Open hole formation testing
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsKevin R. Manke, Harold Wayne Nivens, Samuel Bianco, Charles M. MacPhail, Ricardo Maldonado
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods particularly suitable for open hole formation testing are provided. In a described embodiment, a method of performing a test on a formation intersected by a wellbore includes the steps of flowing fluid into an apparatus from the formation, displacing a fluid barrier of the apparatus in one direction, flowing the formation fluid out of the apparatus and back into the formation by applying pressure to the apparatus, and displacing the fluid barrier in an opposite direction.
Claims27
A method of performing a test on a formation intersected by a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
- installing a test apparatus in the wellbore, the test apparatus including a fluid barrier reciprocably displaceable within the apparatus, the barrier having first and second opposite sides;
- flowing fluid from the formation into the apparatus on the first side of the barrier, the barrier displacing in a first direction in the apparatus as the formation fluid flows into the apparatus;
- and
- applying pressure to the apparatus on the second side of the barrier, thereby displacing the barrier in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the apparatus and forcing the formation fluid to flow back into the formation from which the fluid originated,
- the barrier preventing flow therethrough when formation fluid is flowed into the test apparatus.
A method of performing a test on a formation intersected by a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
- installing a test apparatus in the wellbore, the test apparatus including a fluid barrier reciprocably displaceable within the apparatus, the barrier having first and second opposite sides;
- flowing fluid from the formation into the apparatus on the first side of the barrier, the barrier displacing in a first direction in the apparatus as the formation fluid flows into the apparatus;
- applying pressure to the apparatus on the second side of the barrier, thereby displacing the barrier in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the apparatus and forcing the formation fluid to flow back into the formation from which the fluid originated;
- and
- setting at least one packer of the apparatus in response to displacement of the barrier in the second direction prior to the flowing step.
A method of performing a test on a formation intersected by a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
- installing a test apparatus in the wellbore, the test apparatus including a fluid barrier reciprocably displaceable within the apparatus, the barrier having first and second opposite sides;
- flowing fluid from the formation into the apparatus on the first side of the barrier, the barrier displacing in a first direction in the apparatus as the formation fluid flows into the apparatus;
- applying pressure to the apparatus on the second side of the barrier, thereby displacing the barrier in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the apparatus and forcing the formation fluid to flow back into the formation from which the fluid originated;
- and
- opening a waste chamber of the apparatus prior to flowing the formation fluid into the apparatus, opening of the waste chamber permitting wellbore fluid to flow into the waste chamber,
- there being multiple waste chambers, and wherein the waste chamber opening step further comprises sequentially and selectively opening each of the waste chambers,
- there being multiple formations intersected by the wellbore, wherein the formation fluid flowing and pressure applying steps are performed for each of multiple selected ones of the formations, and wherein the waste chamber opening step is performed for each of the selected formations, each of the waste chambers being opened for a corresponding one of the selected formations prior to the respective flowing step.
A system for performing a test on a formation intersected by a wellbore, the system comprising:
- a fluid barrier reciprocably displaceable within an apparatus into which fluid from the formation is flowed, the barrier reciprocably displacing when the formation fluid is flowed between the apparatus and the formation;
- and
- a valve in the apparatus, the valve being operated in response to displacement of the barrier,
- the fluid barrier preventing flow therethrough when formation fluid is flowed into the apparatus.
A system for performing a test on a formation intersected by a wellbore, the system comprising:
- a fluid barrier reciprocably displaceable within an apparatus into which fluid from the formation is flowed, the barrier displacing when the formation fluid is flowed between the apparatus and the formation;
- and
- a valve in the apparatus, the valve being operated in response to displacement of the barrier,
- the apparatus including a tubular string positioned in the wellbore, and the tubular string having an interior in fluid communication with a flow passage extending through the valve, and
- the barrier displacing in the first direction, thereby closing the valve and preventing flow through the flow passage, when pressure in the tubular string interior is less than pressure in the formation, and the barrier displacing in the second direction and the valve opening, thereby permitting flow through the flow passage, when pressure in the tubular string interior is greater than pressure in the formation.
A system for performing a test on a formation intersected by a wellbore, the system comprising:
- at least one packer interconnected as part of a drill string apparatus positioned in the wellbore;
- a fluid barrier reciprocably displaceable within the apparatus when fluid is flowed between the apparatus and the formation;
- and
- a control module interconnected to the packer, the module alternately permitting and preventing setting and unsetting of the packer in response to reciprocal displacements of the barrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.