Patent US6729398B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6729398B2
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US
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Methods of downhole testing subterranean formations and associated apparatus therefor
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Inc
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Filing: 2002-10-11
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Granted: 2004-05-04
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Expires: 2022-10-11
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus are provided which permit well testing operations to be performed downhole in a subterranean well. In various described methods, fluids flowed from a formation during a test may be disposed of downhole by injecting the fluids into the formation from which they were produced, or by injecting the fluids into another formation. In several of the embodiments of the invention, apparatus utilized in the methods permit convenient retrieval of samples of the formation fluids and provide enhanced data acquisition for monitoring of the test and for evaluation of the formation fluids.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul D. Ringgenberg
- 👤 Mark A. Proett
- 👤 Michael T. Pelletier
- 👤 Michael L. Hinz
- 👤 Gregory N. Gilbert
- 👤 Harold W. Nivens
- 👤 Mehdi Azari
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:59
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B41/00; E21B41/005; E21B41/0057; E21B21/00; E21B21/002; E21B43/00; E21B43/11; E21B43/119; E21B49/00; E21B49/08; E21B49/081; E21B49/082; E21B49/084; E21B49/087; E21B49/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A well testing system, comprising: a formation test assembly positioned in a wellbore of the well, the formation test assembly having an inlet opening in communication with a first zone intersected by the wellbore, and an outlet opening in communication with a second zone intersected by the wellbore; and formation fluid flowing between the inlet and outlet openings during a formation test of the first zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A well testing system, comprising: a formation test assembly positioned in a wellbore of the well, the formation test assembly having an inlet opening in communication with a first zone intersected by the wellbore, and an outlet opening in communication with a second zone intersected by the wellbore; and formation fluid flowing between the inlet and outlet openings during a formation test of the first zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the formation test assembly further includes a sampler, the sampler taking a sample of the formation fluid flowing between the inlet and outlet openings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system according to claim 2 , wherein the formation test assembly further includes an internal chamber formed between first and second valves, the chamber having a volume greater than that of the sampler.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the formation test assembly includes a perforating gun which perforates the first zone, thereby permitting fluid flow from the first zone into the inlet opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the formation test assembly includes a perforating gun which perforates the second zone, thereby permitting fluid flow from the outlet opening into the second zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the formation test assembly includes at least one fluid property sensor, the sensor sensing at least one fluid property of the formation fluid flowing between the inlet and outlet openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system according to claim 2 , wherein an indication of the fluid property sensed by the sensor is transmitted to a remote location while the sensor senses the fluid property.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 2 , wherein an indication of the fluid property sensed by the sensor is stored in the formation test assembly while the sensor senses the fluid property.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 6 , wherein the sensor is positioned between a tester valve and a circulating valve of the formation test assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 6 , wherein the sensor is a fluid identification sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 6 , wherein the sensor is a solids sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 6 , wherein the sensor is a fluid density sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the formation test assembly prevents the formation fluid from flowing to the earth's surface while the formation fluid flows between the inlet and outlet openings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the formation test assembly is interconnected in a segmented tubular string.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the formation test assembly is interconnected in a continuous tubular string.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the formation test assembly is connected to a wireline in the wellbore.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the formation test assembly includes a pump pumping the formation fluid to the outlet opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 17 , wherein the pump is electrically operated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 17 , wherein the pump is hydraulically operated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system according to claim 17 , wherein the pump includes a plug reciprocably disposed within a chamber of the formation test assembly.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 17 , further comprising a tubular string connected to the formation test assembly, and wherein the pump is operated by applying pressure to the tubular string at a remote location.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein an annulus is formed between the formation test assembly and the wellbore, and wherein the formation test assembly includes a packer isolating a first portion of the annulus in communication with the first zone from a second portion of the annulus in communication with the second zone.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a line providing communication between the formation test assembly and a remote location.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 23 , wherein the line is a fiber optic line.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 23 , wherein the line transmits commands from the remote location, thereby remotely controlling operation of the formation test assembly.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the formation test assembly includes a flow control device selectively controlling flow of the formation fluid between the inlet and outlet openings.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 26 , wherein the flow control device is electrically operated.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 26 , wherein the flow control device is a valve selectively permitting and prevent flow therethrough.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 26 , wherein the flow control device is a choke selectively regulating a rate of flow therethrough.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the formation test assembly includes a chamber, a pressure differential existing from the first zone to the chamber, and the pressure differential inducing the formation fluid to flow from the first zone into the chamber.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system according to claim 30 , wherein the formation test assembly includes a choke regulating flow of the formation fluid between the inlet opening and the chamber.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 31 , wherein operation of the choke is controlled from a remote location.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system according to claim 30 , wherein the formation test assembly further includes a fluid separation device reciprocably disposed in the chamber, the fluid separation device displacing in a first direction in the chamber when the formation fluid is flowed into the chamber from the first zone.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 33 , wherein the fluid separation device displaces in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the formation fluid is flowed from the chamber into the second zone.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system according to claim 34 , wherein the fluid separation device displaces in the second direction in response to pressure applied to the fluid separation device from a remote location.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-05-04 | 2007-11-03 | 2008-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-05-04 | 2011-11-03 | 2012-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-05-04 | 2015-11-03 | 2016-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |