Early evaluation system
First Claim
1. A method of servicing a well having an uncased borehole intersecting a subsurface zone or formation of interest, comprising:
- (a) running an outer tubing string into said well, said outer tubing string including;
a packer having an inflatable element;
a communication passage communicating an interior of said outer tubing string with said borehole below said packer;
an inflation passage communicating said inflatable element with said interior of said outer tubing string; and
an inflation valve having an open position wherein said inflation passage is open, and having a closed position wherein said inflation passage is closed, said inflation valve being movable between its said open and closed positions by surface manipulation of said outer tubing string;
(b) with said inflation valve in its said open position, inflating said inflatable element by increasing fluid pressure in said interior of said outer tubing string, and thereby setting said packer in said borehole above said subsurface zone or formation;
(c) after step (b), closing said inflation valve by surface manipulation of said outer tubing string to maintain said packer set in said borehole;
(d) after step (c), running an inner well tool into said outer tubing string; and
(e) engaging said inner well tool with said outer tubing string and placing said inner well tool in fluid communication with said subsurface zone or formation through said communication passage.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A number of improvements are provided in early evaluation systems which can be utilized to test and/or treat a subsurface formation intersected by an open uncased borehole. An outer tubing string is run into the well and has a packer which is set in the open, uncased borehole above the subsurface formation of interest. An inflation passage is provided and preferably has an inflation valve associated therewith which is operated by manipulation of the tubing string. A communication passage communicates the interior of the outer tubing string with the borehole below the packer. An inner well tool is run into the outer tubing string and engaged therewith, whereupon it is placed in fluid communication with the subsurface formation to either sample the formation or treat the formation. Preferably, a circulating valve is provided above the packer to allow fluid circulation in the well annulus during the testing procedure to prevent differential sticking of the outer tubing string. The inner well tool may include an inner tubing string, preferably coiled tubing, which may include annulus pressure responsive tester valves therein.
158 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method of servicing a well having an uncased borehole intersecting a subsurface zone or formation of interest, comprising:
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(a) running an outer tubing string into said well, said outer tubing string including; a packer having an inflatable element; a communication passage communicating an interior of said outer tubing string with said borehole below said packer; an inflation passage communicating said inflatable element with said interior of said outer tubing string; and an inflation valve having an open position wherein said inflation passage is open, and having a closed position wherein said inflation passage is closed, said inflation valve being movable between its said open and closed positions by surface manipulation of said outer tubing string; (b) with said inflation valve in its said open position, inflating said inflatable element by increasing fluid pressure in said interior of said outer tubing string, and thereby setting said packer in said borehole above said subsurface zone or formation; (c) after step (b), closing said inflation valve by surface manipulation of said outer tubing string to maintain said packer set in said borehole; (d) after step (c), running an inner well tool into said outer tubing string; and (e) engaging said inner well tool with said outer tubing string and placing said inner well tool in fluid communication with said subsurface zone or formation through said communication passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of servicing a well having an uncased borehole intersecting a subsurface zone, comprising:
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(a) running an outer tubing string into a well, said outer tubing string including; a retrievable straddle packer having upper and lower packer elements; a circulating valve located above said upper packer element and communicating an interior of said outer tubing string with a well annulus between said borehole and said outer tubing string; and a communication passage communicating said interior of said outer tubing string with said borehole between said upper and lower packer elements; (b) setting said upper and lower packer elements in said uncased borehole above and below said subsurface zone, respectively; c) running an inner well tool into said outer tubing string; (d) engaging said inner well tool with said outer tubing string and placing said inner well tool in fluid communication with said subsurface zone through said communication passage; and (e) while said inner well tool is in fluid communication with said subsurface zone through said communication passage, circulating fluid through said well annulus and through said circulating valve and thereby preventing sticking of said outer tubing string in said uncased borehole. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of testing a well having an uncased borehole intersecting a subsurface formation, comprising:
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(a) running an outer tubing string into said uncased borehole of said well, said outer tubing string including a packer adapted for sealingly engaging said uncased borehole and including a communication passage communicating an interior of said outer tubing string with said borehole below said packer; (b) setting said packer in said uncased borehole above said subsurface formation; (c) running an inner tubing string into said outer tubing string; (d) engaging said inner tubing string with said outer tubing string and placing an inner tubing bore of said inner tubing string in fluid communication with said subsurface formation through said communication passage; and (e) flowing well fluid from said subsurface formation through said communication passage and up through said inner tubing bore. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for testing a well, comprising:
