Inverted bucket centrifugation with fluorinated oils and its applications to T₂ cut-offs

¹ Shell Global Solutions International B.V., Shell Technology Centre Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
² Shell International Exploration and Production Inc., Shell Technology Center Houston, Houston, TX, USA
³ Shell Exploration & Production Company, Shell Woodcreek, Houston, TX, USA

^* Corresponding author: benjamin.anger@shell.com

Abstract

Hydrocarbon reservoirs with a large column height as well as tight gas rocks require a large range of capillary pressures to describe the saturation of fluids present in these formations. While mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) can achieve high equivalent capillary pressures, the tests are destructive to the core plugs. Centrifuge techniques have gained in popularity since they are faster than the porous plate technique, but they are limited in the achievable pressure range. Here, we propose the use of fluorinated oils to extend the achievable capillary pressure of the air-brine centrifuge technique by a factor of two. We use Fluorinert FC-70 in an inverted bucket configuration which doubles the radius of rotation and keeps the density contrast comparable to an air-brine system. Furthermore, we show the application to NMR T₂ cut-off determination as a function of capillary pressure. Since Fluorinert does not contain any hydrogen, there is no signal overlapping with the brine in the core plugs. Furthermore, in the inverted bucket configuration, the outlet face of the plug is not in contact with a drainage surface so that the Hassler-Brunner boundary condition of Pc = 0 is satisfied. Additionally, the method allows the storage under a liquid Fluorinert phase, which prevents evaporation and significantly extends the available time for NMR measurements at low water saturations.