Formation Damage Evaluation System

Formation Damage Evaluation System FDES-650

Description:

The filtration unit is designed for determining the filtration, capacitive, and electrical properties of core samples during single and two-phase steady-state and non-steady-state filtration under reservoir conditions. The equipment is used to determine the coefficients of displacement of oil by water/gas for evaluating the effectiveness of physicochemical methods for increasing oil recovery and determining the relative phase permeabilities in "liquid-liquid" and "liquid-gas" systems. Liquid phases are introduced and recirculated through the core sample at various constant flow rates, while gas phases are introduced either at a constant pressure or with a constant flow rate using mass flow regulators. Saturation is calculated from the measurements of the volume produced in the video separator.

The equipment set includes:

• Flow control system (upstream flow)
• Core holder
• Gas meter
• Closed space pressure control system
• Differential pressure collector
• Liquid separation system (automatic video separator)
• Thermobaric chamber
• Backpressure control system
• Automated data collection

These subsystems are integrated into a single testing system. Each of these subsystems is described in detail below:

Flow Control System (Upstream)

The flow control system is designed to supply a wide range of liquids (gas, oil, brine, polymers, solvents, surfactants, etc.) at a desired constant pressure or flow rate. For liquids, the flow rate or pressure is controlled by a two-piston syringe pump (VPA). VPA can operate either in constant pressure mode or constant flow rate mode, depending on the testing requirements. VPA delivers the liquid to the inlet side of one of the four piston accumulators in the system. These piston accumulators are constructed from wetted parts made of Hastelloy C alloy, so they can be filled with almost any liquid that needs to be delivered to the active zone. VPA in combination with piston accumulators can be used to deliver multiple fluids separately to the core in a single test. This allows for permeability measurements, as well as relative permeability measurements in both stationary and non-stationary states. The four accumulators of the flow control system upstream are installed in an air bath.

Accumulators

• Quantity: 4
• Capacity: 500 cc
• Pressure: 10,000 psi
• Wetted materials: Hastelloy C
• Sealing material: Viton
• Maximum temperature: 250°C

VPA - double piston syringe pump
• Quantity: 1
• Pressure: 10,000 psi
• Wetted materials: Stainless Steel
• Maximum flow rate: 100 cc/min
• Minimum flow rate: 0.0001 cc/min

Pump operation modes:
• Constant pressure mode
• Constant flow rate mode
• • External feedback control mode

Core Holder

The system includes one core holder installed on a rotating frame so that the core holder can be oriented in both horizontal and vertical positions. The core holder is a hydrostatic type holder. The core sample is located in a Viton shell. Confining pressure is applied to the outer diameter of the rubber sleeve, providing uniform radial stress on the core sample inside the sleeve. The core holder holds one core sample with a diameter of 1.5 inches and a length of up to 6 inches.

Hydrostatic Core Holder • Quantity: 1 • Maximum confining pressure: 10,000 psi • Maximum pore pressure: 10,000 psi • Core diameter: 1.5” • Maximum core length: 6” • Sealing material: Viton • Maximum temperature: 150°C • • Material of parts in contact with pore fluid: Hastelloy C

Confining pressure control system

This system provides the ability to fill, pressurize, and drain the core holder with insulating fluid. A large-scale pressure gauge constantly provides the operator with a visual indication of the confining pressure in the system. Pressure sensors allow the data acquisition system to monitor the confining pressure. Pressure is generated using a high-pressure pneumatic pump. The triaxial cell is protected from overpressure by a rupture membrane.

• Maximum confining pressure: 10,000 psi
• Wetted materials: Stainless steel

Differential pressure manifold:

The differential pressure manifold includes two absolute pressure sensors connected to the inlet and outlet on the core holder. The pressure differential in the active zone can be calculated by taking the difference between these two absolute pressure sensors. The system also includes one delta-P transducer for higher accuracy at lower delta-P values. This transducer has a range of 0-200 pounds per square inch (psi) at a nominal static pressure of 10,000 psi. The diaphragm of the differential pressure transducer is limited to a delta-overpressure of 2000 psi, and automatic valves in the system will activate to protect the transducer if the pressure differential begins to reach this value. The differential pressure manifold also includes a bleed line that will allow sensors to be connected to a common line for "zeroing" the sensors. The shut-off valve is a pneumatic zero-volume valve, which can be remotely controlled from the test control monitor. The zero-volume valve's characteristic allows it to open or close without disrupting the ambient pressure around the active zone.

High-accuracy absolute pressure transducers:
• Pressure range: 10,000 psi
• Accuracy: 0.05% FS
• Pressure differential sensors
• Maximum static pressure: 10,000 psi
• Pressure range: 0-200 psi
• Accuracy: 0.1% FS

Fluid separation system (video separator):

Wastewater will be collected using a fraction collector at the outlet of the back pressure regulator. The fraction collector allows for fluid samples to be collected at pre-programmed time intervals, allowing for precise measurement of the volume of oil, gas, and water extracted in each interval. The fraction collector will be equipped with digital scales for continuous monitoring of the weight of the extracted fluids.

