Formation permeability anisotropy measurement by injecting then pumping of injection fluid

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• at least one computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• control setting of a plurality of probes of a formation tester into a formation at a location within a wellbore;
• control injection of a tracer solution into the formation through one of the plurality of probes;
• control continuous withdrawal of a fluid from the formation over a time interval through at least one of the plurality of probes, the fluid that is withdrawn during the time interval comprising a volume of the tracer solution that is injected into the formation;
• measure a changing concentration of the tracer solution that is withdrawn from the formation over the time interval based on the volume of the tracer solution that is withdrawn from the formation over the time interval;
• and
• determine a permeability anisotropy of the formation based on the changing concentration of the tracer solution that is withdrawn from the formation over the time interval.

A formation tester system comprising:

• a plurality of probes configured to be set into a formation at a location within a wellbore;
• a tracer solution injection system configured to inject a tracer solution into the formation through one of the plurality of probes;
• a fluid withdrawal system configured to continuously withdraw a fluid from the formation over a time interval through at least one of the plurality of probes, the fluid that is withdrawn during the time interval comprising a volume of the tracer solution that is injected into the formation;
• one or more fluid identification sensors configured to measure a changing concentration of the tracer solution that is withdrawn from the formation over the time interval based on the volume of the tracer solution that is withdrawn from the formation over the time interval;
• and
• one or more processors configured to determine a permeability anisotropy of the formation based on the changing concentration of the tracer solution that is withdrawn from the formation over the time interval.