US-12624626-B2 - Calibration for mudlogging

US12624626B2US 12624626 B2US12624626 B2US 12624626B2US-12624626-B2

Abstract

A method for measuring gas volume during mudlogging of a subterranean field operation may include obtaining measurements for a plurality of parameters associated with a core sample retrieved from a subterranean formation, where the plurality of parameters are measured while the core sample is under downhole conditions, and where the plurality of parameters comprises a volume of fluid in a gaseous state. The method may also include applying the measurements to an algorithm to generate a calibrated algorithm, where the calibrated algorithm is used to generate an output based on measurements made during the mudlogging.

Inventors

Scott Alan Hanson
Marcus Oliver WIGAND
Luisa Carolina Crousse

Assignees

CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230302

Claims (19)

1 . A method for measuring gas volume during mudlogging of a subterranean field operation, the method comprising: obtaining measurements from a plurality of sensor devices for a plurality of parameters associated with a core sample retrieved from a depth in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, wherein the plurality of parameters are measured by the plurality of sensor devices while the core sample is under downhole conditions, wherein the plurality of sensor devices comprises a gas chromatograph, and wherein the plurality of parameters comprises a volume of a fluid in a gaseous state and a composition of the fluid in the gaseous state; applying the measurements to an algorithm to generate a calibrated algorithm that yields the volume of the fluid having the composition in the gaseous state over a range of depths within the wellbore, wherein the range of depths comprises the depth at which the core sample is retrieved; and sending the calibrated algorithm to a mudlogging system, wherein the mudlogging system is configured to use the calibrated algorithm during the mudlogging to improve an extraction efficiency of the fluid having the composition in the gaseous state during the subterranean field operation.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mudlogging system is further configured to use the calibrated algorithm during the mudlogging to improve the extraction efficiency of oil during the subterranean field operation.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises a fluid saturation level.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises a porosity.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subterranean formation is unconventional.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the calibrated algorithm is further calibrated by applying an additional factor to the algorithm, and wherein the additional factor comprises at least one of a group consisting of a drill rate, a drill bit size, and a flow rate capacity of a pump.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid in the gaseous state comprises at least one of a group consisting of ethane, methane, propane, butane, and pentane.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the downhole conditions comprise a downhole temperature and a downhole pressure.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: obtaining additional measurements for the plurality of parameters associated with an additional core sample retrieved from a second depth in the wellbore in the subterranean formation, wherein the plurality of parameters are measured by the plurality of sensor devices while the additional core sample is under the downhole conditions, and wherein the plurality of parameters comprises a second volume and the composition of the fluid in the gaseous state; applying the additional measurements to the algorithm to generate a revised calibrated algorithm that yields the second volume of the fluid having the composition in the gaseous state over a second range of depths within the wellbore, wherein the second range of depths comprises the second depth at which the additional core sample is retrieved, wherein the revised calibrated algorithm is used to generate gas volumes based on the measurements made during the mudlogging; and sending the revised calibrated algorithm to the mudlogging system, wherein the mudlogging system is further configured to use the revised calibrated algorithm during the mudlogging to improve the extraction efficiency of the fluid having the composition in the gaseous state during the subterranean field operation.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the revised calibrated algorithm is configured to generate the gas volumes for the range of depths of the subterranean formation, and wherein the range of depths includes the second depth from which the additional core sample is retrieved.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the measurements and the additional measurements are averaged before being applied to the algorithm.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: obtaining additional measurements for the plurality of parameters associated with an additional core sample retrieved from a second depth in the wellbore in the subterranean formation, wherein the plurality of parameters are measured by the plurality of sensor devices while the additional core sample is the under downhole conditions, wherein the second depth falls within the range of depths within the wellbore, and wherein the plurality of parameters comprises a second volume and the composition of the fluid in the gaseous state; and applying the additional measurements, along with the measurements, to the algorithm to generate the calibrated algorithm.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mudlogging system is configured to use the calibrated algorithm by correcting second measurements made in return fluids collected during the mudlogging based on the measurements of the core sample.
14 . A system for calibrating gas volume measurements during mudlogging of a subterranean field operation, the system comprising: a calibration engine that is configured to: obtain, from a core sample testing system, measurements for a plurality of parameters associated with a core sample retrieved from a depth in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, wherein the plurality of parameters are measured by a plurality of sensor devices while the core sample is under downhole conditions, wherein the plurality of sensor devices comprises a gas chromatograph, and wherein the plurality of parameters comprises a volume of a fluid in a gaseous state and a composition of the fluid in the gaseous state; apply the measurements to an algorithm to generate a calibrated algorithm that yields the volume of the fluid having the composition in the gaseous state over a range of depths within the wellbore, wherein the range of depths comprises the depth at which the core sample is retrieved; and send the calibrated algorithm to a mudlogging system, wherein the mudlogging system is configured to use the calibrated algorithm during the mudlogging to improve an extraction efficiency of the fluid having the composition in the gaseous state during the subterranean field operation.
15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising: a communication module that is configured to send the calibrated algorithm to the mudlogging system.
