ADJUSTABLE TESTING TOOL AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20100024540A1
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Antonio Castilho, Arne Richard Pedersen, Cosan Ayan, Gustavo Andreolli Ribeiro, Nicolas Adur, Ricardo Vasques
• Original Assignee: Antonio Castilho, Arne Richard Pedersen, Cosan Ayan, Gustavo Andreolli Ribeiro, Nicolas Adur, Ricardo Vasques
• Inventors: Adur, Nicolas, Castilho, Antonio, Ribeiro, Gustavo Andreolli, Pedersen, Arne Richard, Vasques, Ricardo, Ayan, Cosan
• Granted Patent: US 7,913,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/152.550
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1246 inflated by down-hole pumping means operated by a pipe string
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/08 Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/081 with down-hole means for trapping a fluid sample E21B49/10 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and systems for testing a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore are provided. A testing tool has a plurality of packers spaced apart along the axis of the tool, and at least a testing port. The testing tool is positioned into the wellbore and packers are extended into sealing engagement with the wellbore wall, sealing thereby an interval of the wellbore. In some embodiments, the wellbore interval sealed between two packers is adjusted downhole. In one embodiment, the location of the testing port is adjusted between two packers. The methods may be used to advantage for reducing the contamination of the formation fluid by fluids or debris in the wellbore.

Claims

1. A method for testing a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:

positioning a testing tool in the wellbore, the testing tool comprising a tool body, a sensor, a plurality of packer elements spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis of the tool body, and a port on the tool body located between two of the plurality of packer elements;

extending at least two packer elements into sealing engagement with the wellbore wall;

sealing a first interval of the wellbore;

flowing fluid between the first sealed interval and the testing tool through the port;

monitoring a property with the sensor;

extending a third packer element into sealing engagement with the wellbore wall, wherein extending the third packer element into sealing engagement with the wellbore wall is triggered by the monitored property; and

sealing a second interval of the wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising flowing fluid from the second sealed interval into the testing tool through the port.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first interval comprises the second interval.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the testing tool comprises a second port and the method further comprises flowing fluid from the second sealed interval into the testing tool through the second port.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the testing tool comprises a cavity in fluid communication with the port, the cavity carries a material, and flowing fluid between the first sealed interval and the testing tool through the port comprises releasing the material in the wellbore.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the testing tool comprises a cavity in fluid communication with the port, and wherein flowing fluid between the first sealed interval and the testing tool through the port comprises drawing fluid into the cavity.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising pulverizing particles carried by the fluid flowed through the port.

8. A method for testing a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:

adjusting a port on a testing tool, the testing tool comprising a tool body, a snorkel assembly, a plurality of packer elements spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis of the tool body, and a port on the tool body located between two of the plurality of packer elements;

positioning the testing tool in the wellbore;

extending at least two packer elements into sealing engagement with the wellbore wall;

sealing an interval of the wellbore;

draining fluid from the sealed interval into the testing tool through the adjusted port; and

adjusting a characteristic of the snorkel assembly.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising adjusting the fluid volume trapped in the sealed interval by selecting an outer diameter of the snorkel assembly.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein adjusting a port comprises adjusting the location of the port within a packer interval.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the snorkel assembly comprises a snorkel port and a fluid communication between the port on the tool body and the snorkel port, the snorkel port and the tool port being substantially offset from each other.

12. A system for testing a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:

a testing tool comprising a tool body, a plurality of packer elements spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis of the tool body, and a port on the tool body located between two packer elements; and

an adjustable snorkel assembly on the testing tool comprising a snorkel port and a fluid communication between the port on the tool body and the snorkel port, the snorkel port and the tool port being substantially offset from each other.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a screen filter.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the snorkel port is located at a different level with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tool body than the port on the tool body.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the snorkel port extends around the circumference of the tool.

16. The system of claim 12 further comprising a flow line in fluid communication with the port on the tool.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising an ultrasonic transmitter configured to emit a wave in the flow line.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising a laser diode configured to emit a wave in the flow line.