Determining hydrocarbon gas maturity

Abstract

A measured wetness of and a .sup.13C associated with a gas sample from a hydrocarbon formation is received wherein the wetness is a percentage of C2+ by mass. Calculated wetnesses of and .sup.13C values associated with a plurality of gas samples taken from one or more analogous hydrocarbon reservoirs is received. Each wetness is calculated as a percentage of mass within the gas sample. The measured wetness received for the gas sample from among the calculated wetnesses is identified. A .sup.13C is determined from among the .sup.13C values that corresponds to the measured wetness of the gas sample. A gas maturity for the gas sample is determined using the determined .sup.13C.

Claims

1. A method comprising: receiving a measured wetness of and a measured .sup.13C value associated with a test gas sample from a hydrocarbon formation, wherein the measured wetness is a percentage of C.sub.2+ by mass; receiving a plurality of calculated wetnesses of and a plurality of calculated .sup.13C values associated with a plurality of gas samples taken from one or more analogous hydrocarbon reservoirs that are analogous to the hydrocarbon formation, each of the plurality of calculated wetnesses being a percentage of C.sub.2+ by mass; identifying, from among the plurality of calculated wetnesses, the measured wetness received for the test gas sample; determining a corresponding .sup.13C value from among the plurality of calculated .sup.13C values that corresponds to the measured wetness of the test gas sample; determining a predicted sample VR.sub.o (vitrinite reflectance) for the test gas sample based on the corresponding .sup.13C value and a correlation of .sup.13C values to VR.sub.o values, the VR.sub.o values correlating with gas maturity; and producing hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon formation based on gas maturity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the measured wetness of the test gas sample by a gas chromatograph.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the corresponding .sup.13C value from among the plurality of calculated .sup.13C values comprises: determining an equation to best fit the plurality of calculated .sup.13C values and the plurality of calculated wetnesses, the equation being used to create a reference line; plotting the reference line on a plot with a Y-axis representative of a range of the plurality of calculated .sup.13C values and an X-axis representative of a range of the plurality of calculated wetnesses, the measured wetness being identified on the plot; and identifying a .sup.13C value corresponding to the measured wetness from the reference line.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the equation is:
.sup.13C(C.sub.1)=0.62W33.6 where .sup.13C (C.sub.1) corresponds to values of .sup.13C of methane in the plurality of gas samples, and W corresponds to the plurality of calculated wetnesses of the plurality of gas samples.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the equation is:
.sup.13C(C.sub.2)=0.53W24.8 where .sup.13C (C.sub.2) corresponds to values of .sup.13C of ethane in the plurality of gas samples, and W corresponds to the plurality of calculated wetnesses of the plurality of gas samples.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the equation is:
.sup.13C(C.sub.3)=0.63W20.3 where .sup.13C (C.sub.3) corresponds to values of .sup.13C of propane in the plurality of gas samples, and W corresponds to the plurality of calculated wetnesses of the plurality of gas samples.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining that the measured wetness is within a specified range of values, the specified range of values indicative of an isotopic reversal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the specified range of values for the measured wetness is between 0% and 15%.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the correlation of .sup.13C values to VR.sub.o values used for determining the predicted sample VR.sub.o for the test gas sample comprises the following equation:
.sup.13C(C.sub.1)=15.4 Log.sub.10VR.sub.o41.3 wherein .sup.13C (C.sub.1) is .sup.13C of methane.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the test gas sample comprises methane and ethane, methane within the test gas sample has a predicted methane sample VR.sub.o and ethane within the test gas sample has a predicted ethane sample VR.sub.o, and the method further comprises comparing the predicted methane sample VR.sub.o and the predicted ethane sample VR.sub.o.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a difference between the predicted methane sample VR.sub.o and the predicted ethane sample VR.sub.o is below a specified threshold, the method further comprising: ignoring the predicted ethane sample VR.sub.o; and determining the predicted sample VR.sub.o based on the predicted methane sample VR.sub.o.

