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Detection of drilling oil filtrate invasion in a core

Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1978-10-25
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Granted: 1979-11-20
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Expires: 1998-10-25
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Abstract

Abstract During the analysis of sample oil from an oil bearing formation, drilling fluid oil filtrate invasion into a cored oil bearing subsurface formation is detected in a way that does not require the use of special chemicals or tracers. Significant oil filtrate invasion is detected by determining the relative quantities of the same two hydrocarbon materials in the formation oil, drilling oil, and sample oil. Preferably, each hydrocarbon material is one or more hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons with eight carbon atoms through hydrocarbons with thirty-five carbon atoms. The drilling oil may be topped crude oil or formation oil that has had most of the hydrocarbons with one carbon atom through six carbon atoms removed. Fuel oil may have been added to the topped oil.

Inventors

  • 👤 John H. Striegler

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 16:41
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B49/00; E21B49/005; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/26; G01N33/28; G01N33/2823

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 191 words
In the analysis of sample oil derived from a core taken from a subsurface formation containing formation oil, said core having been subjected to the presence of an oil base drilling fluid using a drilling oil that has a hydrocarbon analysis different from said formation oil, the method comprising: a. determining the relative quantities of at least two different hydrocabon materials in said drilling oil; b. determining the relative quantities of said hydrocarbon materials in said formation oil, said relative quantities of said hydrocarbon materials in said formation oil being different from said relative quantities of said hydrocarbon materials in said drilling oil by an amount such that the relative quantities of said hydrocarbons in a mixture of said drilling oil and said formation oil containing ten percent by weight of said drilling oil are measurably different from the relative quantities of said hydrocarbons in said drilling oil and formation oil; and c. determining in said sample oil the relative quantities of said hydrocarbon materials to establish whether said core has been noticeably invaded by drilling oil when said core was subjected to the presence of said oil base drilling fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 191 words
In the analysis of sample oil derived from a core taken from a subsurface formation containing formation oil, said core having been subjected to the presence of an oil base drilling fluid using a drilling oil that has a hydrocarbon analysis different from said formation oil, the method comprising: a. determining the relative quantities of at least two different hydrocabon materials in said drilling oil; b. determining the relative quantities of said hydrocarbon materials in said formation oil, said relative quantities of said hydrocarbon materials in said formation oil being different from said relative quantities of said hydrocarbon materials in said drilling oil by an amount such that the relative quantities of said hydrocarbons in a mixture of said drilling oil and said formation oil containing ten percent by weight of said drilling oil are measurably different from the relative quantities of said hydrocarbons in said drilling oil and formation oil; and c. determining in said sample oil the relative quantities of said hydrocarbon materials to establish whether said core has been noticeably invaded by drilling oil when said core was subjected to the presence of said oil base drilling fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said hydrocarbon materials is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons with eight carbon atoms through hydrocarbons with thirty-five carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in step (a) said drilling oil is derived from filtering said oil has base drilling fluid and in step (b) said formation oil is derived from producing oil from said subsurface formation, and in step (c) said sample oil is derived from said core.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the oil used in said oil base drilling fluid is comprised of topped crude oil that has had most of the hydrocarbons with one carbon atom through six carbon atoms removed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 4 wherein fuel oil has been added to said topped crude oil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the topped crude oil is topped formation oil that has had most of the hydrocarbons with one carbon atom through six carbon atoms removed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein fuel oil has been added to said topped formation oil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 4 wherein each of said hydrocarbon materials is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons with eight carbon atoms through hydrocarbons with thirty-five carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 8 wherein fuel oil has been added to said topped crude oil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the topped crude oil is topped formation oil that has had most of the hydrocarbons with one carbon atom through six carbon atoms removed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 10 wherein fuel oil has been added to said topped formation oil.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 49 words
The method of claim 4 wherein in step (a) said drilling oil is derived from filtering said oil base drilling fluid, and in step (b) said formation oil is derived from producing oil from said subsurface formation, and in step (c) said sample oil is derived from said core.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 12 wherein fuel oil has been added to said topped crude oil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said topped crude oil is topped formation oil that has most of the hydrocarbons with one carbon atom through six carbon atoms removed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 14 wherein fuel oil has been added to said topped formation oil.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2790016A Cited
US3990298A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-11-19 1983-05-21 1983-11-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-11-19 1987-05-21 1987-11-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-11-19 1991-05-21 1991-11-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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