US 12,440,821 B2
Method for tracing subterranean formations with oil-soluble organic molecular tracers and extracting them of from oil phases
Wei Wang, Cambridge, MA (US)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Dec. 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/549,062.
Prior Publication US 2023/0182110 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 33/28 (2006.01); B01J 20/10 (2006.01); B01J 20/22 (2006.01); B01J 20/287 (2006.01); B01J 20/288 (2006.01); C09B 67/54 (2006.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01); G01N 33/24 (2006.01)
CPC B01J 20/22 (2013.01) [B01J 20/103 (2013.01); B01J 20/287 (2013.01); B01J 20/288 (2013.01); C09B 67/0096 (2013.01); G01N 21/643 (2013.01); G01N 33/241 (2013.01); G01N 33/2823 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of tracing fluid flow in a subterranean formation, comprising:
mixing a functionalized fluorescent tracer into a fluid to yield a tracer fluid, wherein the functionalized fluorescent tracer comprises a fluorescent dye and a hydrophobic functional group;
flowing the tracer fluid into a first subterranean formation;
recovering a sample from the first subterranean formation or a second subterranean formation; and
extracting the functionalized fluorescent tracer from the sample using a Type I or Type II silica-based sorbent, wherein
the Type I silica-based sorbent comprises a hydrophobic functional group and an ionic functional group, wherein the ionic functional group is positively charged, and
the Type II silica-based sorbent comprises a hydrophobic functional group and an ionic functional group, wherein the ionic functional group is negatively charged.