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Measuring properties of low permeability formations

  • US 9,045,969 B2
  • Filed: 09/10/2008
  • Issued: 06/02/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:

  • positioning a formation tester in a wellbore adjacent a subsurface layer of a formation, wherein the subsurface layer has a permeability of less than 0.1 millidarcy;

    extending packers from the formation tester to isolate an interval of the wellbore adjacent the subsurface layer of the formation;

    pumping fluid from a sample bottle of the formation tester into the subsurface layer of the formation through the isolated interval of the wellbore;

    inducing a fracture in the formation using the pumped fluid from the sample bottle;

    monitoring pressure of the isolated interval of the wellbore until a first drop in pressure is observed corresponding to inducing the fracture;

    stopping the pumping of fluid from the sample bottle into the subsurface layer of the formation when the fracture is extended to a predetermined length;

    monitoring pressure of the isolated interval of the wellbore until a second drop in pressure is observed corresponding to closure of the fracture;

    monitoring pressure of the isolated interval of the wellbore until a formation pseudo-radial or pseudo-linear flow is achieved;

    estimating pore pressure and transmissibility of the formation based on the monitored pressure and a volume of the fluid pumped into the subsurface layer of the formation.

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