Development of Thermosensitive Tracers for Push-Pull Experiments in Geothermal Reservoir Characterization

Abstract

The aim of the laboratory experiments presented here is to identify molecular structures for thermosensitive tracers which are adequate for the assessment of reservoir temperatures from short-term, single-well, push-pull tracer testing techniques under the typical low temperature conditions of geothermal reservoirs in Northern Europe. Considering the widespread experience in the application of naphthalene sulfonates as tracers in geothermal reservoirs, this substance class provides well studied base molecules to be modified into thermally sensitive tracers. It is planned to use the hydrolysis reaction from various esters of naphthol sulfonates. In order to find esters with adequate reaction kinetics the mechanism of hydrolysis is studied on 44 phenol acetates and transferred to naphthol sulfonates.