12. A method comprising: receiving a test gas sample from a wellbore within a test hydrocarbon formation; determining a measured wetness of the test gas sample; determining a measured .sup.13C value associated with the test gas sample; receiving a plurality of calculated .sup.13C values from a plurality of gas samples with a corresponding plurality of calculated wetnesses of the plurality of gas samples, wherein the plurality of gas samples are taken from one or more analogous hydrocarbon formations that are analogous to the test hydrocarbon formation; identifying, from the plurality of calculated wetnesses, the measured wetness of the test gas sample; determining a corresponding .sup.13C value from among the plurality of calculated .sup.13C values that corresponds to the measured wetness of the test gas sample; adjusting the measured .sup.13C value to equal the corresponding .sup.13C value to provide an adjusted .sup.13C value; determining a predicted sample VR.sub.o (vitrinite reflectance) for the test gas sample based on the adjusted .sup.13C value and a correlation of .sup.13C values to VR.sub.o values, the VR.sub.o values correlating with gas maturity; and producing hydrocarbons from the test hydrocarbon formation based on gas maturity.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the corresponding .sup.13C value from among the plurality of calculated .sup.13C values comprises determining a best-fit equation from the plurality of calculated .sup.13C values and the plurality of calculated wetnesses, the best-fit equation being used to create a reference line.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the best-fit equation is:
.sup.13C(C.sub.1)=0.62W33.6 where .sup.13C (C.sub.1) corresponds to values of .sup.13C of methane in the plurality of gas samples, and W corresponds to the plurality of calculated wetnesses of the plurality of gas samples.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the best-fit equation is:
.sup.13C(C.sub.2)=0.53W24.8 where .sup.13C (C.sub.2) corresponds to values of .sup.13C of ethane in the plurality of gas samples, and W corresponds to the plurality of calculated wetnesses of the plurality of gas samples.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the correlation of .sup.13C values to VR.sub.o values used for determining the predicted sample VR.sub.o for the test gas sample comprises the following equation:
.sup.13C(C.sub.2)=22.6 Log.sub.10VR.sub.o32.2 wherein .sup.13C (C.sub.2) is .sup.13C of ethane.

17. A method comprising: receiving a dataset comprising calculated wetnesses of and calculated .sup.13C values associated with hydrocarbon gasses; determining a reference line from the dataset; plotting the reference line on a plot; plotting a sample wetness of and a sample .sup.13C value associated with a received gas sample received from a hydrocarbon formation on the plot with the reference line to produce a plotted point; increasing a .sup.13C value of the plotted point to provide an adjusted plotted point so that a .sup.13C value of the adjusted plotted point matches the reference line; determining an adjusted .sup.13C value from the adjusted plotted point, wherein the adjusted .sup.13C value is the .sup.13C value of the adjusted plotted point; determining a predicted sample VR.sub.o (vitrinite reflectance) for the received gas sample based on the adjusted .sup.13C value and a correlation of .sup.13C values to VR.sub.o values, the VR.sub.o values correlating with gas maturity; and producing hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon formation based on gas maturity.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining that a difference between the sample wetness and the reference line exceeds a specified threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the threshold is greater than or equal to a 10% difference.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the correlation of .sup.13C values to VR.sub.o values used for determining the predicted sample VR.sub.o for the received gas sample comprises the following equation:
.sup.13C(C.sub.3)=20.9 Log.sub.10VR.sub.o29.7 wherein .sup.13C (C.sub.3) is .sup.13C of propane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an example method that can be used with aspects of this disclosure.

(2) FIGS. 2A-2C are example plots that can be used with aspects of this disclosure.

(3) Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) In some instances, carbon isotope ratios in light gas compounds from unconventional shale gas do not change linearly. Instead, the linear trend reverses as maturity increases in certain instances. The phenomena can occur in unconventional tight shale, sandstone, and in conventional gas fields when maturity is high or over mature. In the context of this disclosure, high maturity can be at least R.sub.0=2.0% for example. In an unconventional reservoir, when R.sub.0>2.0%, an isotope reversal can occur. Over mature gas, in the context of this disclosure, R.sub.0>3%. However, this range can extend between 2.5% to 3.5% depending on the reservoir. When isotopic reversal occurs, the Faber equations are no longer applicable; maturity cannot be calculated by using isotopes from these gases and the Faber equations directly.

(5) This disclosure relates to correcting reversed carbon isotopes of gases, and then applying the corrected isotope values to the Faber equations to calculate gas maturity using a corrected isotope ratio. To do so, a relationship between wetness and carbon isotopes is established. As maturity increases, wetness of natural gas decreases. As a result, wetness can be used as an indicator for maturity. As wetness decreases, carbon isotope ratios generally increase based on data from conventional and unconventional gas fields. When in the region of high wetness (For example, wetness>15%) and low maturity, carbon isotopes of methane (C1), ethane (C2), and propane (C3) increase linearly as wetness decreases. As wetness continuously decreases, C-isotopes of C1, C2, and C3 generally increase, but isotope reversal occurs particularly when wetness is <7%. That is, rather than C-isotope ratios increasing, C-isotope ratios drop or reverse the increasing trend around the aforementioned wetness. If the reversed isotopes were applied to the Faber equations, the resulting maturity would be calculated much lower, and the gas maturity would be severely under estimated.

