Open hole sample characterisation in the Gulf of Mexico

•  Expro was contacted by the customer to carry out the transfer, validation and onsite analysis of their fluid samples which had been taken during open hole logging
• This was the first time, this third party had worked with us on open hole sample chambers in the Gulf of Mexico
• Our customer was particularly interested in our online fluid identification capability, TurboPVT™ following a presentation we had give to their team

• Our customer's objectives were to capture:
  • Reservoir hydrocarbon samples for PVT, flow assurance, fluid compatibility and geochemistry
  • Formation water samples in wet zones for water properties
  • Formation fluid samples for H₂S/Hg measurement
  • Expro transferred the open hole samples which had been retrieved by a major logging company during the logging period into shipping cylinders
  • We have the ability to measure critical properties of the reservoir fluids obtained during the open hole sample transfer using TurboPVT™.  Our SmartLab™ also enables us to flash the pressurised samples to determine GOR, API, OBM and whole fluid compositional analysis to C₃₆+
  • Expro's solution provides validation and detailed characterisation of the captured fluid with minimal sample loss
  • Expro and the customer worked collaberatively to develop a protocol for the project

• Using Expro's TurboPVT™ and SmartLab™ our customer was able to ensure that the samples collected for further analysis were good quality and the detailed compositional analysis allowed early modelling of the fluid properties
• The customer was able to quickly learn if the sample met the parameters they expected, allowing a decision to be made on whether to carry out another wireline run to obtain further samples
• Expro's main differentiator is our ability to measure permittivity, density and viscosity whilst the sample is being transferred into the transport cylinder, allowing significant gas/fluid properties and phase changes to be monitored in real time with TurboPVT™
• Expro technology is independent of the logging provider and is used to optimise decision making re sample quality
• Substantial cost savings were made by minimising the requirement for rig days and by producing crucial reservoir fluid parameters for time-sensitive decision making
• Typically, a partial PVT analysis onshore in a laboratory would take in the region of 5-10 days but Expro's team provided quality data at the wellsite within hours from when the samples were recovered to the surface
• Expro is the only supplier of independent, inline fluid property measurement during sample transfer from sampling tools to shipping cylinders

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