRI for petroleum reservoir core analysis. Additional MRI measurements, targeting different core analysis tests, are highly desirable and almost inevitable Journal Articles / Refereed Conference Proceedings 1. Green, D., Dick, J., McAloon, M., Cano Barrita, F. de J., Burger, J. and Balcom, B. "Oil/Water Imbibition and Drainage Capillary Pressure Determined by MRI on a Wide Sampling of Rocks", Society of Core Analysts, Abu Dhabi, UAE 29 October 2 November, 2008, 12 pages. 2. Cano Barrita, F. de J., Balcom, B., McAloon, M., Green, D. and Dick, J. "Capillary Pressure Measurement on Cores by MRI", Journal of Petroleum Technology August 2008, Green, D., Gardner, J., Balcom, B.J., McAloon, M. J. and Cano Barrita, F. de J. "Comparison Study of Capillary Pressure Curves Obtained Using Traditional Centrifuge and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques", SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A., April 2008, 11 pages. 4. Cano Barrita, F. de J., Balcom, B., McAloon, M., Green, D. and Dick, J. "Capillary Pressure Measurement in Petrolem Reservoir Cores with MRI", Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, 5 8 May 2008, 11 pages. 6

8 5. Green, D., Dick, J., Gardner, J., Balcom, B. and Zhou, B. "Comparison Study of Capillary Pressure Curves Obtained Using Traditional Centrifuge and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques", Society of Core Analysts, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 9 14 September 2007, 12 pages. 6. Chen, Q., Hickey, H. and Balcom, B. J. "A Single Shot Method for Determining Drainage and Imbibition Capillary Pressure Curves", Society of Core Analysts, Trondheim, Norway, September 2006 (2006) 13 pages. 7. Chen, Q. and Balcom, B. J. "A Single Shot Method for Capillary Pressure Curve Measurement Using Centrifuge and Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging", SPE , 2006 SPE/DOE Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A., April pages Conference Presentations / Posters The majority of the papers above are conference proceedings. The corresponding meetings and presentations are listed below in addition to other meeting presentations. 8. Green, D., Dick, J., McAloon, M., Cano Barrita, F. de J., Burger, J. and Balcom, B. "Oil/Water Imbibition and Drainage Capillary Pressure Determined by MRI on a Wide Sampling of Rocks", Society of Core Analysts, Abu Dhabi, UAE 29 October 2 November, (lecture). 9. Green, D., Gardner, J., Balcom, B.J., McAloon, M. J. and Cano Barrita, F. de J. "Comparison Study of Capillary Pressure Curves Obtained Using Traditional Centrifuge and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques", SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A., April (lecture). 10. Cano Barrita, F. de J., Balcom, B., McAloon, M., Green, D. and Dick, J. "Capillary Pressure Measurement in Petrolem Reservoir Cores with MRI", Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, 5 8 May (lecture). 11. Green, D., Dick, J., Gardner, J., Balcom, B. and Zhou, B. "Comparison Study of Capillary Pressure Curves Obtained Using Traditional Centrifuge and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques", Society of Core Analysts, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 9 14 September (lecture). 12. Chen, Q., Hickey, H. and Balcom, B. J. "A Single Shot Method for Determining Drainage and Imbibition Capillary Pressure Curves", Society of Core Analysts, Trondheim, Norway, September 2006 (2006) 13 pages. (lecture). 13. Chen, Q. and Balcom, B. J. "A Single Shot Method for Capillary Pressure Curve Measurement Using Centrifuge and Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging", SPE , 2006 SPE/DOE Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A., April (lecture) th International Magnetic Resonance in Porous Media Conference (MRPM9), Cambridge, MA, July 2008, Capillary Pressure Measurement in Petroleum Reservoir Core P with MRI Cano Barrita, F. de J., Balcom, B., McAloon, M., Green, D. and Dick, J. (lecture). 15. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Conference, Calgary, May 15 18, A Single Shot Measurement of Capillary Pressure Curves Using Single Speed Centrifuge and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Quan Chen, Bruce Balcom, Derrick Green (lecture). 7

9 16. Canadian Society of Chemistry, Halifax, May 27 31, Single Shot Measurement of Capillary Pressure Curves Using Single Speed Centrifuge and MRI, Quan Chen, Bruce Balcom, Derrick Green (lecture). 17. Gordon Conference Flow and Transport in Permeable Media, Andover NH, July 30 August 4, Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Fluids in Porous Media, Bruce J. Balcom, Linqing Li, Heather Hickey (poster) Presented at Conferences 18. Schlumberger SCR, Cambridge UK. April 24, Discrimination of Water and Oil in Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Realistic Porous Media. Bruce J. Balcom (invited lecture). 19. Edinburgh/Heriot Watt Universities. April 28, Discrimination of Water and Oil in Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Realistic Porous Media. Bruce J. Balcom (invited lecture). 20. Conoco Phillips. Bartlesville OK. December 11, MRI of Realistic Porous Media. Bruce J. Balcom (invited lecture). 21. Schlumberger DBR Edmonton June 22, 2006 Discrimination of Water and Oil in MRI of Realistic Porous Media. Bruce J. Balcom (invited lecture). 22. Schlumberger SCR, Cambridge UK. July 17, MRI of Fluids in Porous Media Bruce J. Balcom. Project update and lecture for SCR. 23. University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, August 26, 2007, MRI of Fluids in Porous Media, Bruce J. Balcom. (invited lecture). 24. British Petroleum, Sunbury upon Thames, UK, August 30, 2007, MRI of Fluids in Porous Media, Bruce J. Balcom. (invited lecture). 25. Schlumberger SDR, Cambridge MA, March 5, MR and MRI of Fluids in Porous Media, Bruce J. Balcom. 26. Petroleum Research Atlantic Canada, Halifax, March 24, MRI Measurement of Flow in Porous Media. Industry Liaison meeting. 27. Petroleum Research Atlantic Canada, Saint John s, March 17, MRI Measurement of Fluids in Porous Media. Industry Liaison meeting. 28. Petroleum Research Atlantic Canada, Saint John s, May 12, MRI Measurement of Fluids in Porous Media. Annual General Meeting. 29. China University of Petroleum, Beijing, December 19, SPRITE MRI of Fluids in Porous Media. Invited lecture. 30. Air Brine GIT CAP Comparison Trial Summary, Derrick Green, Green Imaging Technologies, January 28, pages Patents US Patent 7,352,179 "Methods and Apparatus for Measuring Capillary Pressure in a Sample", Bruce Balcom and Quan Chen. In process: Canadian application CA and European application EP

10 5. Funding This section of the report has been removed for privacy reasons. 6. Expenditures of PRAC Funds This section of the report has been removed for privacy reasons. 7. Next Steps The research led to the creation of the spin off company Green Imaging Technologies, which was incorporated in The capillary pressure measurement is now a product of Green Imaging Technologies. Additional products and research projects are in process involving the MRI Centre. GIT is sponsoring a major research project in the MRI Centre on 'Next Generation Core Analysis by Magnetic Resonance' with major funding provided by ACOA and Saudi Aramco. Technologies developed in a recent NSERC CRD project have been licensed by GIT and additional licences will result from past and future work. Links between the MRI Centre and GIT exist on many levels and connect to many different measurements of interest to the petroleum industry. These links should continue for many years. 9