# US 11,078,778 B2 · Method and apparatus for zone testing a well

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- Number: US 11,078,778 B2
- Document ID: US11078778B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/355,666
- Filed: 2019-03-15
- Published: 2019-07-11
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-18
- Assignees: Tech Flo Consulting, LLC
- Applicants: Tech Flo Consulting, LLC
- Inventors: William J. Jackson; Erik J. Reissig; James L. Miller, II
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078778B2

## CPC

- E21B 47/10: Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements
- E21B 43/14: Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A method for evaluating the potential effectiveness of refracing a previously fracked oil/gas well is accomplished by isolating a plurality of previously fracked zones of an oil/gas well in a formation and measuring the fluid flow rates from the isolated zones using a three phase flow meter positioned within the well at or near the previously fracked zones. The zones may be isolated by an isolation assembly which includes two packers connected by a perforated pipe and attached to a tubular positioned within the well.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of evaluating the potential effectiveness of refracing a producing oil/gas well that has already been fracked at a plurality of zones along the length of the well comprising:
a) isolating a first producing, previously fracked zone in the well, wherein the previously fracked zone is isolated by placing a packer within the well at the beginning and end of the zone,
b) providing an additional draw down with a jet pump to the isolated previously fracked zone,
c) measuring the oil, water, or gas flow rate, from the producing zone while the zone is being produced by placing a three phase flow meter in tubing located within the well, the tubing including a perforated pipe positioned between the packers,
d) calculating a production index for the isolated previously fracked zone, and
e) determining whether the previously fracked zones is likely to exhibit increased productivity due to a refracing procedure based upon the production index.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further including the step of:
a) isolating two or more previously fracked zones and measuring the oil flow rate flow from each previously fracked zone; and
b) determining the previously fracked zones that are most likely to exhibit increased productivity due to a refracing procedure based upon the production index.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the packers are either of the inflatable type or mechanical type and a portion of power fluid for the jet pump is diverted to set the packers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the well is a horizontal well.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further including measuring the temperature and pressure of fluid within the previously fracked zone.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further including measuring an initial static bottom hole pressure and a flowing bottom hole pressure of the previously fracked zone, measuring a production rate of the previously fracked zone, wherein the production index is calculated by subtracting the flowing bottom hole pressure from the static bottom hole pressure and dividing the production rate by the result of subtracting the flowing bottom hole pressure from the static bottom hole pressure.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further including the step of refracing the previously fracked zones that are determined to be most likely to exhibit increased productivity.

### Claim 8

A method of evaluating zones in a producing oil/gas well comprising:
a) isolating a first producing zone in the well, wherein the previously fracked zone is isolated by placing a packer within the well at the beginning and end of the zone,
b) providing an additional draw down with a jet pump to the zone,
c) measuring the oil, water, or gas flow rate, from the producing zone while the zone is being produced by placing a three phase flow meter in tubing located within the well, the tubing including a perforated pipe positioned between the packers,
d) calculating a production index for the zone, and
e) determining whether the isolated producing zone (i) is producing at an adequate level, (ii) would be likely to increase production by fracking or refracing, or (iii) should be squeezed.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 further including the step of
a) isolating two or more zones and measuring the oil flow rate flow from each zone; and
b) determining the zones that are most likely to exhibit increased productivity due to a refracing procedure based upon the production index.