1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to well monitoring and, in particular, to a well completion method to allow dual reservoir saturation and pressure monitoring.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
In conventional oil and gas production operations, a production well may be drilled into a subsurface fluid reservoir and completed for the production of reservoir fluid to the surface. Generally, a monitoring well may be drilled into the same reservoir as the production well. These monitoring wells provide information regarding the reservoir so that production may be controlled to maintain production at desired levels. The monitored information may include reservoir pressure, reservoir saturation levels, and the like.
The monitoring well will be drilled to the reservoir depth and completed by suspending a casing string within the wellbore. The annulus between the casing string and the wellbore will be cemented to secure the casing string within the wellbore. The casing string may be perforated at the reservoir location to allow fluid flow from the reservoir into the casing string. A tubing string will then be run and set to the casing string through the use of tubing packers so that an end of the tubing string is above the reservoir. A pressure monitoring gauge will be mounted to the end of the tubing string to monitor the reservoir pressure. Saturation and production logging may be performed through the perforated portions of the casing string located at the reservoir. Generally, pressure monitoring, saturation logging, and production logging occur proximate to, or below an end of the tubing string. In particular, saturation logging involves measurement of the pore volume of a reservoir formation that is filled by water, oil, and/or gas. Typically, acoustic or electromagnetic signals are passed into the formation through the monitoring well to generate saturation data. The signals must pass through the casing string wall and the cement layer to penetrate the formation.
Some production wells will be drilled through two reservoirs. In the corresponding production operations, reservoir fluid may be produced from both reservoirs. As a consequence, both reservoirs must be monitored. To obtain accurate pressure and saturation measurements, separate monitoring wells must be drilled to each reservoir. This is extremely costly and inefficient, essentially doubling the cost of reservoir monitoring.
Some attempts have been made to monitor two reservoirs from a single well. In these monitoring well completions, a single wellbore is drilled through both reservoirs. A casing string is then set and cemented in the wellbore. The cement layer in the annulus between the casing string and the wellbore will extend from the bottom of the well to the surface. The casing string is then perforated at both reservoirs. A tubing string is then run and set within the casing string. The tubing string will be set with a lower packer in between the reservoirs and an upper packer above the upper reservoir. Again, pressure monitoring, saturation logging, and production logging for the lower reservoir will all be conducted proximate to or below the end of the tubing string. However, this only provides accurate measurements of the lower reservoir.
Attempts have been made to conduct saturation logging operations across the upper reservoir. When this is attempted, the saturation logging signal must pass through the tubing string wall, an annulus between the tubing string and the casing string, the casing string wall, and the cement layer before entering the reservoir. The addition of the tubing string wall and annulus between the tubing string and the casing string may significantly decrease the strength of the saturation logging signals. As a consequence, the information generated during the saturation logging operations for the upper reservoir may be highly inaccurate. In addition, pressure monitoring is not possible due to the inability to isolate flow from the two reservoirs when a pressure gauge is used to monitor the upper reservoir. Therefore, there is a need for a well completion method that allows for accurate monitoring of pressure and saturation of more than one reservoir from the same well.
These and other problems are generally solved or circumvented, and technical advantages are generally achieved, by preferred embodiments of the present invention that provide a well completion method to allow dual reservoir monitoring of saturation and pressure.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a well completion method is disclosed. The method drills a wellbore through an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir, wherein the upper reservoir is at a higher elevation than the lower reservoir and runs a casing string through the upper and the lower reservoir. The method sets a lower external casing packer between the upper and the lower reservoirs in an outer annulus between the outer diameter of the casing string and the wellbore and sets an upper external casing packer in the outer annulus above the upper reservoir. The method cements the outer annulus below the lower external casing packer, and cements the outer annulus above the upper external casing packer, thereby creating a cement free zone in the outer annulus between the lower external casing packer and the upper external casing packer to facilitate logging measurements of the upper reservoir.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a monitoring well for pressure and saturation monitoring of two subsurface fluid reservoirs is disclosed. The two reservoirs are at different vertical elevations. The well includes a wellbore drilled from a surface through the upper reservoir and the lower reservoir, and a casing string disposed within the wellbore so that the casing string extends through the upper reservoir and into the lower reservoir. A lower external casing packer is set at an elevation between the lower reservoir and the upper reservoir, and an upper external casing packer is set at an elevation above the upper reservoir. An outer annulus between the casing string and the wellbore is cemented below the lower external casing packer and above the upper external casing packer to create a cement free zone that facilitates logging measurements of the upper reservoir.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a system for monitoring pressure and saturation of two reservoirs from a single well is disclosed. The system includes a wellbore drilled through an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir, and a casing string suspended within the wellbore. The casing string defines a wellbore annulus between the casing string and the wellbore. A tubing string is suspended within the casing string. The tubing string defines a tubing string annulus between the tubing string and the casing string. The wellbore annulus is cemented across the lower reservoir and uncemented across the upper reservoir to create a cement free zone. A lower tubing packer set above the upper reservoir, and a lower monitoring gauge is mounted on the tubing string below the lower packer for monitoring pressure of the lower reservoir. An upper gauge is mounted above the lower packer for monitoring pressure of the upper reservoir. An upper tubing packer is set above the upper gauge.
