Method and an apparatus for use in production tests, testing an expected permeable formation
First Claim
1. An apparatus for hydrocarbon production testing, and intended to be mounted in a well having an expected permeable first formation to be production tested, and an expected second penneable formation, said apparatus comprising:
- one or more sensors, meters, regulators, or controllers for carrying out a corresponding hydrocarbon production sensing, measuring, recording pressure condition or flowing rate determination step relative to hydrocarbon fluid traveling within the well, said apparatus further comprising one or more channel-forming pipes having fluid ports which, within the well, establish a hydrocarbon fluid flow path between the first formation to be production tested and the second permeable formation, and said one or more channel forming pipes being designed to be isolated, testing in use, relative to fluid flow to or from a surface from which the well extends, and at least one seal element provided within the well in order to restrict the fluid flow between the first and second formations to said fluid flow path so as to avoid fluid communication between the two permeable formations other than through said fluid flow path.
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Abstract
When production testing a permeable first formation, fluid flowing out from the first formation is subjected to a pressure measurement and a flow rate control. In order to avoid bringing up the fluid flowing out during the production test to a surface position, where the fluid'"'"'s inherent explosion and fire risk as well as poisonousness would cause substantial problems, a fluid flow path is arranged for fluid transfer between the first formation to be production tested and a second permeable formation. The fluid flow path is preferably constituted by a channel-forming pipe. From this channel, the second permeable formation receives the fluid and keeps it for some time. In the position of use, the apparatus is assigned sealing devices such as annulus packers, which are placed such that fluid flow between the formations is limited to only follow the fluid flow path.
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Citations
74 Claims
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1. An apparatus for hydrocarbon production testing, and intended to be mounted in a well having an expected permeable first formation to be production tested, and an expected second penneable formation, said apparatus comprising:
- one or more sensors, meters, regulators, or controllers for carrying out a corresponding hydrocarbon production sensing, measuring, recording pressure condition or flowing rate determination step relative to hydrocarbon fluid traveling within the well, said apparatus further comprising one or more channel-forming pipes having fluid ports which, within the well, establish a hydrocarbon fluid flow path between the first formation to be production tested and the second permeable formation, and said one or more channel forming pipes being designed to be isolated, testing in use, relative to fluid flow to or from a surface from which the well extends, and at least one seal element provided within the well in order to restrict the fluid flow between the first and second formations to said fluid flow path so as to avoid fluid communication between the two permeable formations other than through said fluid flow path.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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23. An apparatus for production testing a permeable formation, comprising:
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one or more pipes dimensioned for being positioned within a well such that said one or more pipes define a fluid flow channel or path between a first permeable formation and a second permeable formation;
at least one seal element positioned in the well to isolate the first and second formations from fluid cross-flow; and
at least one sensor, in communication with the fluid flow channel, for providing at least one measurement of a fluid conducted in the fluid flow channel from the first permeable formation to the second permeable formation, and wherein said one or more pipes are dimensioned and arranged so as to isolate, relative to an entire axial length of said one or more pipes of said apparatus, fluid flow only between said first and second formations. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 59)
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47. An apparatus for use in testing a hydrocarbon permeable formation, comprising:
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a hydrocarbon fluid flow channel-forming pipe having a first end and a second end, said pipe having a first permeable formation fluid communication port at said first end, said pipe further comprising a second permeable formation port at said second end such that all hydrocarbon flow derived form the hydrocarbon permeable formation being tested is controlled and confined within said pipe to travel between the first and second ends of said channel-forming pipe;
means for supporting said apparatus within a well and in position within the well relative to said first and second permeable formations, said supporting means including sealing means positioned so as to preclude cross-flow of hydrocarbon fluid between said first and second permeable formations and both within the well and external to said pipe;
a hydrocarbon fluid physical property sensor positioned to be in communication with the hydrocarbon fluid flow between the first and second permeable formations. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
wherein said closure member is an end cap on said pipe and said apparatus is supported in use solely by said sealing means.
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50. The apparatus as recited in claim 47 wherein said sealing means includes a first sealing member and a second sealing member in sealing communication with said pipe and positioned axially spaced along said pipe so as to assume a position above and below the second permeable formation when in use.
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51. The apparatus as recited in claim 50 further comprising a third sealing member axially spaced below said first and second seal members.
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52. The apparatus as recited in claim 47 wherein said first permeable formation fluid communication port is formed by an open end of said pipe.
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53. An apparatus for hydrocarbon production testing, and intended to be mounted in a well having an expected permeable first formation to be production tested, and an expected second permeable formation, said apparatus comprising:
- one or more sensors, meters, regulators, or controllers for carrying out a corresponding hydrocarbon production sensing, measuring, recording pressure condition or flowing rate determination step relative to hydrocarbon fluid traveling within the well, said apparatus further comprising one or more channel forming pipes each having one or more inlet fluid ports and one or more fluid exit ports which, within the well, establish a hydrocarbon fluid flow path between the first formation to be production tested and the second permeable formation, at least one sealing element placed within the well in order to restrict the fluid flow between the first and second formations to said fluid flow path, and the inlet and outlet fluid ports being located above and below the at least one sealing element and are arranged in said one or more channel forming pipes such that said one or more channel forming pipes represent a closed system which excludes fluid flow to or from additional formations within the well and to or from a surface from which the well extends, such that all fluid flow released to said one or more channel forming pipes by the first permeable formation is restricted to travel to the second formation.
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54. An apparatus for testing a well having a first formation and a second formation, the apparatus comprising:
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a channel that provides fluid communication between the first formation and the second formation;
a pump in fluid communication with the channel, the pump inducing a flow of fluid from the first formation into the channel and from the channel into the second formation;
at least one sealing element that restricts the flow of fluid; and
the channel having one or more inlet ports positioned at a location below or above the at least one sealing clement and one or more outlet ports, and wherein said channel, inlet ports and outlet ports are arranged such that all fluid flow received by said channel between opposite axial ends thereof is directed from the first formation to the second formation in a common flow direction.- View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. An apparatus for hydrocarbon production testing, and intended to be mounted in a well having an expected permeable first formation to be production tested, and an expected second permeable formation, said apparatus comprising:
- one or more sensors, meters, regulators, or controllers for carrying out a corresponding hydrocarbon production sensing, measuring, recording pressure condition or flowing rate determination step relative to hydrocarbon fluid traveling within the well, said apparatus further comprising one or more channel-forming pipes having fluid ports which, within the well, establish a hydrocarbon fluid flow path between the first formation to be production tested and the second permeable formation, and at least one seal element provided within the well in order to restrict the fluid flow between the first and second formations to said fluid flow path so as to avoid fluid communication between the two permeable formations other than through said fluid flow path, and wherein at least one of said one or more channel-forming pipes is open at an end portion situated closest to the first formation to be production tested to define one of said fluid ports, but closed at the opposite end, and where another portion of said closed end channel-forming pipe is situated adjacent said second formation and has additional fluid ports defined by one or more lateral, through-going gates.
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71. An apparatus for production testing a permeable formation, comprising:
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one or more pipes dimensioned for being positioned within a well such that said one or more pipes define a fluid flow channel or path between a first permeable formation and a second permeable formation;
at least one seal element positioned in the well to isolate the first and second formations from fluid cross-flow; and
at least one sensor, in communication with the fluid flow channel, for providing at least one measurement of a fluid conducted in the fluid flow channel from the first permeable formation to the second permeable formation, and wherein at least one of said one or more pipes is open at an end of the fluid flow channel closest to the permeable formation to be production tested, and is closed at an opposite end, and wherein said pipe with closed end is provided, in a portion of said pipe adjacent the closed end, with at least one lateral fluid port for fluid communication with the second permeable formation.
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72. An apparatus for production testing a permeable formation, comprising:
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one or more pipes dimensioned for being positioned within a well such that said one or more pipes define a fluid flow channel or path between a first permeable formation and a second permeable formation;
at least one seal element positioned in the well to isolate the first and second formations from fluid cross-flow; and
at least one sensor, in communication with the fluid flow channel, for providing at least one measurement of a fluid conducted in the fluid flow channel from the first permeable formation to the second permeable formation and wherein at least one of said one or more pipes is closed at a first and a second end, arid wherein one or more lateral gates for fluid communication are provided adjacent each of the first and second ends within an area of said closed ended pipe which is surrounded by a respective one of the permeable first and second formations.
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73. An apparatus for production testing a permeable formation, comprising:
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one or more pipes dimensioned for being positioned within a well such that said one or more pipes define a fluid flow channel or path between a first permeable formation and a second permeable formation;
at least one seal element positioned in the well to isolate the first and second formations from fluid cross-flow;
at least one sensor, in communication with the fluid flow channel, for providing at least one measurement of a fluid conducted in the fluid flow channel from the first permeable formation to the second permeable formation; and
a pump for displacement of the fluid between the first and the second permeable formations, and wherein the pump is a reversible pump for changing flow direction of the fluid flowing between the first and second formations.
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74. An apparatus for hydrocarbon production testing, and intended to be mounted in a well between an expected permeable first formation to be production tested, and an expected second permeable formation, said apparatus comprising:
- one or more sensors, meters, regulators, or controllers for carrying out a corresponding hydrocarbon production sensing, measuring, recording pressure condition or flowing rate determination step relative to hydrocarbon fluid traveling within the well, said apparatus further comprising one or more channel-forming pipes having fluid ports which, within the well, establish a hydrocarbon fluid flow path between the first formation to be production tested and the second permeable formation, and sealing means placed within the well in order to restrict the fluid flow between the first and second formation to said fluid flow path so that the fluid flow path constitutes the only fluid communication between the two permeable formations, and said apparatus further comprising a leakage sensor for sensing of fluid leakage including leakage of drilling fluid situated external to said one or more channel-forming pipes into said one or more channel-forming pipes.
Specification