Clean fluid sample for downhole measurements
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- directing fluid from a main flowline of the downhole tool to a secondary flowline of the downhole tool;
monitoring a plurality of sensor responses corresponding to the fluid in the secondary flowline to determine when the sensor responses stabilize, wherein the monitoring occurs while the fluid is being directed into the secondary flowline;
isolating the secondary flowline from the main flowline after the sensor responses have stabilized, wherein the isolating captures fluid in the secondary flowline;
performing a quality control procedure on the captured fluid in the secondary flowline to determine whether the captured fluid is the same as the fluid in the main flowline, wherein the quality control procedure uses a plurality of measurements representing at least one property of the captured fluid; and
allowing additional fluid from the main flowline into the secondary flowline if the captured fluid is not the same.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for obtaining a clean fluid sample for analysis in a downhole tool are provided. In one example, the method includes directing fluid from a main flowline of the downhole tool to a secondary flowline of the downhole tool. While the fluid is being directed into the secondary flowline, sensor responses corresponding to the fluid in the secondary flowline are monitored to determine when the sensor responses stabilize. The secondary flowline is isolated from the main flowline after the sensor responses have stabilized. A quality control procedure is performed on the fluid in the secondary flowline to determine whether the captured fluid is the same as the fluid in the main flowline. Additional fluid from the main flowline is allowed into the secondary flowline if the captured fluid is not the same.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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directing fluid from a main flowline of the downhole tool to a secondary flowline of the downhole tool; monitoring a plurality of sensor responses corresponding to the fluid in the secondary flowline to determine when the sensor responses stabilize, wherein the monitoring occurs while the fluid is being directed into the secondary flowline; isolating the secondary flowline from the main flowline after the sensor responses have stabilized, wherein the isolating captures fluid in the secondary flowline; performing a quality control procedure on the captured fluid in the secondary flowline to determine whether the captured fluid is the same as the fluid in the main flowline, wherein the quality control procedure uses a plurality of measurements representing at least one property of the captured fluid; and allowing additional fluid from the main flowline into the secondary flowline if the captured fluid is not the same. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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directing fluid from a main flowline of a downhole tool to a secondary flowline of the downhole tool; isolating the secondary flowline from the main flowline to capture at least a portion of the fluid in the secondary flowline; measuring a first fluid property value of the captured fluid in the secondary flowline using a first sensor; agitating the captured fluid after measuring the first fluid property value; monitoring a plurality of sensor responses during the agitating to determine when the sensor responses stabilize; stopping the agitating when the sensor responses have stabilized; measuring a second fluid property value of the captured fluid using the first sensor after stopping the agitating; and determining whether the fluid sample is suitably clean for the fluid measurements based on a change relative to a predefined threshold, wherein the change is based on the first and second fluid property values. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus, comprising:
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an in-situ fluid analyzer comprising a first density-viscosity sensor and a first optical sensor each coupled to a main fluid flowline; a multi-port valve configured to selectively isolate the main fluid flowline from a circulating fluid flowline; a processor and a non-transitory memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions executable by the processor to; manipulate the multi-port valve to allow a fluid sample to move from the main fluid flowline to the circulating fluid flowline and then manipulating the valve to isolate the circulating fluid flowline from the main fluid flowline and capture at least a portion of the fluid in the circulating fluid flowline; measure a first fluid property value of the captured fluid in the circulating fluid flowline using one of the first density-viscosity sensor and the first optical sensor; activate a circulating pump to circulate the captured fluid after measuring the first fluid property value; monitor a response of the first optical sensor during the circulating to determine when the sensor response of the first optical sensor stabilizes; deactivate the circulating pump when the sensor response of the first optical sensor has stabilized, and then measuring a second fluid property value of the captured fluid using one of the first density-viscosity sensor and the first optical sensor; and determine whether the fluid sample is suitable for further fluid measurements based on whether a change satisfies a predefined threshold, wherein the change is based on the first and second fluid property values. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification