Wells may be drilled at various depths to access and produce oil, gas, minerals, and other naturally-occurring deposits from subterranean geological formations. The drilling of a well is typically accomplished with a drill bit that is rotated within the well to advance the well by removing topsoil, sand, clay, limestone, calcites, dolomites, or other materials.
During drilling operations, sampling operations may be performed to collect a representative sample of formation or reservoir fluids (e.g., hydrocarbons) to further evaluate drilling operations and production potential, or to detect the presence of certain gases or other materials in the formation that may affect well performance.
Tight and ultra-tight reservoirs that are also known as secondary reservoirs are defined as all petroleum resources that must be produced economically from low permeability and low porosity reservoirs by stimulation treatment (e.g. acid stimulation, hydraulic fracturing or both combined) are referred to as tight oil, without limitations of lithology and oil quality. Due to the low porosity and permeability within these formations, current wireline formation testing tools are incapable of collecting representative hydrocarbon samples due to the inability of such reservoirs to flow naturally or efficiently.
The features and advantages of certain embodiments will be more readily appreciated when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures are not to be construed as limiting any of the preferred embodiments.
The present disclosure relates to subterranean operations and, more particularly, embodiments disclosed herein provide methods and systems for capture and measurement of fluids and formation properties in an area of interest. Specifically, fluid and rock properties in an ultra-tight formation using a formation tester. An ultra-tight formation is defined as a formation that has characteristics of low permeability and low porosity. Generally, stimulation treatments (e.g. acid stimulation, hydraulic fracturing or both combined) must be utilized to remove the “tight oil” from the formation. Tight oil is defined as the oil resources that is preserved and accumulated in low porosity (<12%) and low permeability (<0.1 mD). In this range of porosity and permeability, wireline formation testing tools are not capable of collecting representative hydrocarbon samples due to the inability of such reservoirs to flow naturally or efficiently by its definition with all existing sampling tools technology in the market. Permeability and flow within a formation is found using the following equation for Darcy's law:
which shows the direct relation between permeability “K” and fluid flowing rate “q.” Equation (1) includes μ, which represents fluid viscosity and further shows how a low K value will produce a high pressure drawdown (ΔP) and very low flowing rate “q,” which may identify ultra-low mobility of fluids.
Ultra-low mobility in tight formations prevent conventional formation testers from obtaining both fluid and rock properties. Discussed below are systems and methods for a formation testing tool to address the needs specific to an ultra-tight formation or a tight formation that includes characteristics of ultra-low mobility of fluids. For example, the formation testing tool may be able to inject, flow-back, or place the stimulation fluid(s) facing the target formation with a controlled increase in pressure that may exceed or not exceed fracturing pressure, which is based on the type of stimulation operation. The utilization of a dual port straddle packer assembly controls the mode of operation to be used depending on the nature of the formation and stimulation ability. During operations, the formation testing tool may carry large volumes of stimulation fluid(s) within the formation testing tool with no interaction between the fluids and the carrying tanks. Additionally, the formation testing tool may have the ability to control the stimulation fluids characteristics by mixing the simulation fluids with inhibitor and/or catalyzers in-situ conditions in order to enhance the simulation fluids results and prevent corrosion effect on the formation testing tool from the simulation fluids. In other methods, the formation testing tool may use one or more combination logs including but not limited to open hole logs, caliper, corrosion, and cement image logs to optimize the perforation interval. For example, in a cased hole environment cement bond and casing imaging logs may be utilized for stimulation operations to ensure that the injected stimulation fluid is efficiently directed into the perforated formation and not leaking into a channel behind a casing in situations with poor zonal isolation. During operations, the logs may be utilized for evaluating zones of interest in an open hole environment to evaluate parameters such as, and not limited to, borehole profile and size, quality of the rock, etc. In addition, Pre and Post pressure build-up may be measured to evaluate the stimulation efficiency as a direct measurement.
The fluid sampling tools described herein may vary in design, but embodiments of the fluid sampling tools typically may include an inlet, an outlet, and a sampling chamber. Embodiments may further include two or more sampling chambers. The inlet and outlet may be fluidly connected to the fluid within the wellbore that is being extracted from a subterranean formation. In sampling operation, a fluid sample may be gathered into the sampling chamber from the formation for analysis.
