Problem:
Both gas and oil is made of the same type of molecules which makes it more complex with regards to use of tracers. Conventional oil tracers can be released when exposed to both gas and oil, and they might also move between liquid and gas phases whilst flowing in the wellbore. The standard method to distinguish between oil and gas production rates is to compare lab-measured release data with concentration data from well samples. This method to relay on absolute release gives an uncertain interpretation. In addition to the complex behavior mentioned above, other factors like age-related decline in release, partial rod exposure and hysteresis effects due to alternating wetting of oil/gas, will add to this uncertainty.

Solution:
DualTrace is a patented method to overcome this uncertainty. Combined tracers are installed at the same position, and both are released when exposed to oil and gas. However, each tracer releases into each fluid at a significantly different rate. By comparing the ratio between the two tracers, instead of the absolute release of a single tracer, this results in a much more reliable interpretation to know if a zones produce gas or oil.