US4814614A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for characterizing oil-bearing inclusions via fluorescence microspectrophotometry
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1987-05-11
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Granted: 1989-03-21
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Expires: 2007-05-11
Abstract
Abstract An ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence microspectrophotometry process for measuring fluorescence spectra of oils in individual micro-sized inclusions. Interpretation of UV fluorescence of oil inclusions in an unknown sample is made by comparison to fluorescence spectra of oils of known composition. This method is a non-destructive process which allows the quality of oils in the undrilled basin to be determined by analyzing outcrop samples containing oil-bearing inclusions. By comparing the fluorescence properties of inclusion oils and reservoir oils, the history of oil migration in petroleum basins can be reconstructed.
Inventors
- 👤 Tien-Fung Tsui
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; E; E21; E21B; E21B49/00; E21B49/005; E21B49/08; G01N33/00; G01N33/24; G01N33/241; G01N2021/6417
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for determining the characteristics of oil in microquantity by ultraviolet fluorescence microspectrophotometry comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a sample containing at least one oil-bearing inclusion from one location and measuring its fluorescence spectra by microspectrphotometery within a desired wavelength range; (b) obtaining a sample of reservoir oil from a location where said reservoir oil was substantially derived from the same source rocks as was said at least one inclusion, (i) measuring the fluorescence spectra of said reservoir oil by microspectrophotometry via the wavelength range used in step (a), (ii) determining the quality of said reservoir oil; and (c) characterizing the quality of oil contained in said at least one inclusion based upon fluorescence-oil quality correlations obtained from analysis of said reservoir oil.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for determining the characteristics of oil in microquantity by ultraviolet fluorescence microspectrophotometry comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a sample containing at least one oil-bearing inclusion from one location and measuring its fluorescence spectra by microspectrphotometery within a desired wavelength range; (b) obtaining a sample of reservoir oil from a location where said reservoir oil was substantially derived from the same source rocks as was said at least one inclusion, (i) measuring the fluorescence spectra of said reservoir oil by microspectrophotometry via the wavelength range used in step (a), (ii) determining the quality of said reservoir oil; and (c) characterizing the quality of oil contained in said at least one inclusion based upon fluorescence-oil quality correlations obtained from analysis of said reservoir oil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 1 where in step (b) said reservoir sample comprises produced reservoir oil, or drill stem test oil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 1 where in step (a) said sample comprises rock outcrops, drill cuttings, or core samples.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 1 where in step (a) said wavelength range is from about 400 to about 700 nm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 1 where in step (c) said oil quality for the at least one oil-bearing inclusion is characterized by its API gravity, aromatic-to-saturate ratio, asphaltene content, and sulfur.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 1 where oil inclusions are less than about 30 μm in diameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 1 where maturation and path of migration of the reservoir oil are delineated via fluorescence spectra.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for predicting the quality of oil contained in a petroleum basin or exploration play area where at least one-oil-bearing inclusion is used in combination with ultraviolet light fluorescence and microspectrophotometry comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining from a basin or area of exploration play, a sample containing at least one oil-bearing inclusion and thereafter measuring the fluorescence spectra of said at least one inclusion by microspectrophotometry within a desired wavelength range; (b) obtaining a sample of reservoir oil from a location where said reservoir oil was substantially derived from the same source rocks as was said at least one inclusion; (i) measuring the fluorescence spectra of said reservoir oil by microspectrophotometry via the wavelength range used instep (a), (ii) determining the quality of said reservoir oil; (c) characterizing the quality of oil contained in said at least one inclusion based upon fluorescence-oil quality correlations obtained from analysis of said reservoir oil; and (d) predicting the quality of oil in said basin or exploration play area from which said at least one inclusion sample was obtained.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for predicting the quality of oil contained in a petroleum basin or exploration play area where at least one-oil-bearing inclusion is used in combination with ultraviolet light fluorescence and microspectrophotometry comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining from a basin or area of exploration play, a sample containing at least one oil-bearing inclusion and thereafter measuring the fluorescence spectra of said at least one inclusion by microspectrophotometry within a desired wavelength range; (b) obtaining a sample of reservoir oil from a location where said reservoir oil was substantially derived from the same source rocks as was said at least one inclusion; (i) measuring the fluorescence spectra of said reservoir oil by microspectrophotometry via the wavelength range used instep (a), (ii) determining the quality of said reservoir oil; (c) characterizing the quality of oil contained in said at least one inclusion based upon fluorescence-oil quality correlations obtained from analysis of said reservoir oil; and (d) predicting the quality of oil in said basin or exploration play area from which said at least one inclusion sample was obtained.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 8 where in step (b) said reservoir oil comprises produced crude oil or drill stem test oil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 8 where in step (a) said sample comprises a rock outcrop, drill cuttings, or a core sample.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 8 where in step (a) said wavelength range is from about 400 nm to about 700 nm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 8 where in step (d) said oil quality is characterized by its API gravity, aromatic-to saturate ratio, asphaltene content, and sulfur.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 8 where oil inclusions are less than about 30 μm in diameter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 8 where the maturation and path of migration of the reservoir oil are delineated by fluorescence spectra.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for predicting the quality of oil contained in a petroleum basin or exploration play area where at least one oil-bearing inclusion is used in combination with ultraviolet light fluorescence and microspectrophotometry comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a sample containing at least one oil-bearing inclusion from said basin or play area and measuring the fluorescence spectra by microspectrophotometry within a wavelength range of from about 400 to about 700 nm; (b) obtaining a sample of reservoir oil from a location where said reservoir oil was substantially derived from the same source rocks as was said as least one inclusion; (i) measuring the fluorescence spectra of said reservoir oil by microsphectrophotometry via the wavelength range used in step (a), (ii) determining the API gravity, aromatic-to-saturate ratio, asphaltene and sulfur content of said reservoir oil; (c) characterizing the quality of oil contained in said at least one inclusion based upon fluorescence-oil quality correlations obtained from analysis of said reservoir oil; and (d) predicting the quality of oil in said basin or exploration play area from the characterization of the oil quality of said at least one inclusion.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for predicting the quality of oil contained in a petroleum basin or exploration play area where at least one oil-bearing inclusion is used in combination with ultraviolet light fluorescence and microspectrophotometry comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a sample containing at least one oil-bearing inclusion from said basin or play area and measuring the fluorescence spectra by microspectrophotometry within a wavelength range of from about 400 to about 700 nm; (b) obtaining a sample of reservoir oil from a location where said reservoir oil was substantially derived from the same source rocks as was said as least one inclusion; (i) measuring the fluorescence spectra of said reservoir oil by microsphectrophotometry via the wavelength range used in step (a), (ii) determining the API gravity, aromatic-to-saturate ratio, asphaltene and sulfur content of said reservoir oil; (c) characterizing the quality of oil contained in said at least one inclusion based upon fluorescence-oil quality correlations obtained from analysis of said reservoir oil; and (d) predicting the quality of oil in said basin or exploration play area from the characterization of the oil quality of said at least one inclusion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 15 where in step (b) said sample comprises produced reservoir oil or a drill stem test oil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 15 where in step (a) said oil-bearing sample comprises rock outcropings, drill cuttings, or core samples.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 15 where oil inclusions are less than about 30 μm in diameter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 15 where the maturation and path of migration of the reservoir oil are delineated by fluorescence spectra.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as recited in claim 15 where said reservoir oil comprises an oil seep.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3899213A
Cited
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