US 4,790,378 A · Well testing apparatus

Abstract

Well testing apparatus for running on a single-conductor electric cable for gathering reservoir information, the apparatus utilizing two pressure gages and a valve, the valve being landable in a downhole receptacle and being operable to shut in the well or to open it for flow by tensioning or relaxing the electric cable, one of the gages sensing well pressures below the valve and the other gage sensing pressures above the valve, both pressure gages sending signals to the surface corresponding to the pressures sensed thereby both while the well is shut in and while it is flowing, the pressure signals being processed by surface readout equipment for real-time display, recording and/or printout, the apparatus including, if desired, a temperature sensor which sends appropriate signals to the surface which not only indicate the well temperatures sensed but the temperatures are used by a computer and its software to automatically correct the pressure readings for temperature affects. Well testing methods are disclosed as are, also, electronic toggling and sequencing devices for use in downhole test tools for switching power from instrument to instrument in the test tool string in predetermined sequence in order to receive signals from each such instrument in turn.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A system for testing a subterranean earth formation, comprising:

(a) a well bore penetrating said earth formation to be tested;
(b) a well casing in said well bore extending from the surface into said earth formation, said well casing being perforated opposite said earth formation to permit formation fluids to enter said well casing;
(c) a well tubing in said well casing, said well tubing having a well packer sealing between the exterior of said well tubing and said well casing at a location above said earth formation, said well tubing also having a landing receptacle located near said well packer.
(d) a test tool string means lowered from the surface on a single-conductor electric cable and lockingly and sealingly engaged in said landing receptacle, said test tool string including:
(i) valve means including telescoped tubular members having lateral flow ports in their walls, and being relatively slidable longitudinally between positions opening and closing said flow ports for permitting or preventing flow therethrough,
(ii) first pressure sensing means for sensing fluid pressures below said valve means,
(iii) second pressure sensing means for sensing fluid pressures above said valve means, and
(iv) switching means connected to both said first and second pressure sensing means for alternately switching electric power, transmitted to it from the surface through said electric cable, therebetween, each said pressure sensing means, in turn, generating a signal and transmitting the same to the surface to indicate the magnitude of the pressures sensed thereby;
and
(e) surface readout equipment connected to said electric cable for supplying power to said first and second pressure sensing means and for receiving the signals generated thereby and processing the same for display and/or recording.

7 more elements

A system for testing subterranean earth formations of a well having an upper and a lower producing zone, comprising:

(a) a well bore traversing vertically spaced apart upper and lower earth formations;
(b) a well casing in said well bore extending from the surface at least into said lower earth formation, said well casing being perforated opposite both said upper and lower earth formations to admit formation fluids from said earth formations into said well casing;
(c) a well tubing in said well casing, said well tubing including a well packer sealing between said well tubing and said well casing at a location between said upper and lower earth formations, said well tubing including a landing receptacle located near said well packer, said well tubing also including means providing a lateral flow port near said upper production zone for admitting production fluids therefrom into the well tubing;
(d) a test tool string lowered from the surface on a single-conductor electric cable and lockingly and sealingly engaged in said landing receptacle, said test tool string including:
(i) valve means including telescoped tubular members having lateral flow ports in their walls, and being relatively slidable longitudinally between positions opening and closing said flow ports for permitting or preventing flow therethrough,
(ii) a test tool having means thereon for anchoring and sealing said test tool string in said landing receptacle, and
(iii) pressure sensing means for sensing fluid pressures of said upper and lower producing zones, said pressure sensing means including:
(1) a first electrically-powdered pressure gage for sensing the pressure of the production fluids from said lower production zone and generating a suitable signal and transmitting it through said electric cable to the surface to indicate the magnitude of the pressure sensed thereby,
(2) a second electrically-powered pressure gage for sensing fluid pressures of production fluids from said upper production zone and generating a suitable signal and transmitting it through said electric cable to the surface to indicate the magnitude of the pressure sensed thereby, and
(3) switching means connected to both said first and second pressure gages for alternately switching power, transmitted to it from the surface through said electric cable, therebetween, each said pressure gage in turn, generating a signal and transmitting it to the surface;
and
(e) surface readout equipment connected to said electric cable for supplying power to said first and second pressure gages and for receiving the signals generated thereby and processing such signals for display and/or recording.

9 more elements

Apparatus for testing a producing formation in a well having a casing, said casing having perforations communicating its bore with said producing formation, a well tubing in said casing and having a landing receptacle at or near said producing formation, and a well packer sealing between said well tubing and casing above said producing formation, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a single-conductor electric cable;
(b) a test tool string lowerable into said well on said cable and engageable in said landing receptacle in locked and sealed relation therewith, said test tool string including:
(i) a test tool having means thereon for anchoring said test tool string in said landing receptacle in locked and sealed relation, and valve means including telescoped tubular members having lateral flow ports in their walls, and being relatively slidable longitudinally between positions opening and closing said flow ports for permitting or preventing flow therethrough,
(ii) first pressure sensing means for sensing fluid pressures below said valve means,
(iii) second pressure sensing means for sensing fluid pressures above said valve means, and
(iv) switching means connected to both said first and second pressure sensing means for alternately switching electrical power, transmitted thereto from the surface through said electric cable, therebetween, each said first and second pressure sensing means, in turn, generating a suitable signal and transmitting the same to the surface to indicate the magnitude of the pressures sensed thereby;
and
(c) surface readout equipment connected to said electric cable for supplying power to said first and second pressure sensing means and for receiving said signals generated thereby and processing them for display and/or recording.

5 more elements

Apparatus for testing producing formations in a well having a well casing, said casing having perforations communicating its bore with upper and lower producing zones, a well tubing in said well casing having a landing receptacle near said lower producing zone and a well packer sealing between said well tubing and said casing at a location between said upper and lower producing zones, said well tubing also having means providing a lateral inlet port above said well packer and near said upper producing zone for admitting production fluids from said upper producing zone into said well tubing, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a single-conductor electric cable;
(b) a test tool string connectable to said electric cable and lowerable thereby into said well tubing and engageable in said landing receptacle in locked and sealed relation therewith said test tool string including:
(i) a test tool having means thereon for anchoring said test tool string in said landing receptacle in locked and sealed relation, and valve means including telescoped tubular members having lateral flow ports in their walls, and being relatively slidable longitudinally between positions opening and closing said flow ports for permitting or preventing flow therethrough,
(ii) first pressure sensing means for sensing the pressure of production fluids from said lower producing zone,
(iii) second pressure sensing means for sensing the pressure of production fluids from said upper producing zone, and
(iv) switching means connected to both said first and second pressure sensing means for alternately switching electrical power, transmitting thereto from the surface through said electric cable, therebetween, each said first and second sensing means, in turn, generating suitable signals and transmitting them to the surface to indicate the magnitude of the pressures sensed thereby;
and
(c) surface readout equipment connected to said electric cable for supplying power to said first and second pressure sensing means and for receiving said signals generated thereby and processing them for display and/or recording.

5 more elements

A test tool for use in testing a subterranean well formation, the test tool being lowerable into the well on a single-conductor electric cable and locked and sealed in a landing receptacle which forms a part of a well tubing disposed in the well and having a lower portion communicating with the well formation, the test tool comprising:

(a) an elongate body means having a longitudinal flow passage therethrough;
(b) means on said elongate body means for anchoring the same in said landing receptacle of said well tubing in locked and sealed relation therewith;
(v) valve means carried on said elongate body, said valve means including telescoped tubular members having lateral flow ports in their walls, and being relatively slidable longitudinally between positions opening and closing said flow ports for permitting or preventing flow therethrough, said valve means being actuable between open and closed positions in response to tensioning and relaxing said electric cable;
(d) pressure sensing means above said anchoring means, including:
(i) a first electrically-powered pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of fluids below said valve means, said first pressure sensor having means for generating suitable electrical signals for transmission to the surface through said electric cable to indicate the magnitude of the pressures sensed,
(ii) a second electrically-powered pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of fluids above said valve means, said second pressure sensor having means for generating suitable electrical signals for transmission to the surface through said electric cable to indicate the magnitude of the pressures sensed, and
(iii) switching means connected to both said first and second pressure sensors and to said electric cable for alternately switching electric power thereto at predetermined intervals;
and
(e) means for connecting said test tool string to said electric cable.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Well testing apparatus

Life of this patent

Well testing apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30