US 12,168,929 B2
Quantifying zonal flow in multi-lateral wells via taggants of fluids
Bora Yoon, Watertown, MA (US); Hooisweng Ow, Woburn, MA (US); Sehoon Chang, Boston, MA (US); Wei Wang, Quincy, MA (US); and Rena Shi, Cambridge, MA (US)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/182,235.
Prior Publication US 2024/0301790 A1, Sep. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 49/08 (2006.01); C09K 8/60 (2006.01); E21B 41/00 (2006.01); C09K 103/00 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 49/08 (2013.01) [C09K 8/60 (2013.01); E21B 41/0035 (2013.01); C09K 2103/00 (2013.01); C09K 2211/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of quantifying zonal flow in a multi-lateral well, comprising:
flowing first produced fluid comprising hydrocarbon from a subterranean formation via a first lateral in a wellbore of the multi-lateral well through a first valve into production tubing in the wellbore;
flowing second produced fluid comprising hydrocarbon from the subterranean formation via a second lateral in the wellbore through a second valve into the production tubing;
providing a first taggant through a first dosing tubing to the first produced fluid in the first lateral;
providing a second taggant through a second dosing tubing to the second produced fluid in the second lateral, wherein the first taggant and the second taggant are oil soluble;
flowing a produced stream comprising the first produced fluid and the second produced fluid uphole through the production tubing and discharging the produced stream from the wellbore;
shutting off the first taggant and the second taggant provided to the first produced fluid and the second produced fluid, respectively, resulting in respective transients in concentrations of the first taggant and the second taggant flowed with the produced stream;
analyzing the produced stream to measure an amount of the first taggant in the produced stream and an amount of the second taggant in the produced stream; and
analyzing the respective transients in concentrations of the first taggant and the second taggant to determine influx rate of the first produced fluid and the second produced fluid from the first lateral and the second lateral, respectively.