Monitoring injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluids through downhole fluid analysis

Abstract

A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid injected into the earth's subsurface through a first wellbore that involves positioning a fluid analysis tool within a second wellbore and determining the presence of the injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid by making a measurement downhole on the injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid using the fluid analysis tool. Also a related method of enhancing hydrocarbon production from a subsurface area having first and second wellbores that involves injecting a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid into the subsurface through the first wellbore, positioning a fluid analysis tool within the second wellbore, and determining the presence of the injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid by making a measurement downhole on the injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid using the fluid analysis tool. Further, a related method of determining the relative or absolute quantity of a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid injected into the earth's subsurface through a first wellbore that involves positioning a fluid analysis tool within a second wellbore, measuring the near-infrared spectroscopy signature of fluid downhole using the fluid analysis tool, measuring the downhole temperature and pressure using the fluid analysis tool, and estimating a relative or absolute quantity of the injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid within said downhole fluid using the measured near-infrared spectroscopy signature, the temperature, and the pressure to estimate a partial pressure of hydrocarbon constituents of the downhole fluid.

1 . A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid injected into the earth's subsurface through a first wellbore comprising:
 positioning a fluid analysis tool within a second wellbore; and   determining the presence of said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid by making a measurement downhole on said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid using said fluid analysis tool.   
   
   
       2 . A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid comprises one or more of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or hydrogen sulfide. 
   
   
       3 . A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said second wellbore has been used to produce a mixture of fluids that includes both hydrocarbon fluid and said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid. 
   
   
       4 . A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid is at least partially miscible with said hydrocarbon fluid at ambient pressure and temperature of the location at which said fluid analysis tool is positioned within said second wellbore. 
   
   
       5 . A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein in said nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid is present in such quantities in the subsurface near the location at which said fluid analysis tool is positioned within said second wellbore that said fluid is at least partially immiscible with said hydrocarbon fluid at the local pressure and temperature. 
   
   
       6 . A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said determining the presence of said nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid using said fluid analysis tool comprising measuring the concentration of said nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid in a mixture of fluids that includes both hydrocarbon fluid and said nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid. 
   
   
       7 . A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising measuring the downhole temperature and pressure using said fluid analysis tool. 
   
   
       8 . A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising measuring the near-infrared spectroscopy signature of fluid downhole and estimating the relative or absolute concentration of said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid using said measured near-infrared spectroscopy signature, temperature, and pressure. 
   
   
       9 . A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein determining the presence of said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid using said fluid analysis tool comprises determining one or more phase transition parameters such as bubble point, dew point, or asphaltene onset pressure. 
   
   
       10 . A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said bubble point phase transition parameter is determined using ultrasonic detection of gas phase evolution. 
   
   
       11 . A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising repositioning said fluid analysis tool at a different location within said second wellbore,
 determining the presence of said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid at said different location by making a measurement downhole on said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid using said fluid analysis tool, and   comparing the measurements made at said different locations.   
   
   
       12 . A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the presence of said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid is determined using downhole gas chromatography. 
   
   
       13 . A method of enhancing hydrocarbon production from a subsurface area having first and second wellbores comprising:
 injecting a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid into the subsurface through said first wellbore;   positioning a fluid analysis tool within said second wellbore; and   determining the presence of said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid by making a measurement downhole on said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid using said fluid analysis tool.   
   
   
       14 . A method of enhancing hydrocarbon production from a subsurface area in accordance with  claim 13 , further comprising identifying a location within said second wellbore where fluids with relatively high concentrations of said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid are entering said second wellbore. 
   
   
       15 . A method of enhancing hydrocarbon production from a subsurface area in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising performing a treatment on said second wellbore. 
   
   
       16 . A method of enhancing hydrocarbon production from a subsurface area in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said treatment inhibits fluid from entering said second wellbore at said identified location and flowing to the surface comprises, such by installing one or more of a bridge plug, a packer, a casing patch, gel, or cement within said second wellbore. 
   
   
       17 . A method of enhancing hydrocarbon production from a subsurface area in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said treatment well treatment enhances the production of fluid entering the wellbore from areas other than the identified location, such as by pressure fracturing, propellant fracturing, acidizing, or reperforating these other areas. 
   
   
       18 . A method of enhancing hydrocarbon production from a subsurface area in accordance with  claim 13 , further comprising modifying the rate at which fluid is being withdrawn from said second wellbore. 
   
   
       19 . A method of determining the relative or absolute quantity of a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid injected into the earth's subsurface through a first wellbore comprising:
 positioning a fluid analysis tool within a second wellbore,   measuring the near-infrared spectroscopy signature of fluid downhole using said fluid analysis tool,   measuring the downhole temperature and pressure using said fluid analysis tool, and   estimating a relative or absolute quantity of said injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid within said downhole fluid using said measured near-infrared spectroscopy signature, said temperature, and said pressure to estimate a partial pressure of hydrocarbon constituents of said downhole fluid.