The fluid sampling tools, systems and methods described herein may be used with any of the various techniques employed for evaluating a well, including without limitation wireline formation testing (WFT), measurement while drilling (MWD), and logging while drilling (LWD). The various tools and sampling units described herein may be delivered downhole as part of a wireline-delivered downhole assembly or as a part of a drill string. It should also be apparent that given the benefit of this disclosure, the apparatuses and methods described herein have applications in downhole operations other than drilling, and may also be used after a well is completed.
Well 102 is illustrated with fluid sampling and analysis system 100 being deployed in a drilling assembly 114. In the embodiment illustrated in
At or near surface 108 of well 102, drill string 120 may include or be coupled to a kelly 128. Kelly 128 may have a square, hexagonal, octagonal, or other suitable cross-section. In examples, kelly 128 may be connected at one end to the remainder of drill string 120 and at an opposite end to a rotary swivel 132. As illustrated, kelly 120 may pass through a rotary table 136 that is capable of rotating kelly 128 and thus the remainder of drill string 120 and drill bit 116. Rotary swivel 132 should allow kelly 128 to rotate without rotational motion being imparted to rotary swivel 132. A hook 138, cable 142, traveling block (not shown), and hoist (not shown) may be provided to lift or lower the drill bit 116, drill string 120, kelly 128 and rotary swivel 132. Kelly 128 and swivel 132 may be raised or lowered as needed to add additional sections of tubing to drill string 120 as drill bit 116 advances, or to remove sections of tubing from drill string 120 if removal of drill string 120 and drill bit 116 from well 102 is desired.
A reservoir 144 may be positioned at surface 108 and holds drilling fluid 148 for delivery to well 102 during drilling operations. A supply line 152 may fluidly couple reservoir 144 and the inner passage of drill string 120. A pump 156 may drive drilling fluid 148 through supply line 152 and downhole to lubricate drill bit 116 during drilling and to carry cuttings from the drilling process back to surface 108. After traveling downhole, drilling fluid 148 returns to surface 108 by way of an annulus 160 formed between drill string 120 and wellbore 104. At surface 108, drilling mud 148 may returned to reservoir 144 through a return line 164. Drilling mud 148 may be filtered or otherwise processed prior to recirculation through well 102.
FIB. 1B illustrates a schematic view of another embodiment of well 102 in which an example embodiment of fluid analysis system 100 may be deployed. As illustrated, fluid analysis system 100 may be deployed as part of a wireline assembly 115, either onshore of offshore. As illustrated, wireline assembly 115 may include a winch 117, for example, to raise and lower a downhole portion of wireline assembly 115 into well 102. As illustrated, fluid analysis system 100 may include fluid sampling tool 170 attached to winch 117. In examples, it should be noted that fluid sampling tool 170 may not be attached to winch 117. Fluid sampling tool 170 may be supported by rig 172 at surface 108.
Fluid sampling tool 170 may be tethered to winch 117 through wireline 174. While
With reference to both
Referring now to
In examples, the information handling system may connect to sensors and other devices by a communication link (which may be wired or wireless, for example) which may transmit data to information handling system. While the information handling system is disposed in transceiver 202, a second information handling system may be disposed at the surface. This may allow for data transmission from fluid sampling tool 170 to the surface in real time. Additionally, there may only be an information handling system at the surface, which receives data and measurements from fluid sampling tool 170 through a direct or wireless connection. In examples, the information handling system may include a personal computer, a video display, a keyboard (i.e., other input devices), and/or non-transitory computer-readable media (e.g., optical disks, magnetic disks) that may store code representative of the methods described herein. Likewise, the information handling system may process measurements taken by one or more sensors automatically. During operations, software, algorithms, and modeling may be performed by the information handling system. The information handling system may perform steps, run software, perform calculations, and/or the like automatically, through automation (such as through artificial intelligence (“AI”), dynamically, in real-time, and/or substantially in real-time. The information handling system may be connected to all control systems and device to control all operations and functions of fluid sampling tool 170, as well as record, transmit, or process measurements and acquired data.
