Moving Gas Geochemical Analysis from Lab to Field by Advanced Gas Sensor for Onsite Fluid Characterization and Time-Lapse Monitoring
Authors: Luo Pan , Harrist Jonathan , Mesdour Rabah , Stmichel Nathan 
Published: December 2021

Natural gas is sampled or produced throughout the lifespan of a field, including geochemical surface survey, mud gas logging, formation and well testing, and production. Detecting and measuring gas is a common practice in many upstream operations, providing gas composition and isotope data for multiple purposes, such as gas show, petroleum system analysis, fluid characterization, and production monitoring. Onsite gas analysis is usually conducted within a mud gas unit, which is operationally unavailable after drilling. Gas samples need be taken from the field and shipped back to laboratory for gas chromatography and isotope-ratio mass spectrometry analyses. Results take a considerable time and lack the resolution needed to fully characterize the heterogeneity and dynamics of fluids within the reservoir. We are developing and testing advanced sensing technology to move gas composition and isotope analyses to field for near real-time and onsite fluid characterization and monitoring.

We have developed a novel QEPAS (quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy) sensor system, employing a single interband cascade laser, to measure concentrations of methane (C1), ethane (C2), and propane (C3) in gas phase. The quartz fork detection module, laser driver, and interface are integrated as a small sensing box. The sensor, sample preparation enclosures and a computer are mounted in a rack as a gas analyzer prototype for the bench testing for oil industry application. Software is designed for monitoring sample preparation, collecting data, calibration and continuous reporting sample pressure and concentration data.

The sensor achieved an ultimate detection limit of 90 ppb (parts per billion), 7 ppb and 3 ppm (parts per million) for C1, C2, and C3, respectively, for one second integration time. The detection limit for C2 made a record for QEPAS technique, and measuring C3 added a new capability to the technique. However, the linearity of the QEPAS sensing were previously reported in the range of 0 to 1000 ppm, which is mainly for trace gas detection. In the study, the prototype was separately tested on standard C1, C2, and C3 with different concentrations diluted in dry nitrogen (N2). Good linearity was obtained for all single components and the ranges of linearity were expanded to their typical concentrations (per cent, %) in natural gas samples from oil and gas fields. The testing on the C1-C2 mixtures confirms that accurate C1 and C2 concentrations in % level can be achieved by the prototype. The testing results on C1-C2-C3 mixtures demonstrate the capability of simultaneous detection of three hydrocarbon components and the probability to determine their precise concentrations by QEPAS sensing.

This advancement of simultaneous measuring C1, C2 and C3 concentrations, with previously demonstrated capability for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2) and potential to analyze carbon isotopes (13C/12C), promotes QEPAS as a prominent optical technology for gas detection and chemical analysis. The capability of measuring multiple gas components and the advantages in small sensor size, high sensitivity, quick analysis, and continuous sensing (monitoring) open the way to use QEPAS technique for in-situ and real-time gas sensing in oil industry. The iterations of QEPAS sensor might be applied in geochemical survey, on-site fluid characterization, time-lapse monitoring of production, and gas linkage detection in the oil industry.