NOVEL METHODS AND RELATED SYSTEMS TO ESTIMATE WATER CONTENT OF SUBTERRANEAN CORE SAMPLES

1 . A method of processing a core sample, comprising:

(a) hermetically sealing the core sample in a chamber of an enclosure;

(b) comminuting the core sample while the chamber is hermetically sealed;

(c) injecting a hydrophilic agent into the chamber, wherein a slurry is formed by at least the hydrophilic agent and water released by the core sample;

(d) extracting at least a portion of the slurry from the chamber;

(e) separating a fluid from the slurry;

(f) analyzing the separated fluid to estimate an amount of water in the fluid; and

(g) estimating a water content of the core sample using the estimated amount of water in the fluid.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the hydrophilic agent is injected before comminuting the core sample.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the hydrophilic agent is injected during the comminuting of the core sample.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the hydrophilic agent is injected after the comminuting of the core sample.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of air is evacuated from the chamber before injecting the hydrophilic agent into the chamber.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic agent is a solvent and electrovalent compound.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining a vacuum pressure in the chamber while comminuting the core sample.

8 . An apparatus for processing a core sample, comprising:

(a) an enclosure having a chamber, the enclosure being configured to hermetically seal the core sample in the chamber;

(b) a comminuting element disposed inside the enclosure and configured to comminute the core sample inside the hermetically sealed chamber while the enclosure is agitated;

(c) an injector in selective fluid communication with the chamber, the injector configure to inject a hydrophilic agent into the hermetically sealed chamber, wherein a slurry is formed by at least the hydrophilic agent and water released by the core sample; and

(d) an extractor in selective fluid communication with the chamber, the extractor configured to extract at least a portion of a slurry from the chamber, wherein the slurry is formed by at least the hydrophilic agent and water released by the core sample.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a pump in selective fluid communication with the chamber, the pump configured to reduce a pressure in the chamber to at least below an ambient pressure external to the enclosure.

10 . A system for estimating a water content of the core sample, comprising:

(a) an enclosure having a chamber, the enclosure being configured to hermetically seal the core sample in the chamber;

(b) a comminuting element disposed inside the enclosure and configured to comminute the core sample inside the hermetically sealed chamber while the enclosure is agitated;

(c) an injector in selective fluid communication with the chamber, the injector configured to inject a hydrophilic agent into the hermetically sealed chamber, wherein a slurry is formed by at least the hydrophilic agent and water released by the core sample; and

(d) an extractor in selective fluid communication with the chamber, the extractor configured to extract at least a portion of a slurry from the chamber, wherein the slurry is formed by at least the hydrophilic agent and water released by the core sample.

(e) a separator configured to separate a fluid from the slurry;

(f) a fluid analyzer configured to estimate an amount of water in the fluid by analyzing the separated fluid; and

(g) a processor configured to estimate a water content of the core sample using the estimated amount of water in the fluid.