Apparatus for testing and sampling open-hole oil and gas wells

A method of servicing an open-hole well, comprising the steps of:

• (a) running a well tool into the well, said tool comprising:
• a packer having a packer element engagable with an inner surface of said well adjacent to a zone of interest in said well;
• a first surge chamber operatively connected to said packer;
• a second surge chamber operatively connected to said packer;
• a first closure valve in communication with said first surge chamber, said first closure valve having a normally closed position and adapted for automatically opening after a first predetermined time delay;
• and
• a second closure valve in communication with said second surge chamber, said second closure valve having a normally closed position and adapted for automatically opening after a second predetermined time delay;
• (b) activating said tool such that:
• said packer element is set into sealing engagement with said inner surface of said well;
• and
• said first and second closure valves are activated thereby initiating said first and second predetermined time delays substantially simultaneously with the setting of said packer element into sealing engagement with said inner surface of said well;
• (c) automatically opening said first closure valve after said first predetermined time delay and after setting of said packer;
• (d) flowing fluid from said zone through said first closure valve into said first surge chamber;
• (e) automatically opening said second closure valve after said second predetermined time delay and after setting of said packer and opening of said first closure valve;
• and
• (f) flowing fluid from said zone through said second closure valve into said second surge chamber.

An apparatus for use in an open-hole well, said apparatus comprising:

• a packer having a packer element adapted for engagement with an inner surface of the well adjacent to a zone of interest in the well when the packer is in a set position;
• a surge chamber connected to said packer;
• and
• a closure valve in communication with said surge chamber, said closure valve having a normally closed position and comprising an opener which is adapted for being actuated substantially simultaneously with the setting of said packer and thereby automatically opening said closure valve at a predetermined time delay after the setting of said packer.