Using Chemometrics and Geochemistry to Assess Heavy Oil Fluid Heterogeneity in Southeastern Mexico Heavy Oil Fields

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dc.contributor.advisorLarter, Stephen R.
dc.contributor.advisorHuang, Haiping
dc.contributor.advisorSnowdon, Lloyd R.
dc.contributor.advisorOldenburg, Thomas B. P.
dc.contributor.authorYin, Mengsha
dc.contributor.committeememberDong, Mingzhe
dc.contributor.committeememberFowler, Martin G.
dc.date2021-02
dc.date.accessioned2021-01-08T16:26:51Z
dc.date.available2021-01-08T16:26:51Z
dc.date.issued2021-01-06
dc.description.abstractDeclines in heavy oil production from the Tertiary reservoirs of southeastern Mexico relate predominantly to fluid heterogeneity between production wells. This work uses chemometrics to analyze whole heavy oil geochemical compositions to assess fluid heterogeneity in order to optimize well placement and oil field management. A biodegradation parameter is derived from the bicyclic sesquiterpanes to fill in the gap of the Peters and Moldowan biodegradation levels (PM level) 4–5, where diagnostic indicators are missing. Then, biodegradation sensitive hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon compound classes are identified and used to develop biodegradation indicators for different oil fractions. These parameters are subsequently integrated by principal component analysis (PCA) to generate a whole oil composition-based biodegradation parameter that magnifies oil compositional variations and enables a higher resolution estimation of biodegradation levels. To deconvolve complex oil biodegradation, charging and mixing history, exploratory factor analysis is applied, incorporating fresh oil components and the biodegradation indicators for different oil fractions. This method allows elucidation and a broad classification of biodegradation, charging and mixing scenarios of the studied oils. Comprehensive fluid heterogeneity characterization is realized by PCA and hierarchical clustering analysis using whole oil compositions. Accordingly, compositionally similar oils produced from correlated horizons are grouped for each production zone identified using geological and geophysical techniques. Oil heterogeneity assessment reveals biodegradation as the predominant control on fluid heterogeneity. The workflow of using chemometrics to analyze whole oil compositions to assess heavy oil fluid heterogeneity can be extended to heavy oil reservoirs worldwide. Alternating least squares (ALS) method is exploited to address the common issue of oil-based drilling mud contamination during reservoir development. Oil end member amount in the cuttings extract mixtures is suggested by PCA and end member fractions are calculated by the ALS model. Geochemical characterization of the cuttings extracts highlights overwhelming drilling fluid components and severely diluted reservoir oil biomarkers. Authentic reservoir oils in the cuttings extracts are recognized by biomarker correlation between the ALS-determined oil end members and the produced oils from the same oil field. Reservoir oil viscosity encountered by the cutting well is roughly predicted based on viscosities of the associated oils.en_US
dc.identifier.citationYin, M. (2021). Using Chemometrics and Geochemistry to Assess Heavy Oil Fluid Heterogeneity in Southeastern Mexico Heavy Oil Fields (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/38537
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/112946
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisher.facultyScienceen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en_US
dc.subjectHeavy oilen_US
dc.subjectfluid heterogeneityen_US
dc.subjectbiodegradation estimationen_US
dc.subjectoil biodegradationen_US
dc.subjectcharging and mixing deconvolutionen_US
dc.subjectGC–MSen_US
dc.subjectFTICR–MSen_US
dc.subjectchemometricsen_US
dc.subjectoil-based drilling fluid contaminationen_US
dc.subject.classificationGeochemistryen_US
dc.subject.classificationEngineering--Petroleumen_US
dc.titleUsing Chemometrics and Geochemistry to Assess Heavy Oil Fluid Heterogeneity in Southeastern Mexico Heavy Oil Fieldsen_US
dc.typedoctoral thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineGeoscienceen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
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