US-12624634-B2 - Monitoring wellbore fluids using metal ions from tracers

US12624634B2US 12624634 B2US12624634 B2US 12624634B2US-12624634-B2

Abstract

A wellbore tracer system can include a first tracer including a first type of metal ions, a second tracer including a second type of metal ions, and a detector positioned proximate to a surface of the wellbore. The first tracer can be positioned at a different section of the wellbore than the second tracer. The detector can analyze a sample of produced wellbore fluid to identify the section of the wellbore that is a source of the produced wellbore fluid based on determining which of the first type of metal ions or the second type of metal ions is present in the sample.

Inventors

Michael Linley Fripp
Chad W. GLAESMAN
Stephen Michael Greci

Assignees

HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20210624

Claims (8)

1 . A wellbore tracer system comprising: a first tracer comprising a first layer of a first type of metal ions and a second layer of a second type of metal ions, wherein the first tracer is positionable at a first production zone of a wellbore and is configured to release at least one of the first type of metal ions from the first layer or the second type of metal ions from the second layer into produced wellbore fluid in the wellbore, wherein the first layer is positioned atop the second layer within the first tracer; a second tracer comprising the first type of metal ions, the second type of metal ions, or a third type of metal ions, wherein the second tracer is positionable at a second production zone of the wellbore that is different from the first production zone, wherein the second tracer is configured to release at least one of the first type of metal ions, the second type of metal ions, or the third type of metal ions into the produced wellbore fluid; and a detector positionable proximate to a surface of the wellbore and configured to analyze a sample of the produced wellbore fluid to identify the first production zone or the second production zone of the wellbore that is a source of the produced wellbore fluid based on determining which of the first type of metal ions, the second type of metal ions, or the third type of metal ions is present in the sample.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the detector is positionable proximate to the surface of the wellbore to analyze the sample contemporaneously to acquiring the sample from the produced wellbore fluid.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the detector comprises: an analysis chamber positionable to receive the sample from the wellbore; an energy source usable to apply energy to the sample; a spectrometer usable to detect a plurality of wavelengths from light waves emitting from the sample; and an output device to output the plurality of wavelengths detected by the spectrometer.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the detector further comprises additives usable to lower an electrical resistance of the sample, and wherein the energy source is a voltage or light source.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of wavelengths output by the detector is usable to determine a flow rate of the produced wellbore fluid.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first tracer or the second tracer is in a propping agent positionable in a hydraulic fracturing fluid usable in a hydraulic fracturing process in the wellbore, and wherein the detector is positionable proximate to the surface of the wellbore to analyze a sample of the hydraulic fracturing fluid.
7 . The wellbore tracer system of claim 1 , wherein the first layer and the second layer of the first tracer are bound within a binder that comprises a dissolvable material configurable to dissolve into the produced wellbore fluid to release the first type of metal ions or the second type of metal ions.
8 . The wellbore tracer system of claim 7 , wherein the binder comprises at least one of a thermoplastic, a thermoset, or an elastomer.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to wellbore operations and, more particularly (although not necessarily exclusively), to detecting dissolved metals released by tracers in wellbore fluid during wellbore operations. BACKGROUND In hydrocarbon exploration, a well can include a wellbore drilled through a subterranean formation for obtaining hydrocarbons, such as oil or gas, from wellbore fluid. The wellbore fluid can be produced at multiple zones in the wellbore. Chemicals may be used to determine which zone is producing oil, gas, or water. A sample of fluid with a chemical can be acquired at a wellsite and transported to a laboratory for chemical analysis, and the results can be used for determining which zone is producing oil, gas, or water. But accurately determining which zone is producing the wellbore fluid can be difficult, and real-time decisions at the wellsite cannot be made on the results since the analysis takes considerable time, including transport time. For example, high concentrations of the compounds may be necessary to be detected for accurate results. And, the process may be labor-intensive, time-consuming and may not allow for timely adjustment of production operations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a wellbore in a production environment for releasing metal ions from tracers into produced wellbore fluid according to one example of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective partial cutaway view of an example of a production zone in a wellbore according to one example of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a tracer according to one example of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of a detector according to one example of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example of a process for monitoring produced wellbore fluid using metal ions released from tracers into the wellbore fluid according to some aspects of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Certain examples of the present disclosure involve a real-time tracer system that can include tracers that can release dissolved metals, such as metal ions, into produced wellbore fluid that can be detected at a surface of the wellbore with a detector. As the wellbore fluid is produced to the surface, a spectrometer in the detector can analyze a sample of the wellbore fluid and detect the dissolved metals. The flow from a specific section can be determined by the detection of specific dissolved metals, or by the ratio of the detected dissolved metals. Each section of the wellbore may have a unique dissolved metal source. Alternatively, each section of the wellbore may have multiple dissolved metals and the detector may measure the combination of dissolved metals. In some examples, metal ions released from tracers downhole can be detected at lower concentrations than the chemical compounds traditionally used. A tracer system according to some examples can operate without personnel and can provide real-time analysis of wellbore production zones without requiring samples to be sent to an off-site laboratory. The analysis can be used to make real-time changes in wellbore production, such as shutting off production from zones that are not producing oil or gas, or adjusting drawdown pressure in the wellbore. In some examples, the tracer system can include at least two tracers that can be positioned within the wellbore. As produced wellbore fluid passes over each tracer, metal ions from the tracers can be released into the wellbore fluid. Different tracers that can release different types of metal ions can be placed within different sections of the wellbore. The tracer can include a metal ion source that can release metal ions. The metal ions can be released into the wellbore fluid as the metal ion source dissolves, degrades, or erodes. The metal ion sources can be selected to have different solubility rates. For example, metal ions with larger anionic fragments can tend to be less soluble than metal ions with smaller anionic fragments. As a result, smaller metal ions may be used for short-term measurements, while larger metal ions may be used for long-term measurements. In some examples, the metal ion source in the tracer can be bound within a binder. For example, the binder can be a dissolvable material. As the binder dissolves, the metal ions can be released into the wellbore fluid. In some examples, the detector may detect the presence of the binder in the sample of wellbore fluid. Tracers may be positioned in various locations in the wellbore. For example, a tracer may be positioned in a wellbore including multiple production zones, with packers isolating the multiple production zones. In some examples, a tracer can be positioned on production tubing in a production zone in the wellbore, such as within a screen section. The produced wellbore fluid can flow through the screen and the tracer can release