Automated formation fluid clean-up to sampling switchover

• US 7,644,610 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2007
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Meister, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frank; Rodney T
• Application Number:
  US11/844,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20090049904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 731/522.3
• US Class Current: 73/152.23
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/0875 determining specific fluid parameters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

Abstract

Apparatus and method for downhole formation fluid sampling include conveying a carrier into a well borehole that traverses a subterranean formation of interest, the carrier having a port and placing the port in fluid communication with the subterranean formation of interest. The method includes urging a fluid into the port using a fluid control device, the fluid containing a formation fluid and a contaminant, generating a first signal indicative of a first fluid characteristic of the fluid using a first test device in communication with the fluid, and generating a second signal indicative of a second fluid characteristic of the fluid using a second test device in communication with the fluid. The first signal and the second signal are processed using a processing device to estimate a level of contamination in the fluid, and a control signal is generated when the estimated level of contamination meets a predetermined value, the control signal actuating the fluid control device to direct fluid having a level of contamination at about or below the predetermined value to a fluid sampling chamber carried by the carrier.

Claims

1. A downhole apparatus comprising:

a carrier conveyable in a well borehole;

a pump providing a variable pump rate for generating a pressure gradient across a flow path of a fluid;

a fluid control device that urges the fluid into a port, the fluid containing a contaminant;

a first test device in communication with the fluid, the first test device generating a first signal indicative of a first fluid characteristic;

a second test device in communication with the fluid, the second test device generating a second signal indicative of a second fluid characteristic; and

a processing device that receives the first signal and the second signal, the processing device processing the first signal and the second signal to estimate a level of contamination in the fluid, the processing device generating a control signal when the estimated level of contamination meets a predetermined value.

2. A method for estimating fluid contamination downhole comprising:

conveying a carrier in a well borehole;

adjusting a variable pump rate to reduce a contaminant disposed in a fluid;

urging the fluid into a port using a fluid control device, the fluid containing a contaminant;

generating a first signal indicative of a first fluid characteristic using a first test device in communication with the fluid;

generating a second signal indicative of a second fluid characteristic using a second test device in communication with the fluid;

processing the first signal and the second signal using a processing device to estimate a level of contamination in the fluid; and

generating a control signal when the estimated level of contamination meets a predetermined value.

3. A downhole apparatus comprising:

a carrier conveyable in a well borehole;

a pump providing a variable pump rate for generating a pressure gradient across a flow path of a fluid;

a fluid control device that urges the fluid into a port, the fluid containing a contaminant;

a test device in communication with the fluid, the test device generating a signal indicative of a fluid characteristic;

a processing device that receives the signal, the processing device processing the signal to estimate a level of contamination in the fluid, the processing device generating a control signal when the estimated level of contamination meets a predetermined value.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the test device includes a device for estimating an optical characteristic of the fluid.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the test device comprises one or more of a fluorescence test device, a reflectometer and a spectrometer.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the test device includes a device for estimating an electrical characteristic of the fluid.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the device for estimating an electrical characteristic comprises one or more of a resistivity test device, a capacitance test device, and a dielectric test device.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the test device includes a device for estimating a physical characteristic of the fluid.

9. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the test device comprises one or more of a viscometer, a pressure transducer, a temperature transducer, a fluid density test device, and a sonic test device.

10. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the test device comprises one or more of a chemical test device, a fluid compositional analysis device, a gas chromatograph, a pH test device, a salinity test device, a CO₂ test device, an H₂S test device, a device for determining wax and asphaltene components, a device for determining metal content, and a device for determining acidity of the fluid.

11. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the test device includes a plurality of devices for estimating a combination of at least two of an optical characteristic, an electrical characteristic, a physical characteristic and a chemical characteristic of the fluid.

12. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the fluid control device includes one or more addressable pumps that receive control instructions from the processing device.

13. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the fluid control device includes one or more addressable valves that receive control instructions from the processing device.

14. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus comprises a fluid sampling device.

15. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control signal actuates the fluid control device to direct fluid having a level of contamination at about or below the predetermined value to a fluid sampling chamber carried by the carrier.

16. An apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising at least another pump.

17. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pump rate is adjusted for a clean-up process.

18. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pump generates a flow in a sleeve surrounding a cavity.

19. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pressure gradient comprises a vector of a varying direction and a varying magnitude.

20. A method for estimating fluid contamination downhole comprising:

conveying a carrier in a well borehole;

adjusting a variable pump rate to reduce a contaminant disposed in a fluid;

urging the fluid into a port using a fluid control device, the fluid containing a contaminant;

generating a signal indicative of a fluid characteristic using a test device in communication with the fluid;

processing the signal using a processing device to estimate a level of contamination in the fluid; and

generating a control signal when the estimated level of contamination meets a predetermined value.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the signal is indicative of an optical characteristic of the fluid.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the optical characteristic comprises one or more of fluorescence, a reflectance and spectral energy.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein the signal is indicative of an electrical characteristic of the fluid.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the electrical characteristic comprises one or more of resistivity, capacitance, and dielectric constant.

25. A method according to claim 20, wherein the signal is indicative of a physical characteristic of the fluid.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the physical characteristic comprises one or more of viscosity, pressure, temperature, fluid density, and acoustic transmittance.

27. A method according to claim 20, wherein generating the signal includes generating one or more signals indicative of a combination of at least two of an optical characteristic, an electrical characteristic, a chemical characteristic and a physical characteristic of the fluid.

28. A method according to claim 20, wherein the fluid control device includes one or more addressable pumps, the method including sending control instructions from the processing device to the one or more addressable pumps.

29. A method according to claim 20, wherein the fluid control device includes one or more addressable valves, the method including sending control instructions from the processing device to the one or more addressable valves.

30. A method according to claim 20 further comprising sampling the fluid using a fluid sampling device.

31. A method according to claim 20 further comprising actuating the fluid control device using the control signal;

and using the fluid control device to direct fluid having a level of contamination at about or below the predetermined value to a fluid sampling chamber carried by the carrier.

32. A method according to claim 20, wherein adjusting comprises generating a pressure gradient across a flow path of the fluid.