FEATURE ARTICLE

Sampling Procedures for Oil Reservoir Fluids

FRANK O. REUDElHUBER CORE LABORATORIES, INC.

JUNIOR MEMBER AIME HOUSTON, TEX.

Introduction the following discussion is directed schematic representation of a satu-

toward a better understanding of the rated reservoir (P s = PH) penetrated,
The problem of determining the problems involved and of the pro- at the left, by a wellbore. Superim-
productive capabilities and ultimate cedures available for collecting re- posed is a curve representing the
yield of oil reservoirs is approached liable fluid samples. pressure distribution when the well
through use of various engineering is produced at a rate which results
There are two methods available
calculations utilizing basic data. in a flowing pressure, at the well bore,
for collecting reservoir fluid samples:
These data are concerned with the of PF1 ; the pressure being measured
subsurface sampling and surface, or
formation itself, the fluids contained on the vertical scale and distance
separator sampling. In subsurface
therein, and the fluid-flow relations from the well bore on the horizontal
sampling, the material to be analyzed
between the formation and the con- scale. The lighter portion of the
is collected at the base of the well-
tained fluids. The first and last of shaded area depicts the increasing
bore, adjacent to the perforations.
these are obtained from core samples gas-saturation in the pore spaces as
In surface sampling, samples of sepa-
and are, in the main, based on an the wellbore is approached by the
rator liquid and vapor are collected
accumulation of data which can be flowing fluids. When the well is first
and recombined in the laboratory in
evaluated and applied in a statistical placed on production, the gas lib-
some specified manner to yield a mix-
manner. The fluid properties, on the erated from the oil will not flow and
ture which is then analyzed. In order
other hand, are usually obtained from will accumulate in the pores of the
that subsurface samples be repre-
one sample and are applied to the formation until the ga""s saturation
sentative, it is necessary that the
reservoir as a whole. While consider- reaches the critical, or equilibrium
fluid at the base of the well bore be
able effort has been expended in amount. Any additional gas liberated
id::ntical to fluid found at the drain-
developing the procedures for labora- in a pore which has reached this
age boundary. Likewise, in use of
tory analysis, little has been done critical value will then flow toward
surface samples, the fluid flowing
toward perfecting procedures for ob- the well bore and be produced with
into the wellbore must be identical
taining the samples from which all the oil. During this entire process,
to that at the extremity of the drain-
data are obtained and upon which the oil entering the wellbore will
subsequently, all calculations ar~
age radius. In either case, fluid flow
into the well bore is dependent upon have a saturation pressure equal to
based. It is readily apparent that no P FH the flowing pressure. Initially
pressure differential and the attend-
laboratory procedures, however in- no free gas will be flowing in con-
ant drawdown can often result in
tensive, can result in sound engineer- junction with the oJI; however, as the
collection of fluids which bear little
ing data from unreliable, possibly pores progressively reach equilibrium
resemblance to the virgin reservoir
non-representative, fluid samples; saturation at greater distances from
material. It is this drawdown which
therefore, it is important that every
must be overcome if successful sam-
practical effort be made to obtain
ples are to be obtained.
representative samples through proper
well conditioning and sampling. Many
Saturated Reservoirs
of the difficulties encountered in PF,
sampling reservoir fluids can be For purposes of discussion, the
avoided, or minimized, if samples are saturated reservoir is one in which
collected as soon as possible in the the saturation pressure is equal to
PF,
productive life of a reservoir. Some the prevailing pressure at the drain-
age boundary. The majority of res-
difficulties are inherent, however, and
e.rvoirs are of this type and, in addi-
tIOn, usually consist of an oil column
Original manuscript received in Society of
Petroleum Engineers office on March 4 1957 in permeable contact with a gas-cap. Fig. I-Saturation and pressure dis-
Revised manuscript received Sept. 24,' 1957: The conditions which exist during tribution during production of a
Paper presented at Joint Meeting of Uni- saturated reservoir showing increas·
versity of Texas and Texas A&M Student production of this type reservoir are ing gas saturation around the
Chapters of AIME in Austin Tex Feb
14-15, 1957. ' " . represented in Fig. 1. This is a wellbore.

DECEMBEII, 1957
816-G 15
the well, larger and larger amounts Two methods are available for ad- oratory measured solution ratio and
of gas will flow. This particular justment of fluid data which exhibits formation volume factor which are
mechanism wilI result in the produc- the above-mentioned difference be- too high for the desired saturation
ing gas-oil ratio behavior illustrated tween saturation and reservoir pres- pressure. This situation arises since
in Fig. 3. It is not possible to avoid sure. The first requires that gas be the added gas would normally be
this situation in a saturated reservoir; 1dded to the subsurface sample prior richer in intermediate hydrocarbons
however, the serious effects resulting to analysis, such addition being suf- than that which remained behind in
from this condition must be over- ficient to raise the saturation pres- the pore spaces. Conversely, during
come if representative samples are to sure to the desired value. This method the increased producing ratio inter-
be obtained. The general procedures would be acceptable if it were pos- val, the measured solution ratio and
for subsurface and surface samples sible to add gas of the same composi- formation volume factor would be
are as follows. tion as that which had been retained too low if the samples were recom-
in the reservoir. In the usual case, bined to the desired original satura-
Subsurface Samples
however, the reservoir liberated gas tion pressure. In the case of the
The problem of drawdown in a higher volatility reservoirs, these ef-
is not obtainable and separator or
saturated reservoir cannot be avoided; fects can be very pronounced and
casing gas is utilized to increase the
therefore, the purpose of well-condi- result in pronounced errors in all
saturation pressure by the desired
tioning is to reduce this differential calculations utilizing the fluid data.
amount. The exact effect of this pro-
in pressure by restricting the flow
cedure varies; however, the greater
rate. Such reduction would result in
the difference in composition, the Undersaturated Reservoirs
the dashed curve shown in Fig. 1
more serious becomes the error in
with the resultant flowing pressure of In direct contrast to the saturated
the ultimate analysis. The alternate
PP2 at the wellbore. Since the re-
procedure is to analyze the sample as case, the undersaturated reservoir
duced rate period is short, 24 to 72 contains fluid in which the satura-
it is obtained and later extrapolate
hours, the pressure distribution curve tion pressure is less than the prevail-
the data using one of several avail-
is shown to be distorted and the ing reservoir pressure. In general, it
able techniques which employ either
drainage area affected over only a would seem that sampling of this
graphical or mathematical means.
portion of its radius. This illustrates type reservoir should be relatively
that the purpose of rate reduction is Surface Samples simple. It is indeed true that the
not to change the established satura- The inherent weakness of sep- problems are less; however, this is
tion distribution over the entire drain- arator samples is apparent from ex- only the case when the flowing pres-
age area, but to cause the oil entering amination of Fig. 3 and the obvious sure at the wellbore is greater than
the wellbore to have a saturation fact that recombination of the the saturation pressure. If this situa-
pressure of P F2 rather than the pre- samples in the produced gas-oil ratio tion exists, the fluid entering the
vious PP1' This desired change occurs will not yield a fluid with the de- wellbore is identical to thilt existing
quite rapidly since only a small area sired saturation pressure. During the at the drainage radius and little diffi-
is involved. The subsurface sample early stage of reservoir depletion, culty would exist beyond mechanical
could not be collected during the the produced gas-oil ratio is less than malfunctions in subsurface sampling
flowing period, of course, since two the original solution ratio and the or the ever-present difficulty of accu-
phases (oil and gas) would be enter- recombined mixture would exhibit a rate producing ratio measurements
ing the wellbore and no means would saturation pressure less than the reser- in the use of surface separator
be available to control the relative voir pressure. During the latter stage, samples.
amounts of each phase obtained. The the converse would be true and the Of considerably more concern is
next step is then to shut in the well saturation pressure would be greater the condition illustrated in Fig. 2,
and allow the pressure to build up than the reservoir pressure. The first where the flowing pressure at the
for 24 to 72 hours. During this instance could be very misleading wellbore is less than the saturation
period of increasing pressure, oil with and, conceivably, result in serious pressure of the fluid. The problem is
a saturation pressure of PP2 is flowing errors in early engineering calcula- identical to that encountered in the
through gas-saturated pores under an tions since the erroneous conclusion saturated reservoir although the area
excess of pressure. The resultant would be reached that a gas-cap was
containing free gas is less extensive
effect, of course, is to force gas into not present. The second situation
solution in the oil, thus raising the would be readily apparent since the and is dependent, in size, upon the
saturation pressure. In some instances, existence of a saturation pressure amount of difference between the
the desired value of P R is obtained; greater than the confining reservoir saturation and flowing pressures. The
however, in most cases this value is pressure is not possible. Quite often
only approached and the final differ- the presence of a gas-cap is known
ence is apparently dependent upon prior to sampling and the separator
well-productivity, production rate, products are recombined to yield a
and fluid properties. In virtually all fluid with a desired saturation pres-
instances the samples obtained will sure, usually the pressure existing
be acceptable and a surprising amount at the gas-oil contact. While this pro-
of drawdown can be overcome in cedure avoids the difficulty discussed
this manner. In the subsequent analy- above, it is in itself a compromise
sis, the saturation pressure determined since the gas being added to increase
would be slightly lower than the the saturation pressure is totally dif-
prevailing reservoir pressure and this ferent in composition than that which Fig. 2-Saturation and pressure dis-
situation must, of course, be cor- was liberated in the reservoir. During tribution during production of an
undersaturated reservoir showing
rected prior to application of the the decreased gas-oil ratio interval, equilibrium gas saturation adjacent
data. this procedure would result in a lab- to the wellbore.

16 JOUItNAL OF l'ETItOLEUM TECHNOLOGY

superimposed pressure distribution Surface Samples
L r----.. The pumping well offers several
curve is shown to be smooth; how-
ever, in all probability it would be
/ \ problems in collection of separator
II
distorted as a result of the reduced samples. The pulsating production
liquid permeability adjacent to the rate, gas locking, and frequent low
well bore due to the presence of the I productivity contribute to making
free gas. The problems resulting in I producing ratio determination diffi-
the case of a low productivity under- I cult at best in many cases. It is nec-
saturated reservoir are very difficult essary that gas be metered from both
to handle and discussion is, therefore, / the separator and casing if the well is
restricted to this case. II not completed with a packer, and
sufficiently long tests must be made
Subsurface Samples /
/ to arrive at answers which are statis-
The method of preparing the un- tically reliable. If a constant pres-
V
dersaturated reservoir for sampling ,./
sure can be maintained at the sep-
is identical in intent to that employed arator, the actual collection of
in the saturated reservoir. The rate samples is no more difficult than in
is reduced to yield a flowing pres- the flowing well. The process of re-
sure of PP2 as illustrated in Fig. 2. CUMULATIVE PRODUCTION
combination is quite difficult, how-
In this case, however, it is necessary Fig. 3-General producing gas·oil ever, if gas has been produced from
to maintain this reduced rate until ratio behavior of a saturated reservoir
produced by depression depletion. both the separator and casing since
the amount of produced fluid has considerable difference may exist in
been sufficient to reabsorb the excess the composition of the two produced
gas which has accumulated. The iIIus- of error would be less, however, and
gases. Addition of proportionate
trated case would result in this de- become of lesser concern as the area
amounts of both gases appears to be
sired effect since PP2 is greater than of free gas saturation reached the
the only feasible approach; however,
the saturation pressure and the over- critical value since all additional fluid
would then be transmitted to the the reliability of this procedure is
pressure furnishes the driving force subject to serious question.
necessary to reabsorb the gas. This well bore, regardless of whether it
corrective effect can be detected in was oil or gas. The area of free gas
saturation would continually increase, General Subsurface
the form of an increased producing Sampling Procedures
ratio for a period followed by a de- however, and the reservoir would
crease until the produced ratio again behave as in the saturated case once Once the well has been properly
reaches the previously observed value. the pressure at the drainage boundary prepared for sampling, the remaining
If such is noted, the rate should again declined to the saturation pressure requirement is to successfully collect
be reduced and the reduction con- of the fluid. samples of the fluid present at the
tinued until changes in ratio are no Pumping Wells desired sampling point. Properly de-
longer observed. In the illustrated signed equipment and experience are
case, only one reduction would be of primary importance in this pro-
The previous discussions for both
required; however, the first reduction cedure; however, several techniques
saturated and undersaturated reser-
might, in practice, not be sufficient must also be employed to insure that
voirs presumed that the producing
to raise the flowing pressure above representative material is collected
well was capable of flowing. In the
the saturation pressure. Following and ultimately received in the analyz-
event that the well is producing by
the reduced rate, the well is shut in ing laboratory.
pumping, the same considerations of
for a period of 24 hours and sampled
well-conditioning should be applied. Pressure Traverse
in the conventional manner.
The actual sampling procedures dif- A static pressure traverse should
Should the above procedure not be fer, however, and special techniques be made to determine that water is
followed, during the shut-in period are required. not standing at the base of the
the fluid entering the wellbore would
Subsurface Samples wellbore.
absorb the free gas in some inde-
terminate amount. The resulting sat- After the conditioning period, the Sample Collection
uration pressure could be greater well should be shut in and the pump Two samples should be collected
than the value of the reservoir fluid removed. This removal is usually fol- at the desired depth and the opening
lowed by a back-flow in the tubing pressure and saturation pressure of
itself, resulting in an erroneous con-
string, resulting in fluid which had each should be determined in the
clusion as to the degree of under-
previously been some distance up the sampler immediately upon removal
saturation and serious errors in sub-
well bore falling to the desired point from the wellhead lubricator. An
sequent application of the data. example of this field procedure is
of sampling opposite the perfora-
Surface Samples tions. This condition can usually be shown in Fig. 4. These data are ob-
The problem existing in surface overcome by swabbing one to two tained by injecting successive amounts
tubing volumes of fluid at a low rate. of mercury into the sampler and ob-
sampling of low productivity under-
serving the pressure after each addi-
saturated reservoirs is quite similar The well should then be left shut in
tion. In most cases, the sampler will
to that discussed for the saturated overnight and approximately 20 per contain a two-phase mixture (due to
case. Collection of samples during cent of the standing fluid removed cooling) and the point of change in
the first stage of depletion would by again swabbing at a low rate. An slope of the illustrated curves is a
result, upon recombination, in de- additional overnight shut-in period direct measure of the saturation pres-
termination of a saturation pressure should normally prepare the well for sure at surface temperatures. Both
less than the actual value. The degree sampling. samples should indicate identical

17
 fer container and the saturation pres- actually measured, a productivity in-
sure at atmospheric temperature dex measurement will serve to esti-
should be determined. This pro- mate the flowing pressure prior to
I
cedure will insure that the material shut in. The saturation pressure of
II lL to be analyzed has not been altered the analyzed sample should be com-
during transfer and transport. pared to these flowing pressures to
I I ascertain which of the previously dis-
,II General Surface
Sampling Procedures
cussed conditions existed during the
pre-sampling period.
I I Production Rates
SATURATION PRESSURE-
2560 PSIG @) 79- F. The general process of producing
I-OPEN-ING PRESSU~E~ '- 7 / ratio determination and sampling has The rates under which the well is
normally produced as well as those
I~ u been practiced for a considerable
which existed during conditioning
time. Technique is of utmost import-
1/ ance, however, and every effort should be known. These will permit
1,~~~~R:~:g~:4E.S~URE-
should be made to examine critically estimation, through the use of the
the information obtained prior to productivity index, of the normal
performance of laboratory studies. drawdown and serve to determine if
,INJECTED MERCURY VOLUME
The producing ratio history is of the conditioning period has been suf-
Fig. 4-Field determination in sam- ficient in length to overcome a long
pler of saturation pressure at surface
primary importance and differences
temperature. between present and past ratios should established pressure and saturation
be resolved. distribution.
saturation pressures, within the per- Producing Ratios
missible range attributable to tem- Evaluation of Results The original producing ratio is of
perature variation. This field determ- importance in resolving the question
Before laboratory data are applied,
ination is the only means of assuring
the sampling procedures and the data of whether the sample is representa-
that the sampling equipment has per-
formed as required and failure to obtained should be evaluated in the tive of original conditions or a par-
make this check could result in light of available information. Sev- tially depleted system. The ratios
serious errors if a non-representative eral points of concern in subsequent existing during normal production
sample were later analyzed. application can be avoided if suffi- and during conditioning are very
cient data are available to adequately helpful in determining the effective-
Sample Transfer
evaluate the results. ness of the conditioning period. Since
The collected material should be
tests are usually performed during
transferred into suitable containers Reservoir Pressures
under a pressure considerably greater analysis of the fluid to determine the
Original and present reservoir pres-
than the determined saturation pres- gas-oil ratio of the sample, these field
sures should be available to de-
sure. Should small amounts be lost ratios can also be used in evaluation
during the transfer or subsequent
termine if the sample is representa-
tive of the original fluid or of a par-
of the sample itself. ***
handling, the fluid remaining will not
be altered since the fluid removed tially depleted system.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A PICTURE AND
would be a single-phase material. Flowing Pressures BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF FRANK O.
Laboratory Handling The pressures \vhich existed at the REUDELHUBER WERE PUBLISHED IN
Upon arrival in the analyzing well bore during the period of well- THE JAN., 1957, ISSUE OF JOURNAL OF
laboratory, the pressure in the trans- conditioning should be known. If not PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY.

18 JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY