Methods and Systems for Sampling Heavy Oil Reservoirs
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- (a) circulating a heated fluid in a first region of a reservoir where a heavy oil composition is present or believed present using a surface pump and a well completion comprising a downhole pump for a time and flow rate sufficient to produce flowable heavy oil composition, the well completion comprising a sampling tool; and
(b) sampling the flowable heavy oil composition using the sampling tool.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems and are described for isolating or manipulating a sample of a heavy oil composition from a hydrocarbon reservoir. One method embodiment of the invention comprises circulating a heated fluid in a first region of a reservoir where a heavy oil composition is present or believed present using a surface pump and a well completion comprising a downhole pump for a time and flow rate sufficient to produce flowable heavy oil composition, the well completion comprising a sampling tool; and sampling the flowable heavy oil composition using the sampling tool. This abstract complies with rules requiring an abstract. It should not be used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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(a) circulating a heated fluid in a first region of a reservoir where a heavy oil composition is present or believed present using a surface pump and a well completion comprising a downhole pump for a time and flow rate sufficient to produce flowable heavy oil composition, the well completion comprising a sampling tool; and (b) sampling the flowable heavy oil composition using the sampling tool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for obtaining a heavy oil sample from a reservoir comprising:
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(a) installing a well completion in a wellbore near a first section of a heavy oil reservoir, the well completion comprising; (i) a non-insulated tubing; (ii) a downhole pump connected to an end of the non-insulated tubing; and (iii) a bypass tubing; (b) inserting an insulated coiled tubing through the bypass tubing, a distal end of the insulated coiled tubing having a sampling tool affixed thereto; (c) pumping a heated non-volatile oil through the insulated coiled tubing and into the first section of the reservoir using a surface pump; (d) pumping at least a portion of the heated non-volatile oil to the surface until heated heavy oil begins to flow from the first section of reservoir; (e) stopping the surface pump, thus stopping pumping of the heated non-volatile oil, while maintaining pumping of fluid using the downhole pump; and (f) sampling heavy oil using the sampling tool.
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19. A system comprising:
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(a) a well completion in a wellbore near a first section of a heavy oil reservoir, the well completion comprising a non-insulated tubing, a downhole pump connected to an end of the non-insulated tubing, and a bypass tubing having an internal diameter; (b) an insulated coiled tubing having an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the bypass tubing, allowing the insulated tubing to move longitudinally through the bypass tubing, a distal end of the insulated coiled tubing having a clock-operated, battery-powered sampling tool affixed thereto; and (c) a surface pump for pumping a heated non-volatile oil through the insulated coiled tubing and into the first region of the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification