Formation Testing and Sampling Apparatus and Methods

• US 20100116494A1
• Filed: 01/18/2010
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Shade, Michael E., Fox, Philip Edmund, Proett, Mark A., Gilbert, Gregory N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/264
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

Abstract

Systems and methods for downhole formation testing based on the use of one or more elongated sealing pads capable of sealing off and collecting or injecting fluids from elongated portions along the surface of a borehole. The modified sealing pads increase the flow area by collecting fluids from an extended portion along the surface of a borehole, which is likely to straddle one or more layers in laminated or fractured formations. A tester device using the elongated sealing pads can be deployed and withdrawn using an extendible element pressing the pads to the borehole. Various designs and arrangements for use with a fluid tester, which may be part of a modular fluid tool, are disclosed in accordance with different embodiments.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a formation tester to support an elongated sealing pad having at least one elongated recess, the apparatus comprising:

a rigid base shaped to accept the elongated sealing pad, wherein the rigid base comprises at least one opening into the at least one elongated recess of the elongated sealing pad; and

one or more extendable supports attached to the rigid base, operable to protrude the rigid base away from the tester.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an elongated sealing pad attached to the rigid base.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fluid path establishing fluid communication from the at least one opening into the interior of the tester.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fluid path establishes fluid communication through the one or more extendable supports.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one high-resolution temperature compensated gauge pressure transducer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening of the rigid base is connected to a pretest pump within the tester by a flow line.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more extendable supports comprises a hydraulic piston.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more extendable supports comprises a hydraulic ram.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the one or more extendable supports establishes a separate fluid path to the interior of the tester.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the rigid base is molded to the elongated sealing pad.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elongated sealing pad is removably attached to the rigid base.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an aperture restricting the extrusion of the elongated sealing pad in the direction of the opening in the rigid base.

13. A method of operating a formation tester having a rigid base shaped to support an elongated sealing pad, and an elongated sealing pad having at least one elongated recess, the method comprising:

lowering the rigid base and the elongated sealing pad into a borehole;

establishing fluid communication from the at least one elongated recess of the elongated sealing pad into the interior of the tester; and

extending one or more supports to protrude the rigid base and the elongated sealing pad away from the tester.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the fluid communication is established through at least one opening in the rigid base.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the fluid communication is established through the one or more extendable supports.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing at least one high-resolution temperature compensated gauge pressure transducer.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising connecting the at least one opening of the rigid base to a pretest pump within the tester with a flow line.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more supports comprises a hydraulic piston.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more supports comprises a hydraulic ram.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising establishing separate fluid paths from the at least one opening in the rigid base to the interior of the tester.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the rigid base is molded to the elongated sealing pad.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the elongated sealing pad is removably attached to the rigid base.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising restricting extrusion of the elongated sealing pad in the direction of the at least one opening with an aperture.