Formation evaluation system and method

• US 8,555,968 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Zazovsky, Alexander F., Vasques, Ricardo, Del Campo, Christopher S., Qiu, Grace Yue
• Primary Examiner(s): Harcourt, Brad
• Application Number:
  US11/609,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20070079962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,499 Days
• Field of Search: 166/264, 166/250.15, 166/369, 166/54.1, 166/100
• US Class Current: 166/264
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/008 by injection test; by analysing pressure variations in an injection or production test, e.g. for estimating the skin factor measuring pressure E21B47/06
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/08 Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for evaluating a fluid from a subterranean formation of a wellsite via a downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation are provided. The apparatus relates to a downhole tool having a probe with at least two intakes for receiving fluid from the subterranean formation. The downhole tool is configured according to a wellsite set up. The method involves positioning the downhole tool in the wellbore of the wellsite, drawing fluid into the downhole tool via the at least two intakes, monitoring at least one wellsite parameter via at least one sensor of the wellsite and automatically adjusting the wellsite setup based on the wellsite parameters.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating a fluid from a subterranean formation comprising:

positioning a downhole tool in a wellbore, the downhole tool having a probe extending toward the subterranean formation and defining a flow path to receive the fluid from the subterranean formation, the flow path having a wall defining an interior channel disposed within an exterior channel, wherein a portion of the fluid entering the flow path moves through the exterior channel and the remaining portion moves through the interior channel;

drawing fluid into the downhole tool via the interior channel at an interior channel flow rate and into the downhole tool via the exterior channel at an exterior channel flow rate;

generating a combined flowline from the fluid in the interior channel and the exterior channel;

monitoring a contamination level of fluid from the combined flowline; and

automatically adjusting a ratio of the interior channel flow rate to the exterior channel flow rate based on the contamination level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wall defines a flow path and further wherein the interior channel only receives fluid passing through the flow path of the wall.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically adjusting a ratio comprises adjusting a pumping rate for the exterior channel, or the interior channel, or both.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically adjusting a ratio comprises adjusting a shape of the wall.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically adjusting a ratio comprises adjusting an orientation of the wall.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe is disposed within a packer, and wherein automatically adjusting a ratio comprises extending or retracting the wall within the packer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a combined flowline comprises mixing fluid from the interior channel and the exterior channel.

8. A method for evaluating a fluid from a subterranean formation comprising:

positioning a downhole tool in the wellbore, the downhole tool having a probe comprising a contamination intake and a sampling intake, wherein a portion of the fluid flows into the sampling intake at a first flow rate and a portion of the fluid flows into the contamination intake external to the sampling intake at a second flow rate;

monitoring a contamination level of the fluid from the sampling intake, or the contamination intake, or both; and

adjusting a ratio of the first flow rate to the second flow rate based on the contamination level.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein monitoring a contamination level comprises measuring the contamination level via at least one optical sensor in the downhole tool.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising automatically adjusting a tool setup based on the contamination level.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the tool setup comprises at least one tool configuration.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the tool setup comprises at least one operational setting.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the least one operational setting comprises a pumping rate.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the contamination intake and the sampling intake are separated by a wall that defines a flow path and further wherein fluid received at the contamination intake flows external to the flow path.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein only fluid in the flow path is received at the sampling intake.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein adjusting a ratio comprises varying an intake diameter of the probe.

17. A downhole tool positionable in a wellbore for evaluating a fluid from the subterranean formation, comprising:

a fluid communication device for collecting downhole fluids and comprising a probe for sealingly engaging a wall of the wellbore, the

probe having a sampling intake for drawing a first portion of the downhole fluids into the downhole tool at a first flow rate and a contamination intake for drawing a second portion of the downhole fluids into the downhole tool at a second flow rate;

at least one sensor for detecting a contamination level of the first portion, or the second portion, or both; and

a controller for selectively adjusting a ratio of the first flow rate to the second flow rate based on the contamination level.

18. The downhole tool of claim 17 further comprising a flow circuit for combining the first and second portions of the downhole fluids in a combined flowline.

19. The downhole tool of claim 18, comprising an additional sensor for detecting a combined contamination level of fluid in the combined flowline, wherein the controller is configured to selectively adjust the ratio based on the combined contamination level.