Tubing or casing conveyed fluid sampling system

Abstract

A variety of fluid flow management and sampling systems are discussed. In some examples, the fluid flow management and sampling systems may comprise a sample module and a perforating assembly, wherein the fluid flow management and sampling system is installed on a tubing and / or a casing and cemented in place. In other examples, the systems may comprise a semi-permanent fluid flow management and sampling system comprising a sample module. Further, the sample module comprises control lines connected to a surface, wherein the control lines comprise a nested tubes assembly, a fluid sub connected to the control lines, and a check valve connected to the fluid sub.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 748,718, filed Jan. 23, 2025, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] 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 or after 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 production.

[0003] Having an accurate and comprehensive understanding of volumetric changes and phase behavior of the reservoir fluid at flowing pressure and temperature conditions from the producing reservoir to surface is the cornerstone of subsurface analysis in the oil and gas industry. It is required to design an effective field development plan and optimize production and fluid recoveries from oil and gas reservoirs. Generally, sampling operations may be performed by wireline-based tools. However, to meet the Environmental Protection Agency and Department Of Energy constant regulatory measurements requires a large number of wireline operations, which are expensive and consume large amounts of time to perform.

[0004] Further, the Environmental Protection Agency has introduced a new classification of wells, referred to as Class VI injection wells specifically for injecting CO2 into the subsurface. As part of the criteria for installation of a Class VI well, it is required to directly confirm no contamination of the lowermost overlying underground source of drinking water. This would require a fluid sample to be taken at this location above the CO2 storage reservoir. Being able to sample fluids behind casings would enable well operators to identify problematic cement seals and enable mitigation steps to be taken before migration of contaminants into overlying water formations.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] These drawings illustrate certain aspects of some examples of the present disclosure and should not be used to limit or define the disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of a fluid flow management and sampling system in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a chipset in an information handling system in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates the chipset in communication with other components of the information handling system in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a schematic of a control panel in accordance with some examples of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 5A illustrates different aspects of a fluid flow management and sampling system in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 5B illustrates different aspects of a fluid flow management and sampling system in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 5C illustrates different aspects of a fluid flow management and sampling system in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic of an enlargement of an aspect of a fluid flow management and sampling system in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 7A is a schematic of an enlargement of an aspect of the fluid flow management and sampling system in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 7B is a schematic of the cross section of the control lines comprising a nested tubes assembly in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods designed to manage fluid flow and retrieve fluid samples on a system installed on a tubing and / or casing. When the fluid flow management and sampling system is installed on tubing and / or casing and cemented in place, a perforating assembly is utilized alongside it to access reservoir fluids. The fluid flow management and sampling system serves as a permanent or semi-permanent solution for fluid flow management and sampling. Traditionally, fluid samples are collected using wireline tools, which are run into the well to retrieve the sample. However, the fluid flow management and sampling system eliminates the need for wireline intervention, allowing operation directly from the surface of the well. It may be activated immediately at the operator's convenience. Further, the fluid flow management and sampling system may be placed on a tubing or casing to perforate and create many channels / holes into cement or any other poorly permeable formation as the number of perforating guns and their associated weight are not limited by conveyance in contrast with wireline tool.

[0017] Sampling may be needed to monitor reservoir connectivity and / or leak from a reservoir to another reservoir due to human activities. For example, sampling may be needed to monitor carbon dioxide concentration above and around the carbon dioxide sequestration storage well to ensure carbon dioxide does not leak from the carbon dioxide sequestration storage to surface or any other reservoirs above or around it. Sampling may be needed to monitor hydraulic fracturing operations and ensure the reservoirs above and around the stimulated reservoir are not contaminated by any potentially harmful chemicals including hydrogen sulfide that may leak from the stimulated reservoir through newly formed paths. The fluid flow management and sampling system may be positioned above the carbon dioxide storage well or the stimulated reservoir within the same well (same completion), or positioned on one or more surrounding wells to monitor crossflow contamination or reservoir connectivity and fluid dynamics. For example, the fluid flow management and sampling system may be installed in between an injector well and a producing well to monitor reservoirs connectivity and the evolution of gas, oil, and water production. The fluid flow management and sampling system may be a semi-permanent or permanent system. A semi-permanent system may be defined as being conveyed downhole and used for at least 6 months before being retrieved to surface when used in an open hole well. A permanent system may be defined as a system remaining downhole for the lifetime of a well (whether open-hole or cemented in place).