(6) FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an example method 100 that can be used with aspects of this disclosure. At 102, a dataset is received. The received dataset includes multiple calculated wetnesses of multiple gas samples and multiple carbon isotope ratios associated with the same multiple gas samples. The gas samples have been taken from one or more analogous hydrocarbon reservoirs. In the context of this disclosure, analogous fields often have the same geologic era and sedimentary rocks, for example all of the rocks are Paleozoic rocks or Mesozoic rocks. Each wetness can be expressed as a percentage that is calculated as a mass percentage of C2+ within the gas sample. The carbon isotope ratio (.sup.13C) is a ratio of carbon-13 isotopes over carbon-12 isotopes.

(7) At 104, a reference line is determined from the dataset. An equation is determined from the dataset of multiple carbon isotope ratios and multiple wetnesses. The equation is used to create a reference line. The reference line is also based on the data falling the low maturity territory where the Faber equations can be applied. In another word, the line is extrapolated from the low maturity territory. Whereas data in the reversed territory are randomly distributed, even they form a line(s)

(8) In one example, for methane, the equation being used to create a reference line is as follows:
.sup.13C(C1)=0.62W33.6(EQ. 1)
where .sup.13C.sub.(C1) is an isotope ratio of carbon 13 over carbon 12 of methane in the gas sample, and W is a wetness expressed as a percentage.

(9) In one example, for ethane, the equation being used to create a reference line is as follows:
.sup.13C(C2)=0.53W24.8(EQ. 2)
where .sup.13C.sub.(C2) is an isotope ratio of carbon 13 over carbon 12 of ethane in the gas sample, and W is a wetness expressed as percentage.

(10) In one example, for propane, the equation being used to create a reference line is as follows:
.sup.13C(C3)=0.63W20.3(EQ. 3)
where .sup.13C.sub.(C3) is an isotope ratio of carbon 13 over carbon 12 of propane in the gas sample, and W is a wetness expressed as percentage.

(11) At 106, the reference line is plotted on a plot with carbon isotope ratio on a Y-axis and wetness on an X-axis. Examples of such plotted reference lines can be seen in FIGS. 2A-2C. FIG. 2A is an example plot with a reference line for methane gas. The plot includes various data points from analogous reservoirs. A first methane isotopic reversal 206A occurs near a wetness of substantially 5%. A second methane isotopic reversal 208A occurs near a wetness of substantially 15%. A methane reference line 210A is formed through the data. In some implementations, the methane reference line can match up with EQ. 1.

(12) FIG. 2B is an example plot with a reference line for ethane gas. The plot includes various data points from analogous reservoirs. A first ethane isotopic reversal 206B occurs near a wetness of substantially 5%. A second ethane isotopic reversal 208B occurs near a wetness of substantially 15%. An ethane reference line 210B is formed through the data. In some implementations, the ethane reference line can match up with EQ. 2.

(13) FIG. 2C is an example plot with a reference line for propane gas. The plot includes various data points from analogous reservoirs. A first propane isotopic reversal 206C occurs near a wetness of substantially 5%. A second propane isotopic reversal 208C occurs near a wetness of substantially 15%. A propane reference line 210C is formed through the data. In some implementations, the ethane reference line can match up with EQ. 3.

(14) A gas sample is received from either an exploration well or a production well. The wetness of the gas sample and the carbon isotope ratio of the gas sample are determined with a gas chromatograph and isotope ratio mass spectrometer, respectively. As with the dataset, the wetness can be expressed as a mass percentage of C2+ within the sample (Note: wetness is calculated by this equationwetness %=100C2+/C1+sum of C2, C3, C4 . . . over sum of C1, C2, C3 . . . ), while the carbon isotope ratio is a ratio of carbon-13 over carbon-12 expressed as .sup.13C of one gas compound, e.g., .sup.13C1, .sup.13C2, .sup.13C3 . . . within a gas sample. At 108 (FIG. 1), a sample wetness and a sample carbon isotope ratio, both determined from the received gas sample, are plotted on a plot with the reference line to produce a plotted point. For example, the sample wetness and sample carbon isotope ranges can be plotted on the plots illustrated in FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, or a combination of the plots. The wetness and carbon isotope ratios can be determined for multiple alkanes (methane, ethane, propane, etc.) with a single gas sample obtained from a wellbore.

