Fluid Sampling

Instructional Objectives:
- Explain the effects of near wellbore pressure on fluid sampling
- List the common fluid sampling techniques
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of surface sampling versus bottom-hole
sampling
- Explain the recommended procedure for taking representative fluid samples

Introduction

In general, one has a choice of taking monophasic samples close to the formation with bottom-
hole sampling tools or sampling the separated streams of oil and gas at the surface and
recombining them later in the laboratory to obtain a representative reservoir fluid sample. The
choice of sampling technique is influenced by:

 The volume of sample required for analysis.

 The type of reservoir fluid to be sampled.
 The degree of reservoir depletion.
 The surface process and well completion design.

Fluid Behavior Near Wellbore

Initial Reservoir Pressure, pi

W
E
L Bubblepoint Pressure, pb
P
L R
B E
O S
R S
E Oil
U
Oil R
pwf
E
Gas
Distance Into Reservoir

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In the near wellbore region, the pressure is often less than the reservoir saturation pressure.
When this happens in oil wells, gas comes out of solution and moves faster into the wellbore.
Gas sometimes reduces the oil flow into the wellbore. At conditions like these, bottom-hole
sampling could result in unrepresentative fluid samples.

The same fundamentals apply in gas condensate sampling.

Bottom-hole Sampling

Bottom-hole sampling is the trapping of a volume of fluid at reservoir conditions in a pressure

vessel run in the well close to the productive interval, either suspended on wire-line or in the
DST string. This sampling method is used exclusively during open-hole logging and is the most
effective technique during cased-hole operations such as exploration well testing or production
testing, when reservoir flowing conditions permit.

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Bottom-hole sampling applies when:

 The flowing bottom hole pressure is believed to be greater than the reservoir fluid
saturation pressure.
 The subsurface equipment or nature of the fluid [e.g. API < 10] will not prevent the
sampler from reaching the appropriate depth or make its retrieval difficult.
 Relatively small volumes of fluid are required for analysis.
 An asphaltene study is required.

A more accurate method of bottom-hole sampling is the so-called single-phase sampling. In this
method, the sample is taken from the bottom of the well and kept as single phase fluid (above
the saturation pressure) by pressuring the sampling chamber while tripping out of the hole.

Surface Sampling

During exploration well testing and production testing, it is possible to obtain representative
surface samples from various locations such as the wellhead, choke manifold or test separator
depending on the fluid properties and flow conditions. Surface sampling upstream of the
separator requires the wellhead pressure be above saturation pressure using conventional
sampling techniques.

By far the most common surface sampling technique is separator recombination sampling. This
involves taking simultaneous samples of separator oil and gas, along with accurate
measurements of their relative production, and reconstructing a representative sample in the
PVT laboratory.

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Surface sampling is routinely used as a backup to a good quality bottom-hole sample but may
be the primary source of samples when:

 A large volume of both pressurized oil and gas are required for analysis [e.g. EOR study].
 Bottom-hole flowing conditions are less than saturation pressure or there is a high
water cut such that the fluid in the hole may not be representative.

The main challenge in separator recombination sampling is ensuring the accuracy of the
separator flow measurements and stability of separation conditions before and during
sampling. The separator liquid and gas are in dynamic equilibrium. Any drop in pressure or
increase in temperature of the separator liquid, which is at its bubble point, will result in the
formation of gas. For the separator gas, which is at its dew point, any increase in pressure or
decrease in temperature will result in the condensation of heavy components.

Fluid Sampling Recommendations

Generally; a bottom-hole sample is preferred, if gas and oil surface measurement capabilities
are in question. However, if they are reliable, the surface sampling technique can give a
statistically valid value of GOR measured over a long period of time.

The following recommendations apply for sampling:

 Try to obtain the fluid sample before any significant production takes place
 Bring the well on production at the lowest possible rate prior to sampling

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  If the well has been producing for some time before sampling, a rate reduction may
help.
 When the rate of the well is changed, the separator production should be stabilized over
a period of days (rather than hours) to make sure that the fluid near the wellbore is
flowing under steady state conditions and composition is stable.

References:
1. Reudelhuber, F.O.: “Sampling Procedure for Oil Reservoir Fluids,” paper SPE 816-G,
1957, SPE, Richardson, TX.
2. Reudelhuber, F.O.: “Separator Sampling of Gas-Condensate Reservoirs,” Oil & Gas J.
(June 21, 1954) 138-140.
3. Reudelhuber, F.O.: “Better Separator Sampling of Crude-Oil Reservoirs,” Oil & Gas J.
(Nov. 8, 1954) 181-183.
4. RP 44, Recommended Practice for Sampling Petroleum Reservoir Fluids, API, Dallas
(1966) 5.
5. McCain, W.D., Jr. and Alexander, R.A.: “Sampling Gas-Condensate Wells,” SPE Reservoir
Engineering, August 1992, 358-362.
6. El-Banbi, Ahmed H. and McCain, W.D., Jr.: “Sampling Volatile Oil Wells,” paper SPE
67232 presented at the 2001 SPE Production and Operations Symposium, Oklahoma
City, OK. March 24-26.
7. El-Banbi, Ahmed H., McCain, W.D., Jr., and Semmelbeck, M.E.: “Well Productivity in Gas-
Condensate Reservoirs,” JPT, April 2000, 67-68.
8. Ahmed, T.: Hydrocarbon Phase Behavior, Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, 1989.

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