[0018] The fluid flow management and sampling system and methods described below may allow fluid flow management from bottom to top of the completion or vice versa and the extraction of fluid samples from the wellbore through the exterior of the casing or tubing by utilizing control lines that run from the surface to a sampling module comprising a fluid sub, a check valve, and a filter pressure housing. During operations, the fluid flow management and sampling system may position a sampling module into an open hole wellbore, which may be referred to as a borehole, to take samples. As the fluid flow management and sampling system is affixed to the outside of the tubular, and not cemented in place, then sampling operations may be performed. However, if the fluid flow management and sampling system is affixed to a casing or tubular in a wellbore, the fluid flow management and sampling system may be encased in cement. In such case, a perforation assembly may be attached to the sampling module.

[0019] Once cement curing time is complete and sampling needs to start, an operator may trigger the perforating gun of the perforation assembly by pressurizing the control lines above the burst pressure installed in a “y-block” allowing pressure through the burst disc through a channel to a firing head to move one or more firing pins which will hit the detonator of the perforating assembly which will ignite the detonating cord which will ignite throughout the perforating gun to initiate the shaped charges which penetrate the cement to create fluid communication between the formation and the control lines.

[0020] The operator may control the pressure of the control lines and therefore may trigger the perforating gun and may manage flow in and out of the formation through the control lines through a control panel. For example, the control lines may comprise a nested tubes assembly with an inner tubing inside an outer tubing so that an inert fluid may be pumped in the conduit or channel between the inner tubing and the outer tubing from surface to downhole while reservoir fluid may be pushed inside the inner tubing to surface or vice versa (an inert fluid is pumped inside the inner tubing from surface to downhole so that the reservoir fluid is pushed to surface through the conduit in between the inner tubing and the outer tubing of the control line).

[0021] The control panel comprises at least an inlet line, a geared valve assembly (a 3-way valve), an outlet line, a vent, and a pressure gauge. The control panel may be connected through a quick connect to a container to collect the reservoir fluid. The outlet line connects a pressure source, such as a tank of nitrogen gas or any other inert fluid, to the geared valve assembly with a pressure gauge to monitor pressure inside the conduit in between the inner tubing and the outer tubing of the control line. The inlet line connects the inner tubing of the control lines to the geared valve assembly. The operator controls the pressure inside the conduit in between the inner tubing and the outer tubing of the control lines through the geared valve assembly and may pressurize the control lines to trigger the perforating gun and to manage fluid flow in and out of the formation.

[0022] After the operator triggers the perforating gun to establish fluid connection between the formation and the control line, the control lines are vented by connecting them to the vent through the geared valve assembly. Once the control lines are bled off, the control lines are underbalanced which will suck the reservoir fluid into a U-tube filter pressure housing to separate reservoir fluid from any solids that may clog the control line. Then, the reservoir fluid flows through a valve, such as an autoclave check valve for example, that connects the U-tube filter pressure housing to a fluid sub connected to the control lines. The fluid sub accumulates the reservoir fluid in a chamber connected to the control lines on its way to surface as long as reservoir pressure is high enough to push the reservoir fluid to the surface and the operator wants to sample the reservoir fluid. The U-tube filter pressure housing may not be needed if the reservoir fluid is free of solid that may clog the control line.

[0023] If the reservoir pressure is not high enough to push the reservoir fluid all the way to surface, the autoclave check valve let the reservoir fluid inside the U-tube filter pressure housing into the fluid sub as long as there is an underbalance between the fluid sub and the U-tube filter housing (i.e., the pressure inside the fluid sub is below the pressure inside the U-tube filter housing). Once equilibrium is reached (i.e., the pressure inside the U-tube filter housing is similar to the pressure inside the fluid sub), the fluid sub is filled with reservoir fluid. The reservoir fluid is sent to the surface through the control lines by injecting the high-pressure inert fluid such as nitrogen through the conduit between the inner tubing and the outer tubing of the control lines to force the reservoir fluid inside the chamber of the fluid sub to flow to surface through the inner tubing of the control lines. It should be noted that the connection between the high-pressure inert fluid and the control lines may be reversed with the operator pressurizing the inner tubing of the control lines with high-pressure inert fluid such as nitrogen to force the reservoir fluid inside the chamber of the fluid sub into the conduit between the inner tubing and the outer tubing of the control lines. When the fluid sub is pressurized to send the reservoir fluid to surface, the autoclave check valve prevents reservoir fluid from going from fluid sub to U-tube filter pressure housing.

[0024] The reservoir fluid may be sampled in a container such as a vacuumed sample chamber, for example, and sent for analysis in a laboratory. The sample chamber is cleaned and vacuumed before introducing the reservoir fluid to prevent any contamination from occurring inside the sample chamber and for sucking the reservoir fluid from the control lines to the sample chamber. The sample chamber may be installed on the control panel for collection, for example. Alternatively, or in complement, the reservoir fluid may be sampled and analyzed in-situ in an analysis chamber at surface at the rig site to prevent any contamination of the reservoir fluid including oxidation and dilution from occurring between the geared valve assembly and the analysis chamber. On site surface analysis reduces reservoir fluid degradation during transportation from the rig site to the laboratory, reduces the changes in environmental conditions (temperature, pressure and potential chemical contaminations due to exposure to the environment), and eliminates any issue related to leak of the sample chamber and manipulation errors during transportation and laboratory analysis. Any analytical equipment may be used to perform the on-site analysis including gas chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, optical spectroscopy, electro paramagnetic spectroscopy, or any combination thereof.

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a fluid flow management and sampling system 100 that may be permanently disposed within wellbore 102. Wellbore 102 may traverse through formation 104 as a vertical well and / or a horizontal well. Fluid flow management and sampling system 100 may comprise a sampling module 106 that may be attached to the outside of tubing 108, or in other examples, casing 110. As illustrated, sampling module 106 is fixed / connected to the outer surface of tubing 108. During operations, sampling module 106 may be positioned in an open hole wellbore, which may be referred to as a borehole, to take samples. As sampling module 106 is affixed to the outside of tubing 108, and not cemented in place, then sampling operations may be performed with sampling module 106 free of any perforating equipment. However, if sampling module 106 is affixed to a tubing 108 or casing and sampling module 106 may be encased in cement, then perforating equipment (not shown) may be added to sampling module 106 to conduct perforation operations, discussed in greater detail below.

[0026] As illustrated, sampling module 106 may connect to surface 114 by control lines 116. During operations, control lines 116 may control and / or facilitate perforation operations and fluid sampling operations. In examples, control lines 116 may be a hollow tube that may allow for pressure to be exerted upon sampling module 106 through fluid or air. The hollow tube may further allow for fluid from sampling module 106 to traverse to surface 114. During fluid sampling operations, control lines 116 may act as a conduit for fluids, such as formation fluids or wellbore fluids, to move from sampling module 106 to fluid sampling analyses module 118, in which fluids may be analyzed at surface 114. Fluid sampling operations may be controlled by information handling system 120.

[0027] Analysis of fluid from fluid sampling analyses module 118 may be gathered and / or processed by information handling system 120. For example, fluid analyses may be sent to information handling system 120 where they may be stored on memory and then processed. The processing may be performed real-time during data acquisition. Information handling system 120 may further process the fluid analysis, and the information contained therein may be displayed for an operator to observe. Further, the information may be stored for future processing and reference. Additionally, information handling system 120 may control perforation operations that may be performed by a perforating assembly (not shown).

