Well thermal insulation for formation sampling of viscous fluids and methods of use thereof

• US 8,230,919 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Goodwin, Anthony, Abad, Carlos, Simpson, Amy
• Primary Examiner(s): HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R
• Application Number:
  US12/354,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20090151937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 166/250.17, 166/264, 166/302, 166/303, 166/57, 175/59, 731/521.3, 731/821.2, 731/522.4, 731/523.3
• US Class Current: 166/250.17
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1208 characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means E21B33/1277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/00 Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/081 with down-hole means for trapping a fluid sample E21B49/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

Abstract

Evaluating a subterranean formation fluid by lowering a testing tool to a depth in a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation, limiting wellbore fluid convection near the depth with the testing tool, heating formation fluid in the subterranean formation near the depth, obtaining a sample of the heated formation fluid from the subterranean formation, and evaluating at least a portion of the sample of heated formation fluid obtained from the subterranean formation.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating a subterranean formation fluid, comprising:

lowering a testing tool in a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation;

reducing heat convection in the wellbore by increasing a viscosity of at least a portion of a wellbore fluid near a depth with the testing tool;

heating formation fluid in the subterranean formation near the depth;

obtaining a sample of the heated formation fluid from the subterranean formation; and

evaluating at least a portion of the sample of heated formation fluid obtained from the subterranean formation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein increasing the viscosity of at least a portion of the wellbore fluid limits wellbore fluid convection.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein evaluating at least a portion of the sample is conducted at or near the depth within the wellbore.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein evaluating at least a portion of the sample comprises operating the testing tool to perform the evaluation.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein evaluating at least a portion of the sample comprises operating the testing tool to perform the evaluation at or near the depth within the wellbore.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the depth is a first depth, and wherein the method further comprises:

moving the testing tool to a second depth in the wellbore; and

repeating the sealing, heating, obtaining, and evaluating steps at the second depth.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the depth is a first of a plurality of depths within the wellbore, and wherein the method further comprises repeating the lowering, sealing, heating, obtaining, and evaluation steps at each of the other ones of the plurality of depths.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

increasing the viscosity of at least a portion of the wellbore fluid limits wellbore fluid convection;

evaluating at least a portion of the sample comprises operating the testing tool to perform the evaluation at or near the depth within the wellbore;

the depth is a first of a plurality of depths within the wellbore; and

the method further comprises repeating the lowering, sealing, heating, obtaining, and evaluation steps at each of the other ones of the plurality of depths.