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an outer tubing string including; a packer; a communication passage communicating an interior of said outer tubing string with an exterior of said outer tubing string below said packer; and means for setting said packer in said well; and an inner tubing string received in said outer tubing string with a tubing annulus defined between said inner tubing string and said outer tubing string, said inner tubing string having a lower end engaged with said outer tubing string so that an inner tubing bore of said inner tubing string is communicated with said communication passage, said inner tubing string including an annulus pressure responsive tester valve having a power port communicated with said tubing annulus. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of treating a well having an uncased borehole intersecting a subsurface formation, comprising:
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(a) running an outer tubing string into said well, said outer tubing string including a packer and including a communication passage communicating an interior of said outer tubing string with said borehole below said packer; (b) setting said packer in said uncased borehole above said subsurface formation; (c) running a fluid injection tool down into said outer tubing string; (d) engaging said fluid injection tool with said outer tubing string and placing said fluid injection tool in fluid communication with said subsurface formation through said communication passage; and (e) injecting a treatment fluid from said fluid injection tool through said communication passage into said subsurface formation. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of testing a well having an uncased borehole intersecting a subsurface formation, comprising:
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(a) running an outer tubing string into said well, said outer tubing string including an inflatable straddle packer and a downhole rotationally operated inflation pump and including a communication passage communicating an interior of said outer tubing string with said borehole below said packer; (b) setting said packer in said uncased borehole above said subsurface formation including rotating said outer tubing string from a surface location to operate said inflation pump and inflate said straddle packer; (c) running an inner tubing string into said outer tubing string; (d) engaging said inner tubing string with said outer tubing string and placing an inner tubing bore of said inner tubing string in fluid communication with said subsurface formation through said communication passage; and (e) flowing well fluid from said subsurface formation through said communication passage and up through said inner tubing bore.
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48. A method of testing a well having an uncased borehole intersecting a subsurface formation, comprising:
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(a) running an outer tubing string into said well, said outer tubing string including a packer including a communication passage communicating an interior of said outer tubing string with said borehole below said packer; (b) setting said packer in said cased borehole above said subsurface formation; (c) running an inner tubing string into said outer tubing string, said inner tubing string including a sampler; (d) engaging said inner tubing string with said outer tubing string and placing an inner tubing bore of said inner tubing string in fluid communication with said subsurface formation through said communication passage; and (e) flowing well fluid from said subsurface formation through said communication passage and up through said inner tubing bore and trapping a sample of said well fluid in said sampler.
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49. A system for testing a well, comprising:
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an outer tubing string including; an inflatable straddle packer; a communication passage communicating an interior of said outer tubing string with an exterior of said outer tubing string below said packer; and means for setting said packer in said well, said means for setting including a downhole pump operated by rotation of said outer tubing string; and an inner tubing string received in said outer tubing string with a tubing annulus defined between said inner tubing string and said outer tubing string, said inner tubing string having a lower end engaged with said outer tubing string so that an inner tubing bore of said inner tubing string is communicated with said communication passage, said inner tubing string including an annulus pressure responsive tester valve having a power port communicated with said tubing annulus.
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50. A system for testing a well, comprising:
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an outer tubing string including; a packer; a communication passage communicating an interior of said outer tubing string with an exterior of said outer tubing string below said packer; and means for setting said packer in said well; and an inner tubing string received in said outer tubing string with a tubing annulus defined between said inner tubing string and said outer tubing string, said inner tubing string having a lower end engaged with said outer tubing string so that an inner tubing bore of said inner tubing string is communicated with said communication passage, said inner tubing string including; an annulus pressure responsive tester valve having a power port communicated with said tubing annulus; and a sampler.
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Specification