Patent US4586376A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4586376A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Determining the effect of fluid flow through permeable media
Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
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Filing: 1984-09-25
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Granted: 1986-05-06
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Expires: 2004-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for determining the effect of the flow of a fluid through a permeable particulate medium wherein a sample of the fluid is maintained as nearly as possible in the same physical and chemical condition as when it is sampled and is uniformly aged before being passed through a permeable particulate test medium. Some property of the sample, or of the permeable particulate test medium, such as a flow characteristic, is measured to determine the effect of passing the fluid through the permeable medium.
Inventors
- 👤 H. Donald Outmans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:41
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/08; G01N15/082; G01N15/0826; E; E21; E21B; E21B49/00; E21B49/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for predicting the effect of the flow of a fluid through a permeable particulate medium comprising: (a) sampling means for withdrawing from a body of the fluid a sample stream; (b) an aging conduit in fluid-tight communication to the sampling means for passing the sample stream therethrough in turbulent flow without substantial backmixing, said conduit having a length and shape adapted to retain the sample stream therein for a time substantially equal to the time required for the body of the fluid to traverse the distance between the sampling means and the permeable particulate medium; (c) a permeable particulate test medium in fluid-tight communication with the aging conduit; (d) means for flowing an aged sample stream recovered from the aging conduit through the permeable particulate test medium; and (e) means for measuring the effect of flow of the aged sample stream through the permeable particulate test medium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for predicting the effect of the flow of a fluid through a permeable particulate medium comprising: (a) sampling means for withdrawing from a body of the fluid a sample stream; (b) an aging conduit in fluid-tight communication to the sampling means for passing the sample stream therethrough in turbulent flow without substantial backmixing, said conduit having a length and shape adapted to retain the sample stream therein for a time substantially equal to the time required for the body of the fluid to traverse the distance between the sampling means and the permeable particulate medium; (c) a permeable particulate test medium in fluid-tight communication with the aging conduit; (d) means for flowing an aged sample stream recovered from the aging conduit through the permeable particulate test medium; and (e) means for measuring the effect of flow of the aged sample stream through the permeable particulate test medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the means for measuring the effect of flow comprises a means for measuring the pressure drop across the test medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the means for measuring the effect of flow comprises a means for measuring the flow rate through the test medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the aging conduit is enclosed in an aging tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein the aging tank is provided with means to maintain the fluid sample stream under elevated substantially isothermal conditions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein the means for maintaining the fluid sample stream at elevated, substantially isothermal conditions comprises an electrically heated oven which encloses said aging tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein the means for maintaining the fluid sample stream at elevated, substantially isothermal conditions comprises a circulating heat exchange medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the aging conduit has a coiled configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 including means for filtering the sample stream before passing the same through the aging conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein the filtering means includes a membrane filter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising means for adding a treating material to the sample stream before passing the sample stream through the aging conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising a flow control device to regulate the rate of flow of the sample stream through the aging conduit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus defined in claim 12 wherein the flow control device comprises an orifice plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus defined in claim 12 wherein the flow control device comprises a flow recorder controller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising means for sampling the aged sample stream.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein the means for sampling the aged sample stream comprises a sample bomb.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising means for measuring the pressure drop across the permeable particulate test medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising a volume-measuring means to determine the volume of the aged sample flowing through the permeable particulate test medium in a unit period of time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus defined in claim 18 further comprising means to cool the sample before passing to the volume-measuring means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the permeable particulate test medium comprises a core taken from a subterranean reservoir.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the permeable particulate medium comprises a permeable core of fused solid material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus defined in claim 21 wherein the fused solid material is particles of aluminum oxide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the permeable particulate test medium is provided with means for maintaining the aged sample stream at an elevated temperature and pressure during passage through the test medium.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein means is provided for flowing through the apparatus a conditioning fluid stream having properties different than those of the sample stream.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein means is provided for flowing through the apparatus a conditioning fluid stream at conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to substantially prevent formation of precipitates in the apparatus.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
