The Use of Halogenated Benzene Sulfonates as Geothermal and Unconventional-Petroleum Tracers

Abstract

Two halogenated-benzene-sulfonate compounds that show promise for use as geothermal and petroleum tracers were synthesized and then tested under laboratory conditions that simulate a hydrothermal environment. A decay kinetics analysis showed that the thermal stabilities of 4-fluorobenzene sulfonate and 2,5-dichlorobenzene sulfonate are comparable to those of Amino G and fluorescein, respectively—two compounds that have proven useful for geothermal tracing applications. An adsorptivity flow experiment indicates that both compounds respond conservatively when advected through a column flow reactor containing shale drill cuttings at 160 oC. These preliminary experiments indicate that since many more compounds in this family of tracers are conceivable, the halogenated benzene sulfonates could significantly increase the number of tracers available for use in both petroleum and geothermal reservoirs.