16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the calibration engine is further configured to: obtain an additional factor associated with the subterranean field operation; and apply the additional factor along with the measurements to the algorithm to generate the calibrated algorithm, wherein the additional factor comprises at least one of a group consisting of a drill rate, a drill bit size, and a flow rate capacity of a pump.
17 . A method for testing a core sample to calibrate gas volume measurements during mudlogging of a subterranean field operation, the method comprising: obtaining the core sample encapsulated to capture in situ conditions present at a depth in a wellbore in a subterranean formation from which the core sample is retrieved, wherein the in situ conditions comprise a pressure and a temperature; measuring, using a plurality of sensor devices, a volume of fluid in the core sample at the in situ conditions, wherein the plurality of sensor devices comprises a gas chromatograph, wherein the fluid comprises a chemical composition in a gaseous state; and sending a measurement of the volume of the fluid to a calibration system, wherein the calibration system is configured to use the measurement of the volume of the fluid to generate a calibrated algorithm that is used during the mudlogging to improve an extraction efficiency of the fluid during the subterranean field operation.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the fluid comprises a hydrocarbon.
19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising: obtaining an additional core sample encapsulated to capture second in situ conditions present at a second depth in the wellbore in the subterranean formation from which the additional core sample is retrieved; measuring, using the plurality of sensor devices, a second volume of the fluid in the additional core sample at the second in situ conditions; and sending a second measurement of the second volume of the fluid to the calibration system, wherein the calibration system is configured to use the second measurement of the second volume of the fluid of the additional core sample to generate a second calibrated algorithm that is used during the mudlogging to improve the extraction efficiency of the fluid during the subterranean field operation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present application is related to subterranean field operations and, more particularly, to calibration for mudlogging. BACKGROUND Mudlogging is used by companies during drilling operations of a wellbore to measure the type and amount of subterranean resources that are available in the adjacent subterranean formation at certain depths of the wellbore. Unfortunately, without proper calibration of the algorithms used to analyze the components of the return fluids, the outputs of the mudlogging process are inaccurate. SUMMARY In general, in one aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for measuring gas volume during mudlogging of a subterranean field operation. The method can include obtaining measurements for a plurality of parameters associated with a core sample retrieved from a subterranean formation, where the plurality of parameters are measured while the core sample is under downhole conditions, and where the plurality of parameters comprises a volume of fluid in a gaseous state. The method can also include applying the measurements to an algorithm to generate a calibrated algorithm, where the calibrated algorithm is used to generate an output based on measurements made during the mudlogging. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a system for calibrating gas volume measurements during a subterranean field operation. The system can include a calibration engine that is configured to obtain, from a core sample testing system, measurements for a plurality of parameters associated with a core sample retrieved from a subterranean formation, where the plurality of parameters are measured while the core sample is under downhole conditions, and where the plurality of parameters comprises a volume of fluid in a gaseous state. The calibration engine can also be configured to apply the measurements to an algorithm to generate a calibrated algorithm, where the calibrated algorithm is used to generate gas volumes based on measurements made during the mudlogging. In yet another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for testing a core sample to calibrate gas volume measurements during a subterranean field operation. The method can include obtaining a core sample encapsulated to capture in situ conditions present at a subterranean formation from which the core sample is retrieved, where the in situ conditions include a pressure and a temperature. The method can also include measuring a volume of fluid in the core sample at the in situ conditions, where the fluid includes a chemical compound in a gaseous state. The results of measuring the volume of fluid can be used to calibrate measurements during mudlogging. These and other aspects, objects, features, and embodiments will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings illustrate only example embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope, as the example embodiments may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the example embodiments. Additionally, certain dimensions or positions may be exaggerated to help visually convey such principles. In the drawings, reference numerals designate like or corresponding, but not necessarily identical, elements. FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a field system with a subterranean wellbore in which example embodiments may be used. FIGS. 2A and 2B show detailed views of part of the horizontal section of the wellbore of the field system of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of another part of the horizontal section of the wellbore of the field system of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows a diagram of a system for calibrating for mudlogging according to certain example embodiments. FIG. 5 shows a system diagram of a controller according to certain example embodiments. FIG. 6 shows a computing device in accordance with certain example embodiments. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a method for calibrating measurements for mudlogging of a subterranean field operation according to certain example embodiments. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a method for testing a core sample to calibrate gas volume measurements during a subterranean field operation according to certain example embodiments. FIG. 9 shows a graph of mudlogging results according to certain example embodiments. FIG. 10 shows a graph of extraction efficiency for gas components relative to methane according to certain example embodiments. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The example embodiments discussed herein are directed to systems, apparatus, methods, and devices for calibration for mudlogging. The subterranean resources captured using example embodiments may include, but are not limited to, oil and natural gas. Creating one or more wellbores using example embodiments and/or using such wellbores with example embodiments may be