Method of downhole characterization of formation fluids, measurement controller for downhole characterization of formation fluids, and apparatus for downhole characterization of formation fluids

• US 7,788,972 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Nakayama, Takeaki, Chikenji, Akihito, Mullins, Oliver C., Yamate, Tsutomu, Dong, Chengli, O'Keefe, Michael, Betancourt, Soraya S., Terabayashi, Toru, Kinjo, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): FITZGERALD, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US11/858,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20090078036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 731/520.2, 731/522.7, 731/522.8, 731/525.5
• US Class Current: 73/152.27
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/081 with down-hole means for trapping a fluid sample E21B49/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/0875 determining specific fluid parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2823 raw oil, drilling fluid or polyphasic mixtures hydrocarbon content of earth materials G01N33/241; prospecting G01V; drilling per se E21B

Abstract

A method of downhole characterization of formation fluids is provided. The method includes: estimating a rough value of the bubble point pressure of the formation fluids; depressurizing the formation fluids at a first speed to a certain pressure which is a predetermined value higher than the estimated rough value while the formation fluids are isolated in a portion of the flowline; and depressurizing the isolated fluids at a second speed which is slower than the first speed in order to measure a precise value of the bubble point pressure.

Claims

1. A method for measuring a bubble point pressure of formation fluids downhole, comprising:

providing a downhole tool for said formation fluids;

estimating a rough value of the bubble point pressure of said formation fluids;

isolating said formation fluids;

depressurizing said isolated formation fluids at a first speed to a certain pressure which is a predetermined value higher than said estimated rough value;

depressurizing said isolated fluids at a second speed which is slower than said first speed; and

measuring a precise value of the bubble point pressure.

2. The method according to claim 1, said rough value is estimated based on the fluid property of said formation fluids obtained by an operation of one or more sensors on said formation fluids.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined value is equal to or more than 500 psi to equal to or less than 5000 psi.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising circulating said isolated fluids in a closed loop of a flowline while depressurizing said isolated fluids.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said precise value of the bubble point pressure is measured by detecting onset of bubble formation in said isolated formation fluids by monitoring the compressibility of said isolation formation fluids.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said rough value of the bubble point pressure is estimated by measuring the bubble point of said formation fluid is flowing in a flowline by operation of one or more sensors on said flowline before isolating said formation fluids.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said estimating the rough value of the bubble point pressure includes:

specifying the composition of said formation fluids by operation of one or more sensors on said formation fluids;

obtaining an equation of state for said formation fluids based on said composition of the specified components contained in said formation fluids; and

estimating said rough value of the bubble point pressure based on said equation of state for said formation fluids.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said equation of state for said formation fluids is obtained by using said composition of the specified components contained in said formation fluids as parameters for the calculation, and said certain pressure is determined based on the total number of said specified components such that said predetermined value becomes lower as the total number of said specified components becomes larger.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said equation of state for said formation fluids is obtained by using said composition of said specified components contained in said formation fluids as parameters for calculation by a software program, said software program being provided with a guaranteed accuracy value range for the result of the calculation, and said certain pressure is determined such that said predetermined value becomes larger than said guaranteed accuracy value range.