US 12,252,973 B2
Modeling diffusion and expulsion of hydrocarbons in kerogen
Adrian Kleine, Aachen (DE); Christian Vogt, Aachen (DE); and Thomas Hantschel, Aachen (DE)
Assigned to SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Appl. No. 17/593,022
Filed by Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 6, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/021369
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 3, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/181184, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 10, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/814,768, filed on Mar. 6, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0178236 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 43/267 (2006.01); E21B 43/08 (2006.01); E21B 43/27 (2006.01); G01V 20/00 (2024.01)
CPC E21B 43/267 (2013.01) [E21B 43/082 (2013.01); E21B 43/27 (2020.05); G01V 20/00 (2024.01); G01V 2210/66 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
receiving input data representing a subterranean formation;
defining a grid representing the input data, wherein the grid comprises cells;
identifying at least one of the cells in which kerogen is present based on the input data;
generating a sub-grid comprising at least one of the cells in which kerogen is present, wherein the sub-grid comprises:
sub-cells inside the kerogen;
sub-cells located in a vicinity between the kerogen and a pore space surface; or
sub-cells representing pore space;
simulating hydrocarbon movement within the kerogen using the sub-grid;
generating a model of hydrocarbon expulsion to the pore space based on the simulating to quantify an amount or volume of hydrocarbons that migrate from within the kerogen to the pore space; and
utilizing the model in conjunction with a hydrocarbon recovery operation by initiating a hydrocarbon recovery task based on the model, modifying the hydrocarbon recovery task based on the model, or controlling drilling equipment based on the model.