Illuminating the Reservoir: Magnetic NanoMappers

Abstract The ability to map injected fluids in hydrocarbon reservoirs with high resolution is a key goal for reservoir engineering and optimization. Saudi Aramco is developing tools and methodologies to map floodfront, locate bypassed oil, monitor the oil-water contact and detect super-k zones and fracture corridors prior to early water breakthrough at producing wells. Magnetic NanoMappers (MNM) is a new approach exploiting the use of Magnetic Nano-Particles (MNP) as contrast agents for mapping the floodfront inside the hydrocarbon reservoir. This approach takes advantage of the fact that electromagnetic (EM) waves speed slow down when they pass through magnetic media. Localizing MNP within injected fluids could provide a detailed map of fluids movements. Lab tests have recently demonstrated that the capability of MNM to locate MNP volumes hidden within a 2,000 liter tank (reservoir model) with high resolution. This paper will outline the MNM concept, laboratory testbed, results and future plans.