IP Library Granted Patent US 12,655,754
Granted Patent B2
US 12,655,754 · App. 19/278,362 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Real-time zonal inflow analyzer with closed-loop tracer system

Inventors: Mohammed A. Nasr (Qatif, SA); Wail K. Aljehani (Alkhafji, SA); James Ohioma Arukhe (Dhahran, SA)
Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
E21B47/11E21B43/14E21B49/08
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,655,754
App. No.
19/278,362
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A real-time zonal inflow analysis system including a chemical analysis panel and a chemical tracer module disposed in each of a plurality of perforation zones in a well. The chemical tracer module produces a zonal signature of a corresponding perforation zone, where the zonal signature uniquely identifies the corresponding perforation zone. The chemical analysis panel includes an automated instrument and an integrated monitoring dashboard. The automated instrument obtains a production flow that includes a plurality of zonal contributions of the produced fluid from the plurality of perforation zones. The automated instrument measures, in the production flow, a concentration of the zonal signature of each perforation zone and determines, based on each concentration, a respective measure of each zonal contribution. The integrated monitoring dashboard displays the respective measure of each of zonal contribution to facilitate a production operation of the well.

Claims (40)

1 . A chemical analysis panel for performing zonal inflow analysis of a well, comprising:

an automated instrument disposed at the Earth's surface that:

obtains, at a wellhead of the well, a production flow comprising a plurality of zonal contributions of produced fluid from a plurality of perforation zones in the well;

measures, in the production flow, a concentration of a zonal signature of each of the plurality of perforation zones; and

determines, based on the concentration of the zonal signature of each of the plurality of perforation zones, a respective measure of each of the plurality of zonal contributions,

wherein a chemical tracer module is disposed in each of the plurality of perforation zones that interacts with the produced fluid to produce the zonal signature of a corresponding perforation zone, the zonal signature comprising a chemical reaction product of the chemical tracer module and the produced fluid to uniquely identify the corresponding perforation zone; and

an integrated monitoring dashboard that displays the respective measure of each of the plurality of zonal contributions to facilitate a production operation of the well.

2 . The chemical analysis panel of claim 1 , wherein the chemical tracer module in each of the plurality of perforation zones is integrated in a downhole completion of the well.

3 . The chemical analysis panel of claim 1 , wherein said facilitating the production operation of the well comprises:

generating, by a well control system of the well and based on the respective measure of each of the plurality of zonal contributions, at least one control command; and

sending, from the well control system to at least one downhole control valve, the at least one control command to adjust the production flow.

4 . The chemical analysis panel of claim 3 , wherein the at least one control command causes the at least one downhole control valve to adjust at least one of the plurality of zonal contributions.

5 . The chemical analysis panel of claim 3 , wherein the at least one control command is sent within a pre-determined time from said obtaining the production flow to adjust the production flow in real-time.

6 . The chemical analysis panel of claim 3 ,

wherein the chemical tracer module, the automated instrument, and the well control system collectively form a closed-loop system that is adaptable to a plurality of downhole pressures and flow rates of the produced fluid in the well,

wherein the automated instrument further determines a flow rate of the production flow and a measurement accuracy metric of the closed-loop system, and

wherein the integrated monitoring dashboard further displays the flow rate and the measurement accuracy metric to facilitate the production operation of the well.

7 . The chemical analysis panel of claim 3 , wherein said facilitating the production operation of the well further comprises:

eliminating, by said automated instrument disposed at the Earth's surface to measure the concentration of the zonal signature of each of the plurality of perforation zones, manual sampling and laboratory analysis of the produced fluid in the production flow; and

preventing, by at least said eliminating the manual sampling and laboratory analysis, release of hazardous downhole gases, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and safety of the production operation.

8 . A real-time zonal inflow analysis system, comprising:

a chemical tracer module disposed in each of a plurality of perforation zones in a well, wherein the chemical tracer module interacts with produced fluid of the well to produce a zonal signature of a corresponding perforation zone, the zonal signature comprising a chemical reaction product of the chemical tracer module and the produced fluid to uniquely identify the corresponding perforation zone;

a chemical analysis panel disposed at the Earth's surface and comprising:

an automated instrument that

obtains, at a wellhead of the well, a production flow comprising a plurality of zonal contributions of the produced fluid from the plurality of perforation zones;

measures, in the production flow, a concentration of the zonal signature of each of the plurality of perforation zones; and

determines, based on the concentration of the zonal signature of each of the plurality of perforation zones, a respective measure of each of the plurality of zonal contributions; and

an integrated monitoring dashboard that displays the respective measure of each of the plurality of zonal contributions to facilitate a production operation of the well.

9 . The real-time zonal inflow analysis system of claim 8 , wherein the chemical tracer module in each of the plurality of perforation zones is integrated in a downhole completion of the well.

10 . The real-time zonal inflow analysis system of claim 8 , further comprising a well control system that controls the production operation by at least:

generating, based on the respective measure of each of the plurality of zonal contributions, at least one control command; and

sending, to at least one downhole control valve, the at least one control command to adjust the production flow.

11 . The real-time zonal inflow analysis system of claim 10 , wherein well control system adjusts the production flow in real-time by sending the at least one control command within a pre-determined time from the automated instrument obtaining the production flow.

12 . The real-time zonal inflow analysis system of claim 10 ,

wherein the chemical tracer module, the automated instrument, and the well control system collectively form a closed-loop system that is adaptable to a plurality of downhole pressures and flow rates of the produced fluid in the well,

wherein the automated instrument further determines a flow rate of the production flow and a measurement accuracy metric of the closed-loop system, and

wherein the integrated monitoring dashboard further displays the flow rate and the measurement accuracy metric to facilitate the production operation of the well.

13 . The real-time zonal inflow analysis system of claim 10 , wherein said facilitating the production operation of the well further comprises:

eliminating, by said automated instrument disposed at the Earth's surface to measure the concentration of the zonal signature of each of the plurality of perforation zones, manual sampling and laboratory analysis of the produced fluid in the production flow; and

preventing, by at least said eliminating the manual sampling and laboratory analysis, release of hazardous downhole gases, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and safety of the production operation.

Continuity (2)
Division 18620368 · Mar 28, 2024
Related Publication 20250347219A1 · Nov 13, 2025
References Cited (5)
US 10415382B2 · Enkababian · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 11384636B2 · Smithson · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20130020088A1 · Dyer · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20170321547A1 · Enkababian · 2017 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2019239201A1 · 2019 [cited by examiner]