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Carbon dioxide (CO2) injection for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), also known as CO2-EOR, has become increasingly important due to the growing need for CO2 utilization and sequestration. CO2 monitoring is an integral part of the CO2- EOR process. Pulsed neutron (PN) well logging is an efficient and effective technology for understanding subsurface CO2 propagation and quantifying multiphase saturation. This paper discusses the critical factors—well conditions and reservoir properties—in designing a PN well logging program and analyzing PN data. The Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulation is a stochastic forward modeling method that generates PN tool responses under diverse well and formation conditions. With a series of MCNP models, including perturbations of various well logging environments, the characteristics of key PN measurements were delineated. This enabled the establishment of best practices in PN well logging operations and data analysis for in-situ CO2 profiling. The requirement for the PN tool is to be slim in terms of the outer diameter (i.e., 1.69 inches), allowing through-tubing deployment, and to have three scintillation gamma-ray detectors, enhancing the formation sensitivity compared to traditional dual detector-based PN tools. We constructed MCNP models of time-spectra-based well logs; inelastic and thermal neutron capture logs were simulated considering several vital parameters—wellbore fluid, formation lithology, annular space materials, in-situ oil and CO2 densities, and reactions between CO2 and formation minerals and resident fluid. The type of wellbore fluid is water, CO2, or a mixture of the two depending on the well type—injection, monitoring, or production well. Although a water-filled wellbore is optimal for PN well logging, a CO2- filled wellbore does not adversely impact CO2 monitoring to a high degree if a sleeved-PN tool is used. As formation lithology types and water salinity influence inelastic and capture PN measurements differently, determining which PN log should be used for CO2 saturation analysis is essential. The impact of the shale volume and properties on the PN data is nonuniform, so this factor must also be carefully reviewed in conjunction with the lithology type. Furthermore, accurate estimation of oil and CO2 densities under downhole conditions minimizes the uncertainty of multiphase fluid saturation characterization. Finally, considering the effects of mineral alteration and formation dry-out is required when evaluating saturation in post-injection stages. It is crucial to consider well- and formation- specific factors to ensure accurate monitoring of in-situ CO2 propagation and multiphase fluid volume variation with PN well logging. The best practices for PN well logging and data analysis were evaluated using a customized MCNP modeling technique. Furthermore, surveilling the behavior of injected CO2 on a well basis enables the optimization of CO2 injection parameters and the updating of reservoir models on a field-scale level.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) injection for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), also known as CO2-EOR, has become increasingly important due to the growing need for CO2 utilization and sequestration. CO2 monitoring is an integral part of the CO2- EOR process. Pulsed neutron (PN) well logging is an efficient and effective technology for understanding subsurface CO2 propagation and quantifying multiphase saturation. This paper discusses the critical factors—well conditions and reservoir properties—in designing a PN well logging program and analyzing PN data. The Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulation is a stochastic forward modeling method that generates PN tool responses under diverse well and formation conditions. With a series of MCNP models, including perturbations of various well logging environments, the characteristics of key PN measurements were delineated. This enabled the establishment of best practices in PN well logging operations and data analysis for in-situ CO2 profiling. The requirement for the PN tool is to be slim in terms of the outer diameter (i.e., 1.69 inches), allowing through-tubing deployment, and to have three scintillation gamma-ray detectors, enhancing the formation sensitivity compared to traditional dual detector-based PN tools. We constructed MCNP models of time-spectra-based well logs; inelastic and thermal neutron capture logs were simulated considering several vital parameters—wellbore fluid, formation lithology, annular space materials, in-situ oil and CO2 densities, and reactions between CO2 and formation minerals and resident fluid. The type of wellbore fluid is water, CO2, or a mixture of the two depending on the well type—injection, monitoring, or production well. Although a water-filled wellbore is optimal for PN well logging, a CO2- filled wellbore does not adversely impact CO2 monitoring to a high degree if a sleeved-PN tool is used. As formation lithology types and water salinity influence inelastic and capture PN measurements differently, determining which PN log should be used for CO2 saturation analysis is essential. The impact of the shale volume and properties on the PN data is nonuniform, so this factor must also be carefully reviewed in conjunction with the lithology type. Furthermore, accurate estimation of oil and CO2 densities under downhole conditions minimizes the uncertainty of multiphase fluid saturation characterization. Finally, considering the effects of mineral alteration and formation dry-out is required when evaluating saturation in post-injection stages. It is crucial to consider well- and formation- specific factors to ensure accurate monitoring of in-situ CO2 propagation and multiphase fluid volume variation with PN well logging. The best practices for PN well logging and data analysis were evaluated using a customized MCNP modeling technique. Furthermore, surveilling the behavior of injected CO2 on a well basis enables the optimization of CO2 injection parameters and the updating of reservoir models on a field-scale level.