Fluid sampling tool 170 may include a packer assembly 204. In examples, packer assembly 204 may include one or more inflatable packers 208 that are attached to the outside of packer assembly 204. Inflatable packers 208 include at least a first inflatable packer 208a longitudinally spaced from a second inflatable packer 208b along packer assembly 204. During operations, inflatable packers 208 may be expanded and/or inflated (not illustrated). When inflatable packers 208 are expanded, inflatable packers 208 may seal a section within well 102 (e.g., referring to
As illustrated in
With additional reference to
In some embodiments, multi-chamber section 214 may include a path 335 from channel 206 to annulus 160 through an annulus valve 340. Annulus valve 340 may be open during the draw-down period when fluid sampling tool 170 is clearing mud cake, drilling mud, and other contaminants into the annulus before clean formation fluid is directed to one of sample chambers 230. A check valve 345 may prevent fluids from annulus 160 from flowing back into channel 206 through path 335. As such, the multi-chamber sections 214 may include a path 350 from sample chambers 230 to annulus 160.
Referring back to
During sampling operations, as discussed above, an objective may be to obtain fluid and rock properties. However, in ultra-tight/secondary reservoir current methods may not be applicable. Specifically, the rock formation may not allow for fluid sampling and analysis system 100 to draw fluid from subterranean formation 112 (e.g., referring to
Holding the stimulation fluids and inhibitors within fluid sampling and analysis system 100 allows for precisely targeting the required zone of interest with a pre-designed interval spacing and stimulation fluid volume to be injected as well as monitoring downhole pressure improvement while stimulating followed by a flow-back for reservoir fluid sampling and characterization. Different stimulation fluid(s) may be carried downhole within fluid sampling tool 170 in well 102 for comparison/studying its effect. In addition, for reservoirs with no injectivity, the technique may allow for the placement of the stimulation fluid facing the zone of interest within inflatable packer space 182 without direct injectivity. This may allow the stimulation fluid to start its chemical reaction of rock's enhancement that will lead to possible injectivity of the remaining stimulation fluid carried within fluid sampling and analysis system 100 for further enhancement.
Application of the stimulation fluids to subterranean formation 112 may allow for the simulation fluids to etch into subterranean formation 112. Results from the application of stimulation fluids to subterranean formation 112 are illustrated in
After isolating as zone of interest in block 804, a pressure draw down and pressure build up operation is performed in block 806. A pressure draw down is performed using low-control pump-out section 210, by dropping the pressure within inflatable packer inflatable packer space 182 using pump 212. Next a pressure build is performed by stopping low-control pump-out section 210 and pump 212, allowing the formation pressure to stabilize indicating reservoir pressure, flowing mobility and build up permeability.
Next, in block 808 an injectivity test is performed by using low-control pump-out section 210 and reversing the flow direction from draw-down to injection using pump 212. This may increase the pressure in inflatable packer space 182 gradually with a controlled rate to explore the possible injectivity rate vs. pressure.
After an injectivity test is performed in block 808, a direct stimulation fluid of stimulation fluid placement is performed in block 810. The operation of applying the stimulation fluid to a formation is discussed above in
In block 814 another pressure draw down is performed followed by a pressure build up. By performing pressure drawdown and build up before and after deployment of a stimulation fluid, the degree of reservoir enhancement may be found. This may be done by comparing flow pressure and rate before and after as well as the buildup mobility from both tests. Comparing the flow press and rate may be performed by look at the difference in the numbers before and after or by performing an advanced analytical solution for pressure derivative. Additionally, build up mobility may be found by the use of the Darcy equation (e.g., referring to Equation 1), or by utilizing as mentioned above, pressure transient analysis technique using the pressure derivative.
In block 816 a clean-up period is performed where flow from the formation is retrieved for a set time. In block 818, during the clean-up period, hydrocarbon contamination of the fluid is measured. Once a minimum contamination level of hydrocarbons is met, a sampling process is performed in block 820. It should be noted that flow chart 800 may then be repeated any number of times with any number of stimulation fluids.
Current technology does not include the systems and methods for a fluid sampling and analysis system 100 (e.g., referring to
Statement 1: A fluid sampling tool may comprise a packer assembly that includes one or more inflatable packers and one or more exhaust ports, a multi-chamber section that includes one or more sample chambers, at least two storage sections that each contain a storage tank, wherein each storage tank holds a stimulation fluid, and a channel that connects the packer assembly, the multi-chamber section, and the at least two storage sections. The system may further include a pump that is configured to move the stimulation fluid through the channel to the packer assembly and out the one or more exhaust ports.
Statement 2: The fluid sampling tool of statement 1, wherein each storage tank holds the stimulation fluid or a second stimulation fluid.
Statement 3: The fluid sampling tool of statements 1 or 2, wherein the stimulation fluid includes one or more inhibitors.
