Systems and methods for core flooding

Abstract

A core flooding system includes a core holder that encloses a core sample of a subterranean formation. The core holder includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; at least one sensor coupled to the core holder or positioned in the inner volume of the core holder; an acoustic vibrating assembly coupled to the core holder; and a control system communicably coupled to the at least one sensor and the acoustic vibrating assembly. The control system performs operations including operating the acoustic vibrating assembly to transmit at an acoustic wave energy or a vibration energy to the core holder; during the transmission of the at least one of the acoustic wave energy or the vibration energy to the core holder; measuring at least one parameter of the core sample; and based on the at least one measured parameter, determining at least one property of the core sample.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A core flooding system, comprising:
 a core holder that comprises a housing that defines an inner volume sized to enclose a core sample of a subterranean formation, the core holder further comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;   at least one sensor coupled to the core holder or positioned in the inner volume of the core holder;   an acoustic vibrating assembly coupled to the core holder; and   a control system communicably coupled to the at least one sensor and the acoustic vibrating assembly and configured to perform operations comprising:
 operating the acoustic vibrating assembly to transmit at least one of an acoustic wave energy or a vibration energy to the core holder; 
 during the transmission of the at least one of the acoustic wave energy or the vibration energy to the core holder; measuring at least one parameter of the core sample with the at least one sensor; and 
 based on the at least one measured parameter, determining at least one property of the core sample. 
   
     
     
         2 . The core flooding system of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic vibrating assembly comprises a mechanical vibrator mounted on a platform, the mechanical vibrator coupled to the core holder. 
     
     
         3 . The core flooding system of  claim 2 , wherein the platform comprises at least one rotating plate to which the core holder is mounted. 
     
     
         4 . The core flooding system of  claim 3 , wherein the control system is configured to perform operations further comprising operating the at least one rotating plate to rotate the core holder about an axis. 
     
     
         5 . The core flooding system of  claim 4 , wherein the axis comprises a first axis, the control system configured to perform operations further comprising operating the at least one rotating plate to rotate the core holder about a second axis. 
     
     
         6 . The core flooding system of  claim 5 , wherein operating the at least one rotating plate to rotate the core holder about the second axis is performed simultaneously with operating the at least one rotating plate to rotate the core holder about the first axis. 
     
     
         7 . The core flooding system of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one spring mounted to the mechanical vibrator. 
     
     
         8 . The core flooding system of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic vibrating assembly comprises:
 at least one perforated rod that comprises an airflow path; and   at least one balloon fluidly coupled to the airflow path through the perforated rod.   
     
     
         9 . The core flooding system of  claim 8 , wherein the control system is configured to perform operations further comprising flowing a gas through the airflow path to inflate the at least one balloon to induce the vibration energy through the core holder. 
     
     
         10 . The core flooding system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve mountable within the inner volume and sized to hold the core sample, the acoustic vibrating assembly comprising a vibrator mounted within the sleeve to impart the at least one of the acoustic wave energy or the vibration energy to the core sample. 
     
     
         11 . The core flooding system of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic vibrating assembly comprises a noise source positionable apart from the core holder, the control system configured to perform operations further comprising operating the noise source to generate the acoustic wave energy. 
     
     
         12 . The core flooding system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one valve fluidly coupled to at least one of the fluid inlet or the fluid outlet, the control system configured to perform operations further comprising operating the at least one valve to flow a fluid through the inner volume of the core holder. 
     
     
         13 . The core flooding system of  claim 12 , wherein the operation of operating the at least one valve to flow the fluid through the inner volume of the core holder occurs simultaneously with operating the acoustic vibrating assembly to transmit at least one of the acoustic wave energy or the vibration energy to the core holder. 
     
     
         14 . A method for testing a core sample, comprising:
 positioning a subterranean formation core sample in an inner volume of a core holder, the core holder comprising a housing that defines the inner volume, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet;   transmitting at least one of an acoustic wave energy or a vibration energy to the core holder;   during the transmission of the at least one of the acoustic wave energy or the vibration energy to the core holder; measuring at least one parameter of the core sample with at least one sensor coupled to the core holder or positioned in the inner volume of the core holder; and   based on the at least one measured parameter, determining at least one property of the core sample.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein transmitting at least one of the acoustic wave energy or the vibration energy to the core holder comprises operating a mechanical vibrator coupled to the core holder and mounted on a platform. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising rotating the core holder about an axis with at least one rotating plate to which the core holder is mounted. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the axis comprises a first axis, the method further comprising rotating the core holder about a second axis with the at least one rotating plate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein rotating the core holder about the first and second axes occurs simultaneously. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein transmitting at least one of the acoustic wave energy or the vibration energy to the core holder comprises:
 flowing a fluid through an airflow path of at least one perforated rod coupled to the core holder;   inflating at least one balloon fluidly coupled to the airflow path through the perforated rod; and   based on inflating the at least one balloon, transmitting at least one of the acoustic wave energy or the vibration energy to the core holder.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, while transmitting at least one of the acoustic wave energy or the vibration energy to the core holder:
 inflating at least one balloon mounted to the core holder; and   based on inflating the at least one balloon, tilting the core holder.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein transmitting at least one of the acoustic wave energy or the vibration energy to the core holder comprises vibrating the core sample with a vibrator mounted to or within a sleeve that holds the core sample to impart the at least one of the acoustic wave energy or the vibration energy to the core sample. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein transmitting at least one of the acoustic wave energy or the vibration energy to the core holder comprises generating the acoustic wave energy with a noise source positioned apart from the core holder. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 modulating at least one valve fluidly coupled to at least one of the fluid inlet or the fluid outlet; and   circulating a fluid through the inner volume of the core holder to contact the core sample.   
     
     
         24 . A core sample test apparatus, comprising:
 a housing sized to receive a core sample that comprises a portion of a hydrocarbon reservoir formation;   means for generating at least one of an acoustic wave energy or a vibration energy to the core holder;   at least one sensor positioned to detect a change in at least one parameter of the core sample during operation of the means for generating the at least one of the acoustic wave energy or the vibration energy; and   a control system communicably coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to receive the change in the at least one parameter of the core sample and determine at least one property of the hydrocarbon reservoir formation.   
     
     
         25 . The core sample test apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the control system is operably coupled to the means for generating. 
     
     
         26 . The core sample test apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising means for rotating the core sample. 
     
     
         27 . The core sample test apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the control system is operably coupled to the means for rotating. 
     
     
         28 . The core sample test apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one parameter of the core sample comprises at least one of:
 a flow rate of a fluid through the core sample;   an interfacial tension;   a contact angle between a fluid and the core sample;   a fluid path of water or brine through the core sample; or   a fluid path of a hydrocarbon through the core sample.   
     
     
         29 . The core sample test apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one property of the hydrocarbon reservoir formation:
 a permeability of the hydrocarbon reservoir formation;   a brine permeability of the hydrocarbon reservoir formation; or   a porosity of the hydrocarbon reservoir formation.   
     
     
         30 . The core sample test apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the sensor comprises a fiber optic conductor mounted within a sleeve configured to hold the core sample in the housing.