Optical probe for analysis of formation fluids

Abstract

A formation fluid analysis tool has an optical probe that is inserted into the formation. The optical probe carries an internal reflectance crystal and is inserted into the formation so as to get past the mud cake, the flushed zone and the invaded zone and thus be in contact with virgin formation fluid. An acousto-optical tunable filter (AOTF) transmits a single wavelength of light from a broad band light source, the wavelength being controlled by a microwave signal from a processor. This monochromatic light is carried by an optic fiber to the internal reflectance crystal where it undergoes total reflection at the crystal faces in contact with the formation fluid. An evanescent wave propagates into the fluid with a depth of penetration related to the absorption of the light in the fluid. The reflected light carries information about this absorption which is determined by the chemical composition of the fluid. A return fiber conveys the reflected light back to a spectrometer. A processor determines the absorption at the wavelength of the monochromatic light by comparing the energy in the reflected light to the energy in the incident light. By repeating this process at a number of different wavelengths, the absorption spectrum of the fluid is determined. Principal component analysis or least squares analysis of this absorption spectrum using known absorption spectra of constituents likely to occur in the fluid gives the composition of the fluid in terms of these constituents.