234 words
An apparatus for determining the effect of reinjecting a geothermal brine at an elevated temperature and pressure into a permeable subterranean formation comprising: (a) sampling means for withdrawing a continuous sample stream from a main body of the geothermal brine flowing through a conduit towards a permeable subterranean reservoir penetrated by a well; (b) a plurality of aging conduits in fluid-tight communication with the sampling means for passing separate portions of the sample stream in turbulent flow without substantial back-mixing, each aging conduit having a length and shape adapted to retain the sample stream therein for a time substantially equal to the time required for the main body of the geothermal brine to traverse the distance between the sampling means and the subterranean reservoir; (c) a plurality of aging tanks, each of which contains one of the aging conduits, the aging tanks being adapted to maintain the portion of the sample stream passed therethrough at elevated, substantially isothermal conditions; (d) a permeable particulate test medium in fluid-tight communication with each aging conduit for passing therethrough a portion of the aged sample stream recovered from the aging conduit; (e) means in fluid-tight communication with the permeable particulate test medium for maintaining the test medium at an elevated temperature and pressure; and (f) means in fluid-tight communication with the test medium for measuring the effect of flow of the portion of the aged sample stream therethrough.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
234 words
An apparatus for determining the effect of reinjecting a geothermal brine at an elevated temperature and pressure into a permeable subterranean formation comprising: (a) sampling means for withdrawing a continuous sample stream from a main body of the geothermal brine flowing through a conduit towards a permeable subterranean reservoir penetrated by a well; (b) a plurality of aging conduits in fluid-tight communication with the sampling means for passing separate portions of the sample stream in turbulent flow without substantial back-mixing, each aging conduit having a length and shape adapted to retain the sample stream therein for a time substantially equal to the time required for the main body of the geothermal brine to traverse the distance between the sampling means and the subterranean reservoir; (c) a plurality of aging tanks, each of which contains one of the aging conduits, the aging tanks being adapted to maintain the portion of the sample stream passed therethrough at elevated, substantially isothermal conditions; (d) a permeable particulate test medium in fluid-tight communication with each aging conduit for passing therethrough a portion of the aged sample stream recovered from the aging conduit; (e) means in fluid-tight communication with the permeable particulate test medium for maintaining the test medium at an elevated temperature and pressure; and (f) means in fluid-tight communication with the test medium for measuring the effect of flow of the portion of the aged sample stream therethrough.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus defined in claim 26 wherein the means for measuring the effect of flow comprises a means for measuring the rate of flow through the test medium.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus defined in claim 26 wherein the means for measuring the effect of flow comprises a means for measuring the pressure drop across the test medium.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
134 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 26 which apparatus further comprises: (g) means for filtering a portion of the sample stream located ahead of at least one but not all of the aging conduits; (h) means for collecting a sample of the aged sample stream recovered from test medium (d); (i) means for cooling at least one portion of the sample stream recovered from the permeable test medium in step (f); (j) means for admixing a treating material into at least one portion of the sample stream before passage through the permeable particulate test medium; (k) means for flowing throughout the apparatus, a conditioning stream having physical properties different from those of the fluid sample stream; and (l) means for collecting a portion of the aged sample stream recovered from said cooling means (i).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 29 further comprising means for maintaining the conditioning stream at a temperature and pressure effective for minimizing formation of precipitates from the sample stream.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for determining the effect of the flow of a fluid at elevated temperature and pressure through a permeable particulate medium, which method comprises: (a) continuously withdrawing a sample stream from the main body of the fluid at a sampling point; (b) passing the main body of the fluid into a permeable particulate medium; (c) passing the sample stream through an aging conduit under conditions of turbulent flow without substantial back-mixing to provide a sample stream having a uniform age, which age is substantially equal to the time required for the main body of the fluid to traverse the distance between the sampling point and the permeable particulate medium; (d) passing a uniformly aged sample stream from step (c) through a permeable particulate test medium; and (e) determining the effect of passage of the uniformly aged sample stream through the permeable particulate test medium in step (d) so as to predict the effect of passage of the body of the sample stream through the permeable particulate medium in step (b).
Claim 34
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for determining the effect of the flow of a fluid at elevated temperature and pressure through a permeable particulate medium, which method comprises: (a) continuously withdrawing a sample stream from the main body of the fluid at a sampling point; (b) passing the main body of the fluid into a permeable particulate medium; (c) passing the sample stream through an aging conduit under conditions of turbulent flow without substantial back-mixing to provide a sample stream having a uniform age, which age is substantially equal to the time required for the main body of the fluid to traverse the distance between the sampling point and the permeable particulate medium; (d) passing a uniformly aged sample stream from step (c) through a permeable particulate test medium; and (e) determining the effect of passage of the uniformly aged sample stream through the permeable particulate test medium in step (d) so as to predict the effect of passage of the body of the sample stream through the permeable particulate medium in step (b).