Technical specifications:
• Maximum flow rate: 100 ml/min
• Maximum number of samples: 80
• Maximum sample volume: 10 ml*

Thermobaric oven:
The flow control subsystem batteries, core holders, BPR, and flow control valves are mounted inside a laboratory convection oven. The oven is equipped with a digital temperature controller. The oven maintains the internal components at simulated reservoir temperatures so that core flooding experiments are conducted under reservoir conditions. The components are installed and positioned in the oven for maximum operator convenience in filling and cleaning batteries, installing and removing core samples, etc. There is a viewing window in the oven door. The oven provides inputs for plumbing, wiring, and instrumentation for the system.

Technical specification:
• Maximum temperature: 180° C
• Internal materials: Stainless steel

Back Pressure Regulator (BPR):

The back pressure in the system is controlled by a dome-loaded back pressure regulator with parts made of Hastelloy C alloy in contact with the medium. The dome-loaded regulator has relatively large orifices, making it highly insensitive to small particles formed during flow through the core. The back pressure in the system is set by the pressure supplied to the dome of the back pressure regulator. This pressure is provided by an N2 cylinder (provided by the customer) through the supplied regulator. A high-pressure air pump above the hydraulic pump provides an increase in control pressure up to 10,000 pounds per square inch.

Dome-loaded back pressure regulator:
• Maximum pressure: 10,000 psi
• Wetted materials: Hastelloy C

Automated data collection and testing control system:

The automated data collection system is a PC-based system that tracks, records, and displays data from each sensor in the system. The operator's user-friendly interface allows the operator to specify the data collection period, data file name and location, and other relevant parameters. Data from each transducer can be monitored digitally in real-time. Data as a function of time can be displayed in a tabular or graphical format. The operator can select parameters for display at any time.

The testing system data obtained by the data collection system includes:
• Restrictive pressure
• Phase flow rate, outlet pressure, and total transfer volume
• Inlet pressure
• Outlet pressure
• Differential pressure
• Temperatures - furnace, liquid inlet, liquid outlet
• A series of calculated values is also displayed to the operator in real-time.
• Differential pressure (difference between sensors upstream and downstream)
• Instantaneous fluid permeability

In addition to automatic data collection, the system PC provides an operator interface for setting important test parameters. This includes configuring the valve configuration to determine the flow configuration through the rod holders, setting the mode and set value for the injection pump and mass flow controller, and setting the furnace temperature. The operator interface schematically shows the current flow configuration to the operator and indicates pressure and temperature values at points where sensors are installed in the system.
The operator interface includes a function that displays "dead volumes" upstream and downstream of the fluid flow depending on the flow configuration (accumulator selected, direct or reverse flow direction).
The PC is housed in a rack-mountable case with a modern processor (currently supplied systems have a quad-core Intel Core i5-3470 processor with a clock speed of 3.20 GHz) running Windows 10 Professional (64-bit). The monitor is a 22-inch touchscreen LCD display with LED backlighting, providing the operator interface either through the touchscreen or with a mouse. The system's user software for data collection and test control is written in LabVIEW.

Equipment Components:

• Sealing kits for core holders,
• Sealing kits for accumulators,
• Sealing kit for VPA,
• Viton sleeves for core holders.

Confining Pressure:	0 to 10,000 psi
Pore Pressure	Up to 10,000 psi
Core Diameter:	1.5"
Core Length:	1"-6"
Temperature:	Oven
Pressure Control:	VPA Syringe Pumps
Accumulators:	500 ml, 4 pcs
Wetted Parts:	Hastelloy C-276

Constructed according to your specific requirements

Our equipment can be easily tailored to the precise requirements of a specific customer application, owing to the broad range of tests that may be performed using a core flood system. The following is merely a small sampling of the numerous applications for which a our core flood system can be utilized:
- Research into enhanced oil recovery (EOR)
- Studies on acidization
- Assessment of flow distribution in reservoirs with multiple layers
- CO2 sequestration
- Analysis of drilling mud invasion
- Measurements of relative permeability
- Simulation studies
Simple to operate and upkeep

Our company strives to ensure that operating the core flood system is as straightforward and hassle-free as possible. To achieve this, we have incorporated key features into the design, such as:
- A pivoting core holder mount that enables confining lines to stay connected
- An automatic accumulator fill system that allows for easy filling, refilling, heating, and pressurization without disrupting the test environment
- Automatic valves that are integrated into the software to facilitate tests and protect system transducers
- User-friendly schematics in the valve/gauge panels and software that provide a clear visual representation of the plumbing flow path and the locations of the instrumentation.
Industry leading new technology

We continuously strive to exceed the standard expectations of a core flood system by incorporating cutting-edge measurement technologies and features such as:
- Pressure ports and thermocouples embedded along the core sample
- Gas sampling and fluid separators
- Fluid recirculation
- Compatibility with micro CT scanning
- Syringe pump control of unique experimental variables
- Leveraging our expertise and knowledge, we are fully equipped to meet your specific requirements.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to us to discuss how we can provide a system tailored to meet your specific requirements. We would be happy to speak with you and answer any questions you may have.
Core holder

The core holder is responsible for enclosing the core sample and exposing it to simulated reservoir conditions. A variety of core holder options are available in our core flood systems, including:
- Single or dual core holders
- Pivoting mount frame for horizontal or vertical orientation
- Roller-supported mount frame for easy movement and maintenance
- Pivoting mount to transition from inside to outside oven for sample loading
- Radial confining pressure, hydrostatic, or triaxial loading capabilities
- Range of core diameters (1", 1 ½", 2")
- Core lengths of up to 12"
- Multi-tap pressure ports running along the length of the core
- Imbedded sensors located along the length of the core holder sleeve.
Upstream Flow System

Our versatile pump apparatus (VPA) is a family of dual piston syringe pumps specifically designed for core flood applications in the upstream flow system. These pumps use special algorithms that ensure pulse-less flow to drive fluid separator accumulators, making them an ideal solution for precise flow control. We offer a range of features that can be customized to meet specific test requirements, including pressure range and flow rate for the VPA(s), multiple VPAs for simultaneous multi-phase flow, flow path forward or reverse, or in parallel or series through multiple core holders, and options for wetted parts including stainless steel or Hastelloy C 276. Tubing sizes of 1/16", 1/8", or 1/4" are also available. Additionally, our VPA system includes a gas injection system for enhanced functionality.

Heating

Heating options for the core flood system include a variety of features designed to meet specific testing requirements. One option is a custom-designed stainless steel oven that encloses the core holder(s) and fluid separators, allowing core flooding tests to be routinely conducted up to 150°C. With specialized seal materials and component modifications, tests up to 200°C can be achieved. Additionally, other heating options include heating jackets and rod heaters, which can be used to heat components to reservoir temperatures.

Fluid accumulators

Fluid accumulators in a core flood system allow for the controlled flow of multiple fluids through a core sample. Our system features a bank of piston-type accumulators, which can be operated in sequence or simultaneously. Air-operated automatic valves allow for easy selection and filling of the active accumulator(s) without disturbing the temperature environment of the oven. To drive the fluid accumulators, we use one or more VPA pumps, providing pulseless flow to avoid disturbing the core sample. Our fluid separators are designed to handle highly corrosive fluids without putting the VPA at risk. These separators are made with wetted parts of materials such as Hastelloy C 276, titanium, stainless steel, Teflon, and PEEK, and can accommodate volumes ranging from 20 to 2000 ml and pressures up to 20,000 psi.

Confining Pressure Control

The system for controlling the confining pressure manages the pressure around the core sample, as well as the axial pressure applied to it if necessary. Various options are available, including:
- Pressure control up to 20,000 psi
- "Passive" pressure control using isolation valves
- "Active" pressure control using a back pressure regulator or VPA
- Independent axial pressure control
Differential Pressure Measurement Module

Precise differential pressure measurement is crucial for accurate calculations of permeability and other flow parameters. To achieve this, differential pressure must be measured across the length of the core sample and between ports on core holders that have multi-tap pressure ports. Choosing the right differential pressure transducer(s) depends on the differential pressure range and system pressure rating. Our team of engineers can assist in selecting the best transducer(s) for a specific application. We also offers a unique design that uses dual quartz pressure transducers with one part per billion resolution and an air-operated shorting valve to provide highly accurate and stable differential pressure measurement.

Back Pressure Control and Fluid Sampling System

The downstream pore pressure in the system is crucial to accurate flow rate and volume measurements during core flood tests. The back pressure control system provides precise control of this pressure and offers various options to meet specific test requirements, including:
- Using VPA in pressure mode to control back pressure and measure fluid volume
- Dome-loaded back pressure regulator
- Acoustic Separator
- VPA and Acoustic Separator
- Fraction Collector
- Coriolis mass flow meter.
Data Acquisition and Test Control System

Automatic data acquisition is performed by each transducer in the system. A PC-based system is used to collect and store data for specific tests at a user-defined rate. The same software program is also used for test control. An intuitive touch-screen interface allows the operator to set various parameters, such as flow configuration, back pressure control mode, active accumulator, oven temperature, and VPA control mode. Graphical representations of flow configuration and other test parameters are displayed to the operator. Additional screens allow for maintenance purposes, such as individual control of automated valves, and entry of transducer calibration values. This data acquisition and test control software is tailored to each specific test system.

Brand	LabEquipx
Model	FDES-650
Manufacturer	Keen Dynamics LLC
Origin	USA

Core Flood Apparatus FDES

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