Formation Evaluation System and Method

• US 20070079962A1
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Zazovsky, Alexander, Vasques, Ricardo, Campo, Christopher, Qiu, Grace
• Granted Patent: US 8,555,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/264
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/008 by injection test; by analysing pressure variations in an injection or production test, e.g. for estimating the skin factor measuring pressure E21B47/06
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/08 Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for evaluating a fluid from a subterranean formation of a wellsite via a downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation are provided. The apparatus relates to a downhole tool having a probe with at least two intakes for receiving fluid from the subterranean formation. The downhole tool is configured according to a wellsite set up. The method involves positioning the downhole tool in the wellbore of the wellsite, drawing fluid into the downhole tool via the at least two intakes, monitoring at least one wellsite parameter via at least one sensor of the wellsite and automatically adjusting the wellsite setup based on the wellsite parameters.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating a fluid from a subterranean formation of a wellsite via a downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:

positioning the downhole tool in the wellbore of the wellsite, the downhole tool having a probe with at least two intakes for receiving fluid from the subterranean formation, the downhole tool configured according to a wellsite set up;

drawing fluid into the downhole tool via the at least two intakes;

monitoring at least one wellsite parameter via at least one sensor of the wellsite; and

automatically adjusting the wellsite setup based on the wellsite parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, performing the following steps:

assembling the downhole tool according to the wellsite setup;

performing a simulation to determine if the wellsite set up operates within operational constraints; and

adjusting the wellsite set up to meet the operational constraints.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing at least one wellsite operation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wellsite operation comprises at least one downhole test and wherein the at least one wellsite parameter comprises contamination level.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising manually adjusting the wellsite set up based on the wellsite parameters.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the wellsite setup comprises at least one tool configuration.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one tool configuration comprises an intake diameter of at least one of the at least two flowlines.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the wellsite setup comprises at least one operational setting.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one operational setting comprises a pumping rate of the at least two flowlines.

10. A method for evaluating a fluid from a subterranean formation of a wellsite via a downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:

positioning the downhole tool in the wellbore of the wellsite, the downhole tool configured according to a wellsite set up;

selectively drawing fluid from the subterranean formation and into the downhole tool via a fluid communication device having a contamination intake and a sampling intakes for receiving fluid;

measuring at least one downhole parameter of the formation fluid via at least one sensor in the downhole tool; and

automatically adjusting the tool setup based on the at least one downhole parameter.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, performing the following steps:

assembling the downhole tool according to the tool setup;

performing a simulation to determine if the tool set up operates within operational constraints; and

adjusting the tool set up to meet the operational constraints.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising performing at least one downhole operation.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising manually adjusting the tool set up based on the downhole parameters.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the tool setup comprises at least one tool configuration.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one tool configuration comprises an intake diameter of at least one of the at least two flowlines.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the tool setup comprises at least one operational setting.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one operational setting comprises a pumping rate of the at least two flowlines.

13. The method of claim 13, wherein the downhole operation comprises at least one downhole test and wherein the at least one downhole parameter comprises contamination level.

19. A downhole tool for evaluating a fluid from a subterranean formation of a wellsite via a downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:

a housing;

a fluid communication device for collecting downhole fluids according to a tool setup, the fluid communication device having a sampling intake and a contamination intake;

at least one sensor for detecting downhole parameters;

a processor for analyzing data collected from the at least one sensor; and

a controller for selectively adjusting the tool setup based on the downhole parameters.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising an operator control panel operatively connected to the controller for selectively adjusting the tool setup.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller comprises one of a downhole control unit, a surface control unit, a remote control unit, an operator control panel and combinations thereof.