APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CHARACTERIZING A RESERVOIR

• US 20110107830A1
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Eghbali, Ali, Fensky, Charles, Karuppoor, Srinand, Harrigan, Edward, Hill, Bunker M., Fields, Troy, Pop, Julian, Majkut, Frederik, Barriol, Yves, Desroches, Jean, Del Campo, Christopher S., Brockmeier, Oivind
• Granted Patent: US 8,991,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/152.41
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/12 Packers; Plugs used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16
• 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 49/06 using side-wall drilling tools pressing or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/061 the tool shaft advancing relative to a guide, e.g. a curved tube or a whipstock

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a downhole tool configured for conveyance within a borehole penetrating a subterranean formation, wherein the downhole tool comprises: a probe assembly configured to seal a region of a wall of the borehole; a perforator configured to penetrate a portion of the sealed region of the borehole wall by projecting through the probe assembly; a fluid chamber comprising a fluid; and a pump configured to inject the fluid from the fluid chamber into the formation through the perforator.

Claims

1. An apparatus for characterizing a subsurface formation, comprising:

a probe assembly;

an actuator configured to move the probe assembly between a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein the probe assembly is configured to seal a region of the borehole wall when in the deployed position;

a perforator configured to penetrate a portion of the sealed region of the borehole wall by projecting through the probe assembly;

a flow line fluidly communicating with at least one of the perforator, the actuator and the probe assembly; and

a pump carried within the tool body and operatively coupled to the flow line.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the perforator is configured to penetrate at least one of a consolidated formation, a casing, and cement.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fluid chamber configured to fluidly communicate with the pump.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the fluid chamber is configured to convey injection fluid within the wellbore.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pump is configured to inject fluid into the formation through the perforator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a tool body housing at least a portion of the probe assembly, the actuator, the perforator, the flow line and the pump, wherein the tool body is configured for conveyance within the borehole via at least one of a wireline and a drillstring.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an anchor system configured to support the tool body against a region of the borehole wall opposite the sealed region the borehole wall.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the probe assembly comprises a substantially rigid plate and a compressible packer element coupled to the plate.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the actuator comprises:

a plurality of pistons connected to the plate and configured to move the probe assembly between the retracted and deployed positions; and

a controllable energy source configured to power the pistons.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the perforator comprises at least one of an explosive charge, a hydraulic punch, a coring bit and a combination thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pump comprises a bidirectional pump.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an inclinometry device configured to measure a perforation orientation.

13. A method of characterizing a subsurface formation, comprising:

conveying a tool within a borehole penetrating the subsurface formation, wherein the tool comprises;

a probe assembly;

an actuator configured to move the probe assembly between a retracted position and a deployed position; and

a perforator;

sealing a region of the borehole wall using the probe assembly;

projecting the perforator through the probe assembly to penetrate a portion of the sealed region of the borehole wall; and

injecting fluid into the formation through the perforator.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein projecting the perforator to penetrate a portion of the sealed region of the borehole wall comprises projecting the perforator to penetrate at least one of a consolidated formation, a casing and cement.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein injecting fluid into the formation is performed at a plurality of tool orientations.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising measuring a closure stress at each of the plurality of tool orientations and determining at least one of a minimum horizontal stress value, a maximum horizontal stress value and a horizontal stress orientation relative to a reference.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining formation permeability based on the injected fluid.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining mobility of the injected fluid.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising performing a leak-off test on the subterranean formation.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein injecting fluid into the formation comprises injecting at least one of an injection fluid, a formation fluid, and a mixture thereof from a sample chamber disposed within the tool.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein projecting the perforator through the probe assembly comprises:

extending a flexible drilling shaft having a drill bit connected to an end thereof to penetrate the portion of the sealed region of the borehole wall; and

applying torque and translatory force to the flexible drilling shaft using a drilling motor assembly.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein extending the flexible drilling shaft comprises directing the translatory path of the flexible drilling shaft using a tubular guide so as to effect a substantially normal penetration path by the drill bit through the borehole wall.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein conveying the tool within the borehole comprises conveying the tool via at least one of a wireline and a drill string.