The quest for optimal gas detection and quantification in Niger Delta regions for sustainable energy development necessitates advanced technologies. This paper explores a multidetector pulsed neutron well logging technology with improved formation gas sensitivity for precisely characterizing reservoir fluids and estimating gas saturation in a freshwater environment. This innovative method is applicable to tight porosity and low water salinity formations, which are historically challenging conditions for accurate saturation analysis with conventional pulsed neutron logging applications. This technology encompasses (1) a pulsed neutron generator that creates high-energy neutrons that interact with formation nuclei and create induced gamma rays and (2) three gamma-ray detectors and an electronics system that records induced gamma rays based on the gamma-ray energy level and arrival time. In addition, forward modeling of tool responses is a critical component. Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) modeling simulates the three-detector pulsed neutron tool’s gas-sensitive log responses. The predicted MCNP models are incorporated into the saturation analysis workflow to identify and quantify the formation gas saturation considering reservoir fluid properties, lithologies, well completions, and cement densities. A case study demonstrated the use of multidetector pulsed neutron well logging technology for quantitative formation gas evaluations of cased-off reservoirs in the Z-field Niger Delta. This contributes to the use of gas resources for sustainable energy development in Africa.
Sidetracking a well involves drilling a secondary wellbore that branches off from the original wellbore. This technique is critical in hydrocarbon exploration because it bypasses the unproductive sections of an existing well and increases production potential from commercially viable reservoirs using a new wellbore. This paper focuses on multidetector pulsed neutron well logging applications for characterizing reservoir petrophysical properties to optimize the sidetrack drilling pathway and determine perforation placement. A slimhole multidetector pulsed neutron logging tool can be deployed through tubing to record inelastic and capture pulsed neutron datasets. In contrast to open-hole resistivity log-based saturation analysis, pulsed neutron well logging provides non-resistivity-based data for saturation analysis. The acquired data analysis allows us to evaluate the volumetrics of the cased formations and identify reservoir fluid contacts. With the ability to delineate the reservoir properties behind one or multiple casings, pulsed neutron well logging can be employed to optimize sidetrack drilling operations and enhance the precision of sidetrack wellbore trajectories. We demonstrate the application of pulsed neutron logging to a well in western Africa to evaluate multiphase formation saturation for optimized sidetrack drilling. The salinity of the formation water was less than 20,000 ppm NaCl equivalent. In this low-salinity water environment, salinity-independent carbon-oxygen (C/O) logging was performed to differentiate oil from water. An inelastic gas-sensitive gamma-ray ratio-based measurement, which can be used in freshwater environments, was also adopted in the saturation analysis workflow. The two inelastic measurements were combined simultaneously to quantify the formation volumes of the three fluid components. The saturation analysis results revealed a three-phase saturation profile as well as water-oil and oil-gas contacts. The multidetector pulsed neutron data-based saturation results enabled us to understand the current reservoir fluid distribution, differentiate between productive and unproductive formations, and optimize the sidetrack drilling pathway. This eventually contributed to improved reservoir production management.
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