An advantage of a preferred embodiment is that the apparatus provides a well completion method that allows reservoir independent pressure monitoring for two reservoirs, an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir, from a single well. In addition, the well completion method creates a cement free zone in an annulus between a casing string and a wellbore that allows for communication within the upper reservoir while facilitating logging of the upper reservoir as there is only one casing string between the logging tools and the formation. This results in accurate reservoir saturation monitoring for both the upper and the lower reservoirs. Still further, the disclosed well completion method facilitates running production logging for the lower reservoir.
So that the manner in which the features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, are attained, and can be understood in more detail, more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings that form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only a preferred embodiment of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope as the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and the prime notation, if used, indicates similar elements in alternative embodiments.
In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. Additionally, for the most part, details concerning wellbore drilling, casing and tubing string run-in, packer setting, and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not considered necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention, and are considered to be within the skills of persons skilled in the relevant art.
Referring to
Referring to
Upper external casing packer 31 may be set in outer annulus 19. Upper external casing packer 31 will be set at an elevation 33 above an upper edge 35 of upper reservoir 13. A person skilled in the art will understand that upper edge 35 of upper reservoir 13 is not a clearly defined boundary; rather, upper edge 35 of upper reservoir 13 is a region within a formation in which the reservoir formation transitions from areas containing fluids that are desired to be produced and areas not containing fluids that are desired to be produced. Thus, elevation 33 is an area of the formation that exists somewhere above upper reservoir 13 but not fully within upper reservoir 13. In the disclosed embodiments, elevation 33 of external casing packer 31 will be at a sufficient distance to allow for a saturation logging operation of upper reservoir 13 to be conducted below upper external casing packer 31, as described in more detail below.
Referring to
Referring to
Cementing above upper external casing packer 31 may be performed in any suitable manner. In an exemplary embodiment, casing string 17 may be perforated above upper external casing packer 31. A drill string carrying a squeegee tool may be run into casing string 17 proximate to upper external casing packer 31. The squeegee tool may set a releasable plug in casing string 17 to block flow of fluid past upper external casing packer 31 within casing string 17. Cement may then be pumped down the drill string to an area proximate to the perforations above upper external casing packer 31. The cement will flow through the perforations into outer annulus 19 and displace drilling mud in outer annulus 19. Sufficient pressure may be maintained on the flowing cement to lift the drilling mud to the surface through outer annulus 19 as cement fills outer annulus 19 above upper external casing packer 31 to form cement layer 37. Once sufficient cement fills outer annulus 19, a plug or ball may be pumped down the drill string to force any cement within the drill string into outer annulus 19. The squeegee tool will then release the releasable plug, and the squeegee tool and plug will be retrieved to the surface. A person skilled in the art will understand that other suitable methods to cement above upper external casing packer 31 are contemplated and included in the disclosed embodiments.
Referring to
Referring to
An upper tubing packer 57 may also be carried by tubing string 47 and set at an elevation above URPMG 53. In the illustrated embodiment, upper tubing packer 57 is set above upper external casing packer 31 at cement layer 37. In this manner, inner annulus 55 is sealed above URPMG 53 to prevent flow of reservoir fluid from upper reservoir 13 to the surface through inner annulus 55. URPMG 53 will be positioned within the sealed area between lower tubing packer 51 and upper tubing packer 57 on the outer diameter of tubing string 47. LRPMG 49 and URPMG 53 may then monitor the reservoir pressure of lower reservoir 15 and upper reservoir 13, respectively. A person skilled in the art will understand that fluid from lower reservoir 15 may flow through tubing string 47, yet not be in communication with fluid from upper reservoir 13. Fluid from upper reservoir 13 may not flow through tubing string 47. By preventing flow from upper reservoir 13 through tubing string 47, pressure interference tests may be conducted between the two reservoirs. The pressure interference testing provides an assessment of the degree of through reservoir communication between upper reservoir 13 and lower reservoir 15. Following running, landing, and setting of tubing string 47, lower tubing packer 51, and upper tubing packer 57, fluid from lower reservoir 15 may circulate through lower perforations 39 to the surface through production tubing 47. This will provide for clean out of debris and other material that was produced during the perforation process discussed above.
Optionally, a circulation sleeve or sliding sleeve tool 60 may be installed in tubing string 47 between upper tubing packer 57 and lower tubing packer 51. As shown, sliding sleeve tool 60 is a device that may be operated by a wireline tool to open and close orifices of sliding sleeve tool 60. When orifices of sliding sleeve tool 60 are open, fluid communication between upper reservoir 13 and tubing string 47 is permitted, allowing for production of fluid from upper reservoir 13 to the surface. In an operative embodiment, a plug or drop ball may be set near an end of tubing string 47 below sliding sleeve tool 60 to seal lower reservoir 15 from flow through tubing string 47. Sliding sleeve tool 60 may then be operated to open orifices to allow fluid communication between upper reservoir 13 and tubing string 47 only. Sliding sleeve 60 may be an open/close sleeve, a choking sleeve, or any other suitable apparatus adapted to shut off flow from a reservoir zone or to regulate pressure between reservoir zones. Open/close sleeves are operable between an open position and a closed position to either allow or prevent fluid flow into tubing string 47 through sliding sleeve 60. Choking sleeves allow for variable flow into tubing string 47 through sliding sleeve 60. Sliding sleeve 60 may be operable through wireline, or hydraulic control. A person skilled in the art will understand that sliding sleeve tool 60 may be any suitable apparatus that allows for selective fluid communication between upper reservoir 13 and tubing string 47.
As shown in
Following well completion, saturation and production logging operations may be conducted for both upper reservoir 13 and lower reservoir 15. Saturation logging operations may be conducted in a conventional manner for lower reservoir 15. As shown in
For production logging of lower reservoir 15, logging tool 69 may be a production logging tool and will be run below, proximate to, or adjacent to lower perforations 39. Logging tool 69 will then conduct production logging operations for determination of a production flow profile of lower reservoir 15. Production logging operations may include use of an electromechanical device adapted to register a flow rate through lower perforation 39, sensors adapted to register a flow rate and a fluid phase of fluid passing through lower perforation 39, and the like. The flow rate and fluid phase information may be stored on logging tool 69 and the accessed when logging toll 69 is retrieved from wellbore 11. In alternative embodiments, logging tool 69 may communicate with the surface while in wellbore 11, such as through control unit 63.
Referring to
In embodiments including sliding sleeve 60, production logging of upper reservoir 13 may be conducted. As described above, a tubing plug may be run and set in tubing string 47 below sliding sleeve 60. Sliding sleeve 60 may be operated to open orifices of sliding sleeve 60 to allow fluid flow from reservoir 13 through cement free zone 38, through upper perforation 43, and into tubing string 47. Logging tool 69 may be a production logging tool and will be run through tubing string 47 on logging string 67 to a location proximate to open orifices of sliding sleeve 60. Logging tool 69 will then conduct production logging operations for determination of a production flow profile of upper reservoir 13. Production logging operations may include use of an electromechanical device adapted to register a flow rate through orifices of sliding sleeve 60, sensors adapted to register a flow rate and a fluid phase of fluid passing through orifices of sliding sleeve 60, and the like. The flow rate and fluid phase information may be stored on logging tool 69 and the accessed when logging toll 69 is retrieved from wellbore 11. In alternative embodiments, logging tool 69 may communicate with the surface while in wellbore 11, such as through control unit 63.
Accordingly, the disclosed embodiments provide a well completion method that allows continuous real time reservoir independent pressure monitoring for two reservoirs from a single well. In addition, the well completion method creates a cement free zone of an annulus between a casing string and a wellbore that allows for accurate saturation logging of two fluid reservoirs. Accurate saturation logging may be accomplished because there is no tubing string across both reservoirs and only one casing string across both reservoirs. Still further, the disclosed well completion method provides for production logging from a reservoir in a cemented area of the wellbore.
It is understood that the present invention may take many forms and embodiments. Accordingly, several variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61552175 | Oct 2011 | US |