System and method for detecting pressure disturbances in a formation while performing an operation

• US 7,445,043 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Mullins, Oliver C., Carnegie, Andrew, Kuchuk, Fikri
• Primary Examiner(s): BOMAR, THOMAS S
• Application Number:
  US11/355,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20070187092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 166/250.01, 166/250.03, 166/252.1, 731/522.7, 731/522.8, 731/525.5
• US Class Current: 166/250.01
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure

Abstract

A method for detecting pressure disturbances in a formation accessible by a borehole while performing an operation includes positioning a tool within the borehole, positioning a first probe of the tool at a first location, positioning a second probe of the tool at a second location remote from the first location to obtain a pressure reading, performing an operation with the first probe, detecting the presence of a first phase fluid within the tool, detecting a pressure disturbance within the formation with the second probe, and identifying a second phase fluid based on the detection of the pressure disturbance. Other methods and systems for detecting pressure disturbances in the formation are further shown and described.

Claims

1. A method for detecting pressure disturbances in a formation accessible by a borehole while performing an operation, the method comprising:

positioning a tool within the borehole;

positioning a first probe of the tool at a first location;

positioning a second probe of the tool at a second location remote from the first location to obtain a pressure reading of the formation, the pressure reading being taken outside the tool;

performing an operation with the first probe;

detecting the presence of a first phase fluid within the tool;

detecting a pressure disturbance within the formation with the second probe outside the tool; and

identifying a second phase fluid based on the detection of the pressure disturbance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second phase fluid is identified as a gas when the first phase fluid is an oil.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second phase fluid is identified as an oil when the first phase fluid is water.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second phase fluid is identified as water when the first phase fluid is an oil.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second phase fluid is identified as retrograde dew and the first phase fluid is condensate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second phase fluid is identified as an asphaltene precipitation.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a response operation when the second phase fluid is identified.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the response operation includes selecting a new location for positioning the tool.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the response operation includes, when the first phase fluid is oil, reducing a draw down pressure to minimize phase evolution.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the response operation includes, when the first phase fluid is water, pumping fluid until detecting oil as the second phase fluid.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of performing an operation with the first probe comprises performing a down hole fluid analysis.

12. A system for detecting pressure disturbances in a formation accessible by a borehole, the system comprising:

a tool including;

a housing;

a first probe coupled to the housing at a first position, the first probe being adapted to perform an operation; and

a second probe coupled to the housing at a second position remote from the first probe, the second probe being adapted to obtain a pressure reading of the formation, the pressure reading being taken outside the tool;

a wire coupled to the housing of the tool, to support the tool in the borehole;

a controller, coupled to the first probe and the second probe, configured to control an operation with the first probe to analyze a first phase fluid, the controller further being configured to control detection of a pressure disturbance within the formation with the second probe, and configured to analyze whether a second phase fluid may be present based on the detection of the pressure disturbance.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to identify the second phase fluid as a gas when the first phase fluid is an oil.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to identify the second phase fluid as an oil when the first phase fluid is water.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to identify the second phase fluid as water when the first phase fluid is an oil.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to identify the second phase fluid as retrograde dew when the first phase fluid is condensate.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to identify the second phase fluid as an asphaltene precipitation.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is configured to perform a response operation when a second phase fluid is identified.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the response operation includes selecting a new location for positioning the tool.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the response operation includes, when the first phase fluid is oil, reducing a draw down pressure to minimize phase evolution.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the response operation includes, when the first phase fluid is water, pumping fluid until detecting oil as the second phase fluid.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the tool further includes a down hole fluid analysis module to perform a down hole fluid analysis operation.

23. The system of claim 12, wherein the tool further includes a dual-packer module to secure the tool at a location within the borehole.

24. A method of analyzing pressure disturbances of a fluid within a formation through a borehole, the method comprising:

analyzing a first phase of fluid acquired from the formation with a first probe at a first location within the borehole;

detecting pressure changes within the formation with a second probe, the pressure detecting being taken from outside the tool at a second location, different than the first location, within the borehole; and

identifying whether the fluid within the formation has a second phase based on the pressure changes detected by the second probe.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the second phase fluid is identified as a gas when the first phase fluid is an oil.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the second phase fluid is identified as an oil when the first phase fluid is water.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the second phase fluid is identified as water when the first phase fluid is an oil.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the second phase fluid is identified as retrograde dew and the first phase fluid is condensate.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the second phase fluid is identified as an asphaltene precipitation.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising performing a response operation when a second phase fluid is identified.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the response operation includes selecting a new location for positioning the tool.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the response operation includes, when the first phase fluid is oil, reducing a draw down pressure to minimize phase evolution.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the response operation includes, when the first phase fluid is water, pumping fluid until detecting oil as the second phase fluid.