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method defined in claim 31 wherein the aged sample stream contained in the aging conduit is maintained at substantially the temperature and pressure of the main body of the fluid and the permeable particulate test medium is maintained at substantially the temperature and pressure of the permeable particulate medium.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 32 wherein at least one portion of the sample stream is passed through a means for filtering before passage through the aging conduit.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined in claim 33 wherein the means for filtering comprises a membrane filter.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method defined in claim 31 further comprising admixing treating material with at least one portion of the fluid sample before passage through the permeable particulate test medium so as to alter flow conditions through the test medium.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 31 wherein the fluid sample stream is passed at a controlled rate through the aging conduit.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method defined in claim 31 wherein an aged sample recovered from the aging conduit is withdrawn before the remainder of the aged sample stream is passed through the permeable particulate test medium and the effect of aging step (c) upon the sample stream is determined by analysis of the aged sample.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined in claim 31 wherein the effect of the aged sample stream upon the permeable particulate test medium is determined in step (e) by measuring the pressure drop across the permeable particulate test medium.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method defined in claim 31 wherein the effect of the sample upon the permeable particulate medium is determined in step (e) by comparing the volumes of the sample stream passed through the permeable particulate test medium in given periods of time.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 31 wherein the permeable particulate test medium comprises a core taken from a subterranean formation and the permeable particulate medium is a subterranean reservoir.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined in claim 40 wherein the core is taken from the subterranean reservoir.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 41 wherein the subterranean reservoir is a geothermal reservoir and the fluid is a spent geothermal brine.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 31 wherein the permeable particulate test medium comprises a fused solidmaterial.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 43 wherein the fused solid material comprises particles of aluminum oxide.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 31 wherein the temperature of the sample fluid within the aging conduit is maintained substantially isothermal.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 31 wherein the aged sample stream during passage through the permeable particulate test medium is maintained at substantially the temperature and pressure prevailing in the permeable particulate medium.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method defined in claim 31, which method further comprises passing a conditioning fluid stream through the apparatus ahead of the sample stream so as to prevent formation of precipitates from the sample stream during passage therethrough.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
213 words
A method for determining the effect of reinjecting a geothermal brine into a geothermal reservoir at an elevated temperature and pressure comprising: (a) continuously withdrawing a sample stream from the body of a stream of geothermal brine flowing through a conduit into said geothermal reservoir; (b) continuously reinjecting the body of the geothermal brine into the geothermal reservoir; (c) passing at least a portion of the sample stream through an aging conduit under conditions of turbulent flow without substantial back-mixing and without substantial formation of precipitates therefrom so as to provide a sample having a uniform age substantially equal to the time required for the body of the geothermal brine to pass between the sampling point and the subterranean formation; (d) passing a uniformly aged sample stream from step (c) axially through a core comprising a permeable particulate test medium; (e) maintaining the temperature and the pressure of the sample stream at substantially the temperature and pressure of the main body of the brine during passage between the sampling point and the point of entry into the geothermal formation; and (f) predicting the effect of passage of the main body of the brine through the geothermal formation by determining the effect of passage of the sample stream through the permeable particulate test medium.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
213 words
A method for determining the effect of reinjecting a geothermal brine into a geothermal reservoir at an elevated temperature and pressure comprising: (a) continuously withdrawing a sample stream from the body of a stream of geothermal brine flowing through a conduit into said geothermal reservoir; (b) continuously reinjecting the body of the geothermal brine into the geothermal reservoir; (c) passing at least a portion of the sample stream through an aging conduit under conditions of turbulent flow without substantial back-mixing and without substantial formation of precipitates therefrom so as to provide a sample having a uniform age substantially equal to the time required for the body of the geothermal brine to pass between the sampling point and the subterranean formation; (d) passing a uniformly aged sample stream from step (c) axially through a core comprising a permeable particulate test medium; (e) maintaining the temperature and the pressure of the sample stream at substantially the temperature and pressure of the main body of the brine during passage between the sampling point and the point of entry into the geothermal formation; and (f) predicting the effect of passage of the main body of the brine through the geothermal formation by determining the effect of passage of the sample stream through the permeable particulate test medium.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 48 wherein the permeable particulate test medium comprises fused solid particles.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 49 wherein the solid particles are aluminum oxide.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 48 wherein the permeable particulate test medium is a subterranean formation.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the subterranean formation is the geothermal reservoir.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-05 | 1989-11-04 | 1990-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-05 | 1993-11-04 | 1994-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-05 | 1997-11-04 | 1998-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |