Apparatus and methods for obtaining measurements below bottom sealing elements of a straddle tool

• US 7,827,859 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Kenison, Michael H., Pipchuk, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bellamy; Tamiko D
• Application Number:
  US11/751,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20080134775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 731/521.8, 731/522.2, 731/520.5, 731/521.4
• US Class Current: 73/152.18
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/124 Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/10 Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for obtaining downhole well pressure during wellbore operations. One method comprises providing a well intervention tool comprising a straddle sealing assembly having upper and lower annulus sealing elements and a fluid injection port positioned therebetween, the well intervention tool comprising a fluid injection bore having positioned therein a pressure measurement tool; placing the tool in straddle position about a wellbore region to be intervened, with the pressure measurement tool fluidly connected to a wellbore region below the lower annulus sealing element; and performing the wellbore intervention operation while communicating fluid from below the lower annulus sealing element to the pressure measurement tool, thus obtaining a pressure measurement below the lower annulus sealing element during the wellbore intervention operation. This abstract will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) providing a well intervention tool comprising a straddle sealing assembly having upper and lower annulus sealing elements and a fluid injection port positioned therebetween;

(b) placing the intervention tool in straddle position about a wellbore region in a reservoir to be intervened, with a pressure measurement tool fluidly connected to a wellbore region below the lower annulus sealing element; and

(c) performing the wellbore intervention operation while communicating fluid from below the lower annulus sealing element to the pressure measurement tool, thus measuring pressure below the lower annulus sealing element during the wellbore intervention operation to determine if a leak across the lower annulus sealing element has occurred.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring the movement of a treating fluid or other fluid in the wellbore by the pressure measurement.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising providing one or more sensors in the wellbore for measurement of parameters selected from temperature, salinity, resistivity, optical properties, differential flow, Hall effect, volume of fluid pumped, fluid path, acidity (pH), fluid composition, conductance, resistance, turbidity, color, viscosity, specific gravity, density, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 3 comprising attaching the one or more sensors on or in the pressure measurement tool prior to performing the well intervention.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing a wellbore intervention comprises injecting a fluid selected from inert fluids and reactive fluids.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the wellbore intervention operation comprises injecting a fluid and adjusting a parameter selected from fluid pressure, fluid injection flow rate, fluid temperature, and fluid composition in response to the pressure measurement.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the adjusting a parameter is made in real time.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising attaching the well intervention tool to an end of coiled tubing, wherein the placing of the well intervention tool in straddle position comprises injecting the coiled tubing into the wellbore, and the injecting of fluid comprises injecting the fluid through the coiled tubing, through the bore of the well intervention tool, and around the pressure measurement tool.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising analyzing the pressure measurement to determine if a leak of the injected fluid past the lower annulus sealing element has occurred.

10. The method of claim 6 comprising controlling the injection of the fluid via one or more flow control devices or fluid hydraulic techniques to divert or place the fluid into a desired location that is determined by objectives of the well intervention operation.

11. The method of claim 1 comprising attaching the well intervention tool to an end of sectioned pipe wherein the sections are joined by joints selected from welded joints, screwed joints, flanged joints, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 6 comprising steps selected from evaluating, modifying, and programming the well intervention in realtime to ensure an injected treatment fluid is efficiently diverted in the reservoir.

13. The method of claim 6 comprising measuring time of arrival of the injected fluid at the pressure measurement tool.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the performance of the wellbore intervention operation in response to the pressure measurement.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the wellbore intervention operation comprises injecting a fluid and wherein the method further comprises analyzing the pressure measurement to determine if a leak of the injected fluid past the lower annulus sealing element has occurred.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the wellbore intervention operation is a stimulation operation.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the stimulation operation is a fracturing operation.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the stimulation operation is a matrix acidizing operation.

14. A method comprising:

(a) providing a well intervention tool comprising a straddle sealing assembly having upper and lower annulus sealing elements and a fluid injection port positioned therebetween, the well intervention tool comprising a fluid injection bore;

(b) attaching the intervention tool to an end of coiled tubing and placing the intervention tool in straddle position about a wellbore region in a reservoir to be intervened, with a pressure measurement tool fluidly connected to a wellbore region below the lower annulus sealing element; and

(c) injecting a fluid through the coiled tubing, through the well intervention tool, and into the region being intervened;

(d) measuring fluid pressure below the lower annulus sealing element using the pressure measuring tool while injecting the fluid to determine if a leak across the lower annulus sealing element has occurred; and

(e) adjusting a parameter selected from fluid pressure, fluid injection flow rate, fluid temperature, and fluid composition in response to the measured fluid pressure.

15. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a straddle sealing assembly comprising upper and lower annulus sealing elements supported by a body, the body comprising i) a longitudinal fluid injection bore having positioned therein a pressure measurement tool, and ii) a fluid injection port positioned in the body between the sealing elements; and

(b) a fluid connection connecting the pressure measurement tool fluidly with a wellbore region below the lower annulus sealing element, thus allowing obtaining of a pressure measurement of wellbore fluids below the lower annulus sealing element during a wellbore intervention operation to determine if a leak across the lower annulus sealing element has occurred.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 comprising one or more sensors in the wellbore for measurement of parameters selected from fluid composition, temperature, salinity, resistivity, optical properties, differential flow, Hall effect, volume of fluid pumped, fluid path, acidity (pH), fluid composition, conductance, resistance, turbidity, color, viscosity, specific gravity, density, and combinations thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein an end of the body is attached to an end of an oilfield tubular.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the oilfield tubular is selected from coiled tubing and sectioned pipe wherein the sectioned pipe comprises welded sections, screwed sections, flanged sections, and combinations thereof.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the fluid connection connecting the pressure measurement tool fluidly with a wellbore region below the lower annulus sealing element is a single conduit comprising one or more ports to the wellbore region below the lower annulus sealing element.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the fluid connection connecting the pressure measurement tool fluidly with a wellbore region below the lower annulus sealing element comprises a plurality of conduits each comprising a corresponding port to the wellbore region below the lower annulus sealing element.