Oil and Gas Tests of the Formation
Referring to oil and gas tests of the formation, there are several methods used in order to measure the properties of an oil or gas reserve. Oil and gas tests are highly beneficial for the proper assessment and evaluation of the potential of an oil reserve or reservoir. Oil and gas tests also provide an idea about the presence of oil or gas in the underground. Oil and gas tests measure the physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of the oils and gases in the formation.
One of the most common and widely used oil and gas tests is the formation fluid sampling. This method takes samples of fluids from the wells in order to determine the properties of the liquids and gases formed in the formation. Formation fluid sampling can be done by drilling down to a certain depth and taking samples of the different layers present in the formation. Analysis of the samples ferret out the exact composition of the different components in the oil or gas. This information is then used to find out the best method for the extraction of the reserve.
Another oil and gas test technique is known as acidizing or hydraulic fracturing. The purpose of this test is to create pathways for oil and gas to escape from their reservoirs. The acidizing or hydraulic fracturing is done either from the inside or from the outside of the well. In most cases, the acidizing process is used to treat the surface of the rocks and create means of releasing oil from the formation. This technique helps in increasing the flow of oil or gas from a particular reservoir.
In addition to fluid sampling and acidizing, oil and gas tests also include various geophysical testing procedures. These tests include the measurement of seismic velocity of the reservoir, well logs, electric logs and core studies. Seismic surveys are conducted in order to determine the exact size of an oil or gas reserve and its physical limits. Well logs measure the amount of oil and gas present in the formation and electric logs are used to measure the size and properties of the fluids present in the formations. Core studies use samples taken from the cores drilled in the reservoir and analyze the geochemistry and mineral content of the rock.
Apart from the classic oil and gas tests, advanced techniques such as borehole imaging, formation testing and radioactive tracer surveys have also gained prominence in recent times. Borehole imaging is the use of imaging technologies to get the complete visual information about the underground. This technique is used to identify the exact shape and size of a reservoir along with the fluid contents present in the formation. Formations testing is the process of measuring the pressure, temperature and chemical components of the formation in order to measure its physical performance. Nuclear tracer surveys are a specialized technique used to locate subtle oil and gas trails present in a formation.
In conclusion, it can be said that oil and gas tests are effective means of assessing the properties of an oil or gas formation. These tests allow the geologists and petroleum engineers to accurately identify the present oil and gas reserves and plan their extraction process in more effective and efficient manner.
