DNA Tracer Application in a Waterflood Study in Edmisson Field: A Case History

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents and discusses data on the application of DNA tracers to a waterflood project in Edmisson Clearfork field in Permian Basin, Tx. The field is divided into two sections, West and East. The West section includes five injection wells, fifteen producers and the East section includes two injection wells and nine producers. To fully understand the flow path within both sections, seven unique DNA tracers were selected and injected. In addition, it was desirable to accurately determine water breakthrough through each production well and to evaluate heterogeneity of the formation between the injection and production wells. Furthermore, identification of high and low permeability zones within the reservoir was identified. Reservoir properties such as drainage area, porosity, water saturation, connate water saturation and water injection rate per well along with the minimum detection limit of DNA tracers were used to calculate the amount of DNA tracers needed to inject in each injection well. A robust sampling schedule was used to make sure an early detection of tracer(s) at each production well. A selected number of samples were used for analyses of tracers. Other samples were kept for future analyses as needed depending on tracer response curve between each injection well and producer.