Abstract: A high pressure core chamber for use in collecting pressurized core samples from a reservoir is equipped with at least two high pressure access valves, allowing the core chamber to also function as a vessel for various high pressure experiments. In some embodiments, the core chamber is also equipped with a heater, allowing high pressure, high temperature experiments, and thus duplicating reservoir conditions. Various assays using the core chamber are also described.

Abstract: Methods of determining if a test fluid is inert to reservoir oil at RTP, by assaying a composition, density and bubble or dew point of live oil to generate a first dataset, equilibrating a sample of live oil with a test fluid at RTP to generate an oil phase; assaying a composition, density and bubble or dew point of the oil phase to generate a second dataset; comparing the first and second datasets, wherein significant changes in the datasets indicate that the test fluid is not inert to reservoir oil at RTP. By contrast, if there are no significant changes, the test fluid is inert, and would therefore be suitable to collecting core samples at RTP. Various options for inert fluids are also provided.

Abstract: A high pressure core chamber for use in collecting pressurized core samples from a reservoir is equipped with at least two high pressure access valves, allowing the core chamber to also function as a vessel for various high pressure experiments. In some embodiments, the core chamber is also equipped with a heater, allowing high pressure, high temperature experiments, and thus duplicating reservoir conditions. Various assays using the core chamber are also described.