Technique and apparatus for use in well testing

• US 20070050145A1
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Zhan, Lang, Kannan, Dhandayuthapani, Filas, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,478,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/6
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/081 with down-hole means for trapping a fluid sample E21B49/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/088 combined with sampling

Abstract

A technique that is usable with a well includes communicating fluid from the well into a downhole chamber in connection with a well testing operation. The technique includes monitoring a downhole parameter that is responsive to the communication to determine when to close the chamber.

Claims

1. A method usable with a well, comprising:

communicating fluid from the well into a downhole chamber in connection with a well test; and

monitoring a downhole parameter responsive to the communication of the fluid to determine when to close the chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the determination of when to close the chamber and the act of monitoring occurs remotely from a surface of the well.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the act of monitoring and the determination of when to close the chamber occurs entirely downhole in the well.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

closing the chamber in response to the monitoring.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of closing the chamber occurs in response to at least one of the following:

a predetermined magnitude of the parameter;

a predetermined value of a mathematical transform of the parameter;

a time signature of the parameter;

a frequency signature of the parameter;

a time signature of a mathematical transform of the parameter; and

a frequency signature of a mathematical transform of the parameter.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of closing comprises isolating the chamber from a bottom hole pressure in the well.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of closing the chamber comprises closing a downhole valve in response to the act of monitoring.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of closing the chamber occurs in response to expiration of a predetermined time interval.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of closing occurs in response to the detection of at least one of said fluid and at least one other fluid.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein

the parameter indicates a pressure, and

the act of closing occurs in response to a time rate of change of the pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pressure comprises one of a pressure in the chamber and a pressure upstream of the chamber.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein

the parameter indicates a pressure, and

the act of closing occurs in response to a magnitude of the pressure exceeding a predetermined limit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the pressure comprises one of a pressure in the chamber and a pressure upstream of the chamber.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein the parameter indicates a pressure;

and

the act of closing occurs in response to at least one of the following;

a time signature of the pressure substantially matching a predetermined time signature;

a frequency signature of the pressure substantially matching a predetermined frequency signature;

a time signature of a time rate of change of the pressure substantially matching a predetermined signature; and

a frequency signature of a time rate of change of the pressure substantially matching a predetermined signature.

15. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of closing comprises closing the chamber in response to a column of fluid inside the chamber reaching a predetermined height.

16. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of closing comprises closing the chamber in response to a volume of fluid inside the chamber reaching a predetermined value.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter indicates one of a property of the fluid and a property of another fluid affected by the communication.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises an indication of at least one of the following:

whether a mechanical object moved by the flow has reached a predetermined height in the chamber;

whether a time signature of the movement of a mechanical object substantially matches a predetermined pattern;

whether a frequency signature of the movement of a mechanical object substantially matches a predetermined pattern;

whether a velocity of the mechanical object has reached a predetermined value;

whether a time signature of a velocity of a mechanical object substantially matches a predetermined pattern;

whether a frequency signature of a velocity of a mechanical object substantially matches a predetermined pattern;

whether a time rate of change of the velocity of a mechanical object has reached a predetermined value;

whether a time signature of a time rate of change of the velocity of the mechanical object substantially matches a predetermined pattern; and

whether a frequency signature of a time rate of change of the velocity of the mechanical object substantially matches a predetermined pattern.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises an indication of a flow rate of the fluid.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises an indication of a pressure near an upper end of the chamber.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises an indication of a pressure near a bottom end of the chamber.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the well testing operation comprises a closed chamber testing operation.

23. A system usable with a well, comprising:

a tubular member including a chamber;

a valve disposed in the tubular member to control fluid flow from the well into the chamber in connection with a well testing operation; and

a circuit to receive an indication of a measurement of a downhole parameter responsive to the fluid flow and control the valve to selectively close the valve in response to the measurement.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the valve is located near a lower end of the chamber and the system further comprises:

another valve located near an upper end of the chamber.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the circuit closes the valve in response to at least one of the following:

a predetermined magnitude of the parameter;

a predetermined value of a mathematical transform of the parameter;

a time signature of the parameter;

a frequency signature of the parameter;

a time signature of a mathematical transform of the parameter; and

a frequency signature of a mathematical transform of the parameter.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the parameter indicates one of a property of the fluid and a property of another fluid affected by the communication.

27. The system of claim 23, further comprising a mechanical object disposed in the chamber to be moved by the flow, wherein the parameter comprises an indication of at least one of the following:

whether the mechanical object has reached a predetermined height in the chamber;

whether a time signature of the movement of a mechanical object substantially matches a predetermined pattern;

whether a frequency signature of the movement of a mechanical object substantially matches a predetermined pattern;

whether a velocity of the mechanical object has reached a predetermined value;

whether a time signature of a velocity of a mechanical object substantially matches a predetermined pattern;

whether a frequency signature of a velocity of a mechanical object substantially matches a predetermined pattern;

whether a time rate of change of the velocity of the mechanical object has reached a predetermined value;

whether a time signature of a time rate of change of the velocity of the mechanical object substantially matches a predetermined pattern; and

whether a frequency signature of a time rate of change of the velocity of the mechanical object substantially matches a predetermined pattern.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the parameter comprises an indication of a flow rate of the fluid, and the circuit closes the valve in response to at least one of the following:

a magnitude of the flow rate being below a predetermined threshold;

a time signature of the flow rate substantially matching a predetermined pattern;

a frequency signature of the flow rate substantially matching a predetermined pattern;

a time rate of change of the flow rate reaching a predetermined threshold;

a time signature of a time rate of change of the flow rate substantially matching a predetermined pattern; and

a frequency signature of the time rate of change of the flow rate substantially matching a predetermined frequency pattern.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the circuit closes the valve in response to one of a set consisting of essentially the following:

a column of the fluid inside the chamber reaching a predetermined height;

a time signature of the column height of the fluid inside the chamber substantially matching a predetermined pattern;

a frequency signature of the column height of the fluid inside the chamber substantially matching a predetermined pattern;

a time rate of change of the column of the fluid inside the chamber exceeding a predetermined threshold;

a time signature of a time rate of change of the column of the fluid inside the chamber substantially matching a predetermined pattern; and

a frequency signature of the time rate of change of the column of the fluid inside the chamber substantially matching a predetermined frequency pattern.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein

the parameter indicates a pressure in the chamber, and

the circuit closes the valve in response to one of a time rate of change of the pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold, a time signature of a time rate of change of the pressure substantially matching a predetermined pattern;

and a frequency signature of the time rate of change of the pressure substantially matching a predetermined frequency pattern.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the parameter indicates a pressure, and the circuit closes the valve in response to at least one of the following:

a magnitude of the pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold;

a time signature of the pressure substantially matching a predetermined pattern;

a frequency signature of the pressure substantially matching a predetermined pattern;

a time rate of change of the pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold;

a time signature of a time rate of change of the pressure substantially matching a predetermined pattern; and

a frequency signature of the time rate of change of the pressure substantially matching a predetermined frequency pattern.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein

the parameter indicates a pressure in the chamber, and

the circuit closes the valve in response to a magnitude of the pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein

the parameter indicates a pressure upstream of the chamber, and

the circuit closes the valve in response to a magnitude of the pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the well testing operation comprises a closed chamber testing operation.