Flowline saturation pressure measurements
OwnerKentaro Indo, Julian Pop +6inventors
InventorsKentaro Indo, Julian Pop, Maxim Yushko, Tudor Ioan Palaghita, Zeynep Alpman, Alexis Petit, Sepand Ossia, Tullio Moscato
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for sampling a downhole formation fluid includes pumping formation fluid into the flowline of a downhole sampling tool. The method can also include measuring a saturation pressure of the formation fluid in the flowline while pumping. The method can also include adjusting the pumping rate such that the fluid pressure in the flowline remains within a predetermined threshold above the measured saturation pressure.
Claims8
A downhole formation fluid sampling tool comprising:
- a fluid flowline deployed between a fluid inlet probe and a pump;
- and
- a fluid phase sensor deployed in the fluid flowline, the fluid phase sensor including a temperature sensor and at least one of a heating element and a cooling element deployed on a substrate;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- (i) cause the pump to pump formation fluid through the flowline;
- (ii) cause the heating element to heat the formation fluid in the flowline or cause the cooling element to cool the formation fluid in the flowline while pumping in (i);
- (iii) cause the temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the formation fluid in the flowline while heating or cooling in (ii);
- (iv) evaluate said temperature measurements in (iii) to determine a temperature indicative of bubble formation or dew formation in the flowline;
- (v) process a flowline pressure, a reference temperature, the temperature indicative of bubble formation or dew formation, and a formation fluid model to compute a saturation pressure of the formation fluid at the reference temperature;
- and
- (vi) adjust a rate of pumping in (i) such that a fluid pressure in the flowline remains within a predetermined threshold above the saturation pressure computed in (v).
A downhole formation fluid sampling tool comprising:
- a fluid flowline deployed between a fluid inlet probe and a pump;
- a fluid phase sensor deployed in the fluid flowline, the fluid phase sensor including a temperature sensor and at least one of a heating element and a cooling element deployed on a substrate;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- (i) cause the pump to pump formation fluid through the flowline;
- (ii) cause a fluid analysis module to identify the formation fluid as a gas condensate or a liquid;
- (iii) cause the heating element to heat the formation fluid in the flowline when the formation fluid is identified as a liquid or cause the cooling element to cool the formation fluid in the flowline when the formation fluid is identified as a gas condensate;
- (iv) cause the temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the formation fluid in the flowline while heating or cooling in (iii);
- (v) evaluate said temperature measurements in (iv) to determine a temperature indicative of bubble formation or dew formation in the flowline;
- (vi) process a flowline pressure, a reference temperature, the temperature indicative of bubble formation or dew formation, and a formation fluid model to compute a saturation pressure of the formation fluid at the reference temperature;
- and
- (vii) adjust a rate of pumping in (i) such that a fluid pressure in the flowline remains within a predetermined threshold above the saturation pressure computed in (vi).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.