(15) As shown in FIG. 2A, the sample point 212A can be plotted on the plot based on the wetness and carbon isotope ratio determined from the gas sample. In other words, the measured wetness received for the gas sample is identified and corresponds to a wetness from among the multiple wetness in the dataset.

(16) At 110, the plotted point 212A is raised along the Y-Axis to match the reference line to produce the adjusted point 214A. In other words, a wetness that matches that of the sample, from the multiple wetnesses within the dataset, is determined; then, a corresponding isotope ratio from the reference line is determined. That is, a carbon isotope ratio corresponding to the adjusted point 214A, from among the multiple carbon isotope ratios found within the dataset, is determined.

(17) In some instances, the previously described adjustment is done after determining that the wetness is smaller than a specified threshold. For example, the specified threshold can be less than or equal to 15%. In some instances, the specified threshold can be less than or equal to 10%. When wetness gets small, gas gets drier and isotopes start to be reversed. The thresholds described are based on statistic data of unconventional gases collected from different fields as shown including those FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C. If the adjustment is made, then at 112, an adjusted carbon isotope ratio is determined in response to determining that the wetness is less than the specified threshold. In other words, the carbon isotope ratio determined to be associated with the test gas sample is adjusted to equal the carbon isotope ratio determined from among the multiple carbon isotope ratios of the dataset.

(18) At 114, a gas maturity of the gas sample is determined based on the adjusted carbon isotope ratio. The maturity can be determined for individual alkanes, such as methane, ethane, and propane using linear equations similar to the Faber equations (EQ. 4-6). For example, a gas maturity of methane for the received gas sample can be determined with the following equation:
.sup.13C(C.sub.1)=15.4 Log.sub.10VR.sub.o41.3(EQ. 4)
wherein .sup.13 (C.sub.1) is a .sup.13C of methane in the plurality of gas samples expressed in parts per thousand, and VR.sub.o (vitrinite reflectance) correlates to a predicted VR.sub.o of the gas sample. In another example, a gas maturity of ethane for the received gas sample can be determined with the following equation:
.sup.13C(C.sub.2)=22.6 Log.sub.10VR.sub.o32.2(EQ. 5)
wherein .sup.13C (C.sub.2) is a .sup.13C of ethane in the plurality of gas samples expressed in parts per thousand, and VR.sub.o correlates to a predicted VR.sub.o of the gas sample. In another example, a gas maturity of propane for the received gas sample can be determined with the following equation:
.sup.13C(C.sub.3)=20.9 Log.sub.10VR.sub.o29.7(EQ. 6)
wherein .sup.13C (C.sub.3) is a .sup.13C of propane in the plurality of gas samples expressed in parts per thousand, and VR.sub.o correlates to a predicted VR.sub.o of the gas sample.

(19) As previously described, methane can have a gas maturity, ethane can have a gas maturity, and propane can have a gas maturity. A maturity for all three gases can be determined from a single gas sample obtained from a well. In some instances, comparing a determined gas maturity of methane, a determined gas maturity of ethane, and a determined maturity of propane can be helpful for verifying results. However, in some instances, the difference between the determined gas maturities of the various alkanes is above a specified threshold. For example, the difference between .sup.13C (C1) and .sup.13C (C2) or .sup.13C (C3) could be up to 0.5% or more. In such an instance, when calculating the maturity in the isotopic reversal range, the methane maturity is the most reliable, and the determined maturity of the other alkanes (ethane and propane) can be ignored when determining a maturity of the gas sample. That is, a gas maturity of the entire gas sample is determined based on the determined maturity of methane.

(20) While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

(21) Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the implementations previously described should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products.

(22) Thus, particular implementations of the subject matter have been described. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. For example, EQ. 1-3 may be universally applicable. In such an instance, when a gas has reversed isotopes and wetness less than 15%, particularly less than 10%, then no need to plot data and develop equations. These equations may be programmed and plotted with grids. In such an instance a sample isotope value plotted on the figure; then the value point can be vertically moved to the line and obtained a corrected value which can be then applied to the Faber equations.