EP0699819A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for well testing or servicing
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Inc
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Filing: 1995-08-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A well (10) is tested or serviced, especially in early evaluation before the borehole (12) is cased, using an outer tubing string (16) run into the well and having a packer (18) which is set in the open, uncased borehole (12) above the subsurface formation (14) of interest. An inflation passage is provided, preferably having an inflation valve associated therewith which is operated by manipulation of the tubing string (16). A communication passage (32) communicates the interior of the outer tubing string (16) with the borehole (12) below the packer (18). An inner well tool (42) is run into the outer tubing string (16) and engaged therewith, whereupon it is placed in fluid communication with the subsurface formation (14) to either sample the formation or treat the formation. Preferably, a circulating valve (38) is provided above the packer (18) to allow fluid circulation in the well annulus (39) during the testing procedure to prevent differential sticking of the outer tubing string (16). The inner well tool (42) may include an inner tubing string, preferably coiled tubing, which may include annulus pressure responsive tester valves therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold Kent Beck
- 👤 Roger Lynn Schultz
- 👤 Paul David Ringgenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:31
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B23/00; E21B23/004; E21B23/006; E21B27/00; E21B27/02; E21B33/00; E21B33/10; E21B33/12; E21B33/124; E21B33/1243; E21B33/1246; E21B49/00; E21B49/08; E21B49/081; E21B49/082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
A method of servicing a well (10) having an uncased borehole (12) intersecting a subsurface zone or formation (14) of interest, which method comprises: (a) running an outer tubing string (16) into the well (10), said outer tubing string including: a packer (18) having an inflatable element (20,22); a communication passage (32) communicating an interior (30) of said outer tubing string (16) with said borehole below said packer; an inflation passage communicating said inflatable element with said interior (30) of said outer tubing string; and an inflation valve (28) having an open position wherein said inflation passage is open, and having a closed position wherein said inflation passage is closed, said inflation valve being movable between its said open and closed positions by surface manipulation of said outer tubing string (16); (b) with said inflation valve (28) in its said open position, inflating said inflatable element (20,22) by increasing fluid pressure in said interior of said outer tubing string, and thereby setting said packer (18) in said borehole above said subsurface zone or formation (14); (c) after step (b), closing said inflation valve (28) by surface manipulation of said outer tubing string (16) to maintain said packer (18) set in said borehole (12); (d) after step (c), running an inner well tool (42) into said outer tubing string (16); and (e) engaging said inner well tool (42) with said outer tubing string (16) and placing said inner well tool in fluid communication with said subsurface zone or formation (14) through said communication passage (32).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein in step (a) the packer (18) is a retrievable inflatable straddle packer having upper (20) and lower (22) packer elements; and in step (b) said upper and lower packer elements are set above and below said subsurface zone or formation (14), respectively.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of servicing a well (10) having an uncased borehole (12) intersecting a subsurface zone (14), which method comprises: (a) running an outer tubing string (16) into a well, said outer tubing string including a retrievable straddle packer (18) having upper (20) and lower (22) packer elements; a circulating valve (38) located above said upper packer element (22) and communicating an interior of said outer tubing string with a well annulus (39) between said borehole and said outer tubing string; and a communication passage (32) communicating said interior of said outer tubing string with said borehole (12) between said upper (20) and lower (22) packer elements; (b) setting said upper (20) and lower (22) packer elements in said uncased borehole above and below said subsurface zone (14), respectively; (c) running an inner well tool (42) into said outer tubing string (16) ; (d) engaging said inner well tool (42) with said outer tubing string (16) and placing said inner well tool (42) in fluid communication with said subsurface zone (14) through said communication passage (32) ; and (e) while said inner well tool (42) is in fluid communication with said subsurface zone (14) through said communication passage (32), circulating fluid through said well annulus (39) and through said circulating valve (38) and thereby preventing sticking of said outer tubing string (16) in said uncased borehole (12).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein step (c) is performed after step (b).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of testing a well having an uncased borehole intersecting a subsurface formation, which method comprises: (a) running an outer tubing string (16) into said well, said outer tubing string (16) including a packer (18) and including a communication passage (32) communicating an interior of said outer tubing string (16) with said borehole (12) below said packer (18); (b) setting said packer (18) in said uncased borehole (12) above said subsurface formation (14); (c) running an inner tubing string (50) into said outer tubing string (16); (d) engaging said inner tubing string (50) with said outer tubing string (16) and placing an inner tubing bore of said inner tubing string in fluid communication with said subsurface formation (14) through said communication passage (32); and (e) flowing well fluid from said subsurface formation (14) through said communication passage (32) and up through said inner tubing bore.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein in step (c), said inner tubing string (50) includes an inner tubing closure valve (46,286,272,280,282,284) on a lower end thereof which is maintained in a closed position during step (c) ; and step (d) includes engaging said inner tubing closure valve with said outer tubing string (16) and moving said inner tubing closure valve to an open position and thereby placing said inner tubing bore in communication with said subsurface formation (14).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for testing a well, which apparatus comprises an outer tubing string (500) including a packer (504,506) ; a communication passage communicating an interior of said outer tubing string (500) with an exterior of said outer tubing string below said packer (504,506) ; and means (508) for setting said packer in said well; and an inner tubing string (534) received in said outer tubing string (500) with a tubing annulus (556) defined between said inner tubing string (534) and said outer tubing string (500), said inner tubing string (534) having a lower end engaged with said outer tubing string so that an inner tubing bore of said inner tubing string is communicated with said communication passage, said inner tubing string (534) including an annulus pressure responsive tester valve (546) having a power port (560) communicated with said tubing annulus (556).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said packer (504,506) is an inflatable straddle packer; and said means (508) for setting includes a downhole pump operated by rotation of said outer tubing string (500).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of treating a well having an uncased borehole intersecting a subsurface formation, comprising: (a) running an outer tubing string (16) into said well, said outer tubing string including a packer (18) and including a communication passage (32) communicating an interior of said outer tubing string with said borehole (12) below said packer (18); (b) setting said packer in said uncased borehole above said subsurface formation (14); (c) running a fluid injection tool (300) down into said outer tubing string (16); (d) engaging said fluid injection tool (300) with said outer tubing string (16) and placing said fluid injection tool in fluid communication with said subsurface formation (14) through said communication passage (32); and (e) injecting a treatment fluid from said fluid injection tool (300) through said communication passage (32) into said subsurface formation (14).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said fluid injection tool (300) includes a pressurized canister which is run into said well in step (c) on a wireline (44).
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