Statement 4: The fluid sampling tool of statements 1, 2 or 3, wherein the stimulation fluid etches at least one wormhole into a formation.
Statement 5: The fluid sampling tool of statements 1 or 2-4, wherein the stimulation fluid includes HCL, H2SO4, Alkaline Surfactant Polymers, or viscosity reducers.
Statement 6: The fluid sampling tool of statements 1 or 2-5, wherein the packer assembly is further configured to isolate a zone of interest with one or more inflatable packers.
Statement 7: The fluid sampling tool of statement 6, wherein the packer assembly is further configured to remove fluid from the zone of interest.
Statement 8: The fluid sampling tool of statement 7, wherein the packer assembly is further configured to add the stimulation fluid to the zone of interest.
Statement 9: The fluid sampling tool of statements 1 or 2-6, wherein the packer assembly is further configured to remove a fluid from a zone of interest.
Statement 10: The fluid sampling tool of statement 9, wherein the fluid is stored in the one or more sample chambers.
Statement 11: A method for performing a stimulation operation may comprise disposing a fluid sampling tool into a well, moving the fluid sampling tool to a zone of interest, isolating the zone of interest with a packer assembly on the fluid sampling tool, performing a first pressure draw down and a first pressure build up, and performing an injectivity test. The method may further comprise placing a stimulation fluid into the zone of interest, performing a section pressure draw down and a second pressure build up, and performing a sampling process.
Statement 12: The method of statement 11, further comprising performing a clean up period in which a fluid from a formation is captured by the fluid sampling tool.
Statement 13: The method of statement 12, further comprising measuring a hydrocarbon contamination level in the fluid.
Statement 14: The method of statements 11 or 12, further comprising comparing the first pressure draw down and the first pressure build up to the second pressure draw down and the second pressure build up to determine a reservoir enhancement from the stimulation fluid in the zone of interest.
Statement 15: The method of statements 11, 12, or 14, wherein the placing a stimulation fluid into the zone of interest includes moving the stimulation fluid from a storage tank within the fluid sampling tool to the zone of interest through the packer assembly.
Statement 16: The method of statement 15, wherein the stimulation fluid etches into a formation.
Statement 17: The method of statement 16, wherein the formation is an ultra-tight formation.
Statement 18: The method of statements 11 or 12-15, wherein the placing the stimulation fluid into the zone of interest is performed during a soaking time, wherein the soaking time is a time in which the stimulation fluid is exposed to a formation.
Statement 19: The method of statement 18, further comprising monitoring a pressure fall-off response during the soaking time.
Statement 20: The method of statements 11, 12-15, or 18, wherein the zone of interest is a tight formation.
The preceding description provides various embodiments of the systems and methods of use disclosed herein which may contain different method steps and alternative combinations of components. It should be understood that, although individual embodiments may be discussed herein, the present disclosure covers all combinations of the disclosed embodiments, including, without limitation, the different component combinations, method step combinations, and properties of the system. It should be understood that the compositions and methods are described in terms of “including,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the compositions and methods can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces.
For the sake of brevity, only certain ranges are explicitly disclosed herein. However, ranges from any lower limit may be combined with any upper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, as well as, ranges from any lower limit may be combined with any other lower limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, in the same way, ranges from any upper limit may be combined with any other upper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited. Additionally, whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range are specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values even if not explicitly recited. Thus, every point or individual value may serve as its own lower or upper limit combined with any other point or individual value or any other lower or upper limit, to recite a range not explicitly recited.
Therefore, the present embodiments are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, and may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Although individual embodiments are discussed, the disclosure covers all combinations of all of the embodiments. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of those embodiments. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent(s) or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.
The present application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/184,296 filed Feb. 24, 2021, which is a non-provisional application of provisional patent application No. 63/044,191 filed on Jun. 25, 2020, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
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Omokaro, Felix; Mushrafi, Nedhal; Soliman, Wael Ali; Rourke, Marvin Peter; Salim, Mahmoud Eid (). [Society of Petroleum Engineers SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference—Manama, Bahrain (Sep. 25, 2011)] SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference—Challenges of Wireline—Formation Testing and Fluid Sampling in Tight, Low-Permeability Gas Reservoirs: A Case Study from Saudi Arabia. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20230235666 A1 | Jul 2023 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63044191 | Jun 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17184296 | Feb 2021 | US |
Child | 18130316 | US |