[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an information handling system 120 which may be employed to perform various steps, methods, and techniques disclosed herein. As illustrated, information handling system 120 comprises a processing unit (CPU or processor) 202 and a system bus 204 that couples various system components including system memory 206 such as read only memory (ROM) 208 and random-access memory (RAM) 210 to processor 202. Processors disclosed herein may all be forms of this processor 202. Information handling system 120 may comprise a cache 212 of high-speed memory connected directly with, in close proximity to, or integrated as part of processor 202. Information handling system 120 copies data from memory 206 and / or storage device 214 to cache 212 for quick access by processor 202. In this way, cache 212 provides a performance boost that avoids processor 202 delays while waiting for data. These and other modules may control or be configured to control processor 202 to perform various operations or actions. Other system memory 206 may be available for use as well. Memory 206 may comprise multiple different types of memory with different performance characteristics. It may be appreciated that the disclosure may operate on information handling system 120 with more than one processor 202 or on a group or cluster of computing devices networked together to provide greater processing capability. Processor 202 may comprise any general-purpose processor and a hardware module or software modules 216, 218, and 220 stored in storage device 214, configured to control processor 202 as well as a special-purpose processor where software instructions are incorporated into processor 202. Processor 202 may be a self-contained computing system, containing multiple cores or processors, a bus, memory controller, cache, etc. A multi-core processor may be symmetric or asymmetric. Processor 202 may comprise multiple processors, such as a system having multiple, physically separate processors in different sockets, or a system having multiple processor cores on a single physical chip. Similarly, processor 202 may comprise multiple distributed processors located in multiple separate computing devices but working together such as via a communications network. Multiple processors or processor cores may share resources such as memory 206 or cache 212 or may operate using independent resources. Processor 202 may comprise one or more state machines, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a programmable gate array (PGA) including a field PGA (FPGA).

[0029] Each individual component discussed above may be coupled to system bus 204, which may connect each and every individual component to each other. System bus 204 may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. A basic input / output (BIOS) stored in ROM 208 or the like, may provide the basic routine that helps to transfer information between elements within information handling system 120, such as during start-up. Information handling system 120 further comprises storage devices 214 or computer-readable storage media such as a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, tape drive, solid-state drive, RAM drive, removable storage devices, a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID), hybrid storage devices, or the like. Storage device 214 may comprise software modules 216, 218, and 220 for controlling processor 202. Information handling system 120 may comprise other hardware or software modules. Storage device 214 is connected to the system bus 204 by a drive interface. The drives and the associated computer-readable storage devices provide nonvolatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for information handling system 120. In one aspect, a hardware module that performs a particular function comprises the software component stored in a tangible computer-readable storage device in connection with the necessary hardware components, such as processor 202, system bus 204, and so forth, to carry out a particular function. In another aspect, the system may use a processor and computer-readable storage device to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, a method or other specific actions. The basic components and appropriate variations may be modified depending on the type of device, such as whether information handling system 120 is a small, handheld computing device, a desktop computer, or a computer server. When processor 202 executes instructions to perform “operations”, processor 202 may perform the operations directly and / or facilitate, direct, or cooperate with another device or component to perform the operations.

[0030] As illustrated, information handling system 120 employs storage device 214, which may be a hard disk or other types of computer-readable storage devices which may store data that are accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks (DVDs), cartridges, random access memories (RAMs) 210, read only memory (ROM) 208, a cable containing a bit stream and the like, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment. Tangible computer-readable storage media, computer-readable storage devices, or computer-readable memory devices, expressly exclude media such as transitory waves, energy, carrier signals, electromagnetic waves, and signals per se.

[0031] To enable user interaction with information handling system 120, an input device 222 represents any number of input mechanisms, such as a microphone for speech, a touch-sensitive screen for gesture or graphical input, keyboard, mouse, motion input, speech and so forth. Additionally, input device 222 may take in data from one or more sensors, discussed below. An output device 224 may also be one or more of a number of output mechanisms known to those of skill in the art. In some instances, multimodal systems enable a user to provide multiple types of input to communicate with information handling system 120. Communications interface 226 generally governs and manages the user input and system output. There is no restriction on operating on any particular hardware arrangement and therefore the basic hardware depicted may easily be substituted for improved hardware or firmware arrangements as they are developed.

[0032] As illustrated, each individual component described above is depicted and disclosed as individual functional blocks. The functions these blocks represent may be provided through the use of either shared or dedicated hardware, including, but not limited to, hardware capable of executing software and hardware, such as a processor 202, that is purpose-built to operate as an equivalent to software executing on a general-purpose processor. For example, the functions of one or more processors 202 presented in FIG. 2 may be provided by a single shared processor or multiple processors. (Use of the term “processor” should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software.) Illustrative embodiments may comprise microprocessor and / or digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, read-only memory (ROM) 208 for storing software performing the operations described below, and random-access memory (RAM) 210 for storing results. Very large-scale integration (VLSI) hardware embodiments, as well as custom VLSI circuitry in combination with a general-purpose DSP circuit, may also be provided.

[0033] The logical operations of the various methods, described below, are implemented as: (1) a sequence of computer implemented steps, operations, or procedures running on a programmable circuit within a general use computer, (2) a sequence of computer implemented steps, operations, or procedures running on a specific-use programmable circuit; and / or (3) interconnected machine modules or program engines within the programmable circuits. Information handling system 120 may practice all or part of the recited methods, may be a part of the recited systems, and / or may operate according to instructions in the recited tangible computer-readable storage devices. Such logical operations may be implemented as modules configured to control processor 202 to perform particular functions according to the programming of software modules 216, 218, and 220.

[0034] In examples, one or more parts of the example information handling system 120, up to and including the entire information handling system, may be virtualized. For example, a virtual processor may be a software object that executes according to a particular instruction set, even when a physical processor of the same type as the virtual processor is unavailable. A virtualization layer or a virtual “host” may enable virtualized components of one or more different computing devices or device types by translating virtualized operations to actual operations. Ultimately however, virtualized hardware of every type is implemented or executed by some underlying physical hardware. Thus, a virtualization computer layer may operate on top of a physical computer layer. The virtualization computer layer may comprise one or more virtual machines, an overlay network, a hypervisor, virtual switching, and any other virtualization application.

[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of information handling system 120 having a chipset architecture that may be used in executing the described method and generating and displaying a graphical user interface (GUI). Information handling system 120 is an example of computer hardware, software, and firmware that may be used to implement the disclosed technology. Information handling system 120 may comprise a processor 202, representative of any number of physically and / or logically distinct resources capable of executing software, firmware, and hardware configured to perform identified computations. Processor 202 may communicate with a chipset 300 that may control input to and output from processor 202. In this example, chipset 300 outputs information to output device 224, such as a display, and may read and write information to storage device 214, which may comprise, for example, magnetic media, and solid-state media. Chipset 300 may also read data from and write data to RAM 210. A bridge 302 for interfacing with a variety of user interface components 304 may be provided for interfacing with chipset 300. Such user interface components 304 may comprise a keyboard, a microphone, touch detection and processing circuitry, a pointing device, such as a mouse, and so on. In general, inputs to information handling system 120 may come from any of a variety of sources, machine generated and / or human generated.

[0036] Chipset 300 may also interface with one or more communication interfaces 226 that may have different physical interfaces. Such communication interfaces may comprise interfaces for wired and wireless local area networks, for broadband wireless networks, as well as personal area networks. Some applications of the methods for generating, displaying, and using the GUI disclosed herein may comprise receiving ordered datasets over the physical interface or be generated by the machine itself by processor 202 analyzing data stored in storage device 214 or RAM 210. Further, information handling system 120 receives inputs from a user via user interface components 304 and executes appropriate functions, such as browsing functions by interpreting these inputs using processor 202.

[0037] In examples, information handling system 120 may also comprise tangible and / or non-transitory computer-readable storage devices for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such tangible computer-readable storage devices may be any available device that may be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer, including the functional design of any special purpose processor as described above. By way of example, and not limitation, such tangible computer-readable devices may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other device which may be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of computer-executable instructions, data structures, or processor chip design. When information or instructions are provided via a network, or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or combination thereof), to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also be comprised within the scope of the computer-readable storage devices.

[0038] Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Computer-executable instructions also comprise program modules that are executed by computers in stand-alone or network environments. Generally, program modules comprise routines, programs, components, data structures, objects, and the functions inherent in the design of special-purpose processors, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of the program code means for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps.

[0039] In additional examples, methods may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computer system configurations, including personal computers, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network personal computers, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Examples may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by local and remote processing devices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, or by a combination thereof) through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

[0040] Information handling system 120 may operate the control panel described earlier autonomously or under the instructions of an operator. Alternatively, the control panel may be operated by an operator or any combination thereof. FIG. 4 is a schematic 400 of control panel 402 comprising inlet line 404 connected to the inner tube of the control lines (not shown), outlet line 406 connected to the conduit between the inner tube and the outer tube of the control lines, vent 408 connecting the control lines to the atmosphere, a container, or any system including a scrubber capable of depolluting the fluid coming out of the control line before its release in the atmosphere and / or a container, geared valve assembly 410, pressure gauge 412, sample chamber 414 to collect the reservoir sample from the control lines, and two quick connect 416 to connect and disconnect sample chamber 414 from the control lines. The operator may vent the control lines after the perforation has created a fluid connection between the formation and the control lines by opening vent 408. Once the control lines are underbalanced, vent 408 is closed and the pressure inside the control lines is allowed to rise with the inflow of the reservoir fluid inside the control lines though the U-tube filter housing, the autoclave check valve, and the fluid sub (not shown). If the formation pressure is high enough to allow reservoir fluid to be pushed to the surface, inlet line 404 is open to collect the reservoir fluid into sample chamber 414 and / or an analysis chamber for on-site analysis as described earlier.

[0041] However, if the pressure of the formation is not high enough to push the reservoir fluid to the surface, the operator pressurizes outlet line 406 through a connection to a high pressure fluid such as nitrogen (not shown) so that the high pressure fluid goes into the conduit between the outer tubing and the inner tubing of the control lines to push the reservoir fluid inside the fluid sub into the inner tubing of the control lines to the surface where inlet line 404 is connected to sample chamber 414 and / or an analysis chamber for on-site analysis as described earlier.

[0042] After the sample has been collected in sample chamber 414, outlet line 406 is closed to stop pressurizing the conduit between the outer tubing and the inner tubing of the control lines. The control lines are vented to reach reservoir pressure by opening vent 408 using geared valve assembly 410. When a new sample is needed, the operator opens vent 408 using geared valve assembly 410 to get rid of the reservoir fluid that has been stationed in the control line between surface and the autoclave check valve and the operation just described above depending upon the formation pressure is repeated.

[0043] FIG. 5A illustrates perforating assembly 550 attached to tubing 108. As illustrated, perforating assembly 550 is connected to control lines 116 and comprises sliding y-block 500, body section 502, and fixed y-block 504 which is connected to tubing 108. Sliding y-block 500 connects to tubing 108 through clasp 516. One or more anti-rotational grub screws 518, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, may prevent the rotation of clasp 516 around tubing 108. In examples, control lines 116 attach to perforating assembly 550 through sliding y-block 500. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, control lines 116 connect to sliding y-block 500 through a Ferrule Metal Junction (FMJ) connector 506, for example. Ferrule Metal Junction (FMJ) connector 506 may mate with upper body connector 508, which is connected to debris tubing 510, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Debris tubing 510 forms at least a part of body section 502. Debris tubing 510 connects to full bore tandem 512, which connects debris tubing 510 to perforation gun 514.

[0044] Perforation gun 514 may operate and function to create channels / holes into cement. Perforating gun 514 may have any adjustable length including from about 2 inches (in.) (5.08 centimeters (cm)) to about 30 feet (915.6 cm), from about 2.5 (in.) (6.35 centimeters (cm)) to about 30 in. (76.2 cm), from about 3 in. (7.62 cm) to about 24 in. (60.96 cm), from about 4 in. (10.16 cm) to about 20 in. (50.8 cm), from about 5 in. (12.7 cm) to about 12 in. (30.48 cm) or any value in between. With continued reference to FIG. 5A, perforating assembly 550 is attached to tubing 108 through clasp 516. Once perforating assembly 550 and tubing 108 have been set within wellbore 102 (e.g., referring to FIG. 1), cement may be disposed around tubing 108 and perforating assembly 550 to hold both in place and affixed to wellbore 102 and / or formation 104.

[0045] When reservoir fluid sampling is needed, the operator may trigger perforating gun 514 by pressurizing control lines 116 above the burst pressure of the burst disc 534 installed in fixed y-block 504 by opening outlet line 406 (referring to FIG. 4) that pressurizes control lines 116 with an inert fluid such as nitrogen under high pressure as described above. Burst disc 534 may be designed for burst pressures ranging from about 50 pounds per square inch (psi) (0.34 Megapascals (MPa)) to about 30,000 psi (206.8 MPa). Using burst disc 534 eliminates the need for a separate control line to be run from surface 114 to perforating assembly 550.

[0046] With reference to FIG. 5C, once burst disc 534 is opened, the high pressure propagates through hollow tube 532, mating connector 530, and firing head 526 which comprises shear pins 528. Once the high-pressure has surpassed the firing pressure of firing head 526, shear pins 528 are allowed to move freely which will then hit a detonator (not shown) which will then ignite detonating cord (not shown) which will energize / ignite throughout perforating gun 514 to initiate the shaped charges and create perforation 520 (referring to FIG. 5A) and channel / holes through the cement to create a fluidic connection between formation 104 (referring to FIG. 1) and control lines 116.

[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 5C, firing head 526 attaches to fixed y-block 504 at mating connector 530. Mating connector 530 is connected through hollow tube 532 to burst disc 534 and plug 536. Plug 536 is used to fill up the hole produced to position burst disc 534 during manufacturing. It should be noted that mating connector 530, hollow tube 532, burst disc 534, and plug 536 may be formed within fixed y-block 504. Firing head 526 may further connect body section 502 to fixed y-block 504 at mating connector 530. Referring back to FIG. 5A, fixed y-block 504 may connect to tubing 108 through threaded sleeve 538, that may act as a joint between one or more joints of tubing 108. Fixed y-block 504 and clasp 516 may work together in holding perforating assembly 550 to tubing 108 during perforation operations and / or sampling operations. Perforation gun 514, while connected to debris tubing 510 at one end, is connected to crossover 522 at an opposite end.

[0048] Crossover 522 connects perforation gun 514 to secondary explosive submodule 524. Secondary explosive submodule 524 is further connected to firing head 526. As illustrated in FIG. 5C, firing head 526 further comprises a shear pins 528 depending upon the targeted initiation pressure, which may prevent formation fluid from flowing into tubing 108 during fluid sampling operations, discussed in greater detail below.

[0049] As discussed above, perforating assembly 550 may perform perforation operations. Perforating assembly 550 attaches to control lines 116 with a nested tubes assembly, serving as a fluid communication pathway to surface 114 for collecting fluid samples. Using a nested tubes assembly may allow for only a single wellhead penetration (e.g., referring to FIG. 1).

[0050] Once firing head 526 is activated, secondary explosive submodule 524 may also be activated. The hot vapor and material created from explosive material within firing head 526 and secondary explosive submodule 524 may pass through crossover 522 to perforation gun 514. The hot vapor and material may then ignite perforation gun 514, which may activate the shaped charges (not shown). The shaped charges and explosive components are interchangeable with the full range of current industry offerings. In examples, the shape charges may have a phasing that may be customized from about 0° to about 360°. Additionally, the shaped charges may be disposed at different ranges that may vary, for example, from about 1 in. (2.54 cm) to about 12 in. (30.48 cm) or any value in between. The shaped charges may explode with a force away from tubing 108 and into cement, creating a channel / hole, as described above. The creation of a channel / hole within the cement may end perforation operations performed by perforating assembly 550 and may prepare sampling module 106 for sampling operations.

[0051] In sampling operations, as discussed above, after channels / holes have been formed in cement, a pathway has been created between formation 104 (e.g., referring to FIG. 1) and sampling module 106. Fluid from formation 104 may flow from formation 104, through the channels / holes formed in perforation operations to sampling module 106. The holes created by the shaped charges in perforation gun 514 may now act as a gateway in which fluid from formation 104 may flow into sampling module 106. Fluid may not be allowed to flow through sampling module 106 to the inside of tubing 108 through firing head 526, as the sealed sleeve prevents fluid from flowing through firing head 526 and burst disc 534. Thus, formation pressure may force fluid up through perforation gun 514, through full bore tandem 512 to debris tubing 510. Debris tubing 510 may prevent well, reservoir, or perforating debris from clogging the system and rendering it inoperable. Debris within the reservoir fluid may be captured in debris tubing 510, allowing the fluid to pass through debris tubing 510 to control lines 116. The reservoir fluid may then be transported through control lines 116 as a passage to surface 114 for surface analysis.

[0052] FIG. 6 is a schematic 600 that illustrates how the reservoir fluid flows from perforating assembly 550 into sampling module 106 into control lines 116 to surface 114. Sampling module 106 comprises U-tube filter housing 602, autoclave check valve 604, and fluid sub 606. Sampling module 106 connects perforating assembly 550 to control lines 116. As discussed above, control lines 116 may have a nested tubes assembly. Control lines 116 may have any dimensions including from about 0.125 in. (3.175 millimeter (mm)) to about 1 in. (2.54 cm) outside diameter with wall thicknesses of about 0.022 in. (0.56 mm), 0.028 in. (0.71 mm), 0.035 in. (0.89 mm), for example. Control lines 116 may have a 0.25 in. (0.635 cm) outside diameter with wall thicknesses of 0.028 in. (0.71 mm), 0.035 in. (0.89 mm), 0.049 in. (1.25 mm), and 0.065 in. (1.5 mm), for example. Control lines 116 may have a 0.375 in. (9.525 mm) outside diameter with wall thicknesses of 0.035 in. (0.89 mm), 0.049 in. (1.25 mm), and 0.065 in. (1.5 mm), for example. Control lines 116 may have a 0.5 in. (1.27 cm) outside diameter with wall thicknesses of 0.035 in. (0.89 mm), 0.049 in. (1.25 mm), 0.065 in. (1.5 mm), and 0.083 in. (2.1 mm). Additionally, control lines 116 may be manufactured in various metallurgies, including 316L stainless steel, INCOLOY alloy 825, INCONEL alloy 625, and Duplex 2205 stainless steel, titanium, for example.

[0053] With continued reference to FIG. 6, tubing 608 connects perforating assembly 550 to sampling module 106 through U-tube filter pressure housing 602. U-tube filter pressure housing 602 may be utilized to filter the reservoir fluid to remove any potential solid that may clog control lines 116. Tubing 610 connects U-tube filter pressure housing 602 to autoclave check valve 604. Autoclave check valve 604 prevents fluid from fluid sub 606 from flowing back to U-tube filter housing 602 if a pressure drop is experienced at U-tube filter housing 602. Finally, tubing 612 connects autoclave check valve 604 to fluid sub 606. Fluid sub 606 may act as a storage area for fluid for sampling module 106.

[0054] FIG. 7A is an enlargement 700 of sampling module 106 comprising U-tube filter housing 602, autoclave check valve 604, and fluid sub 606 and their connecting tubing 608, 610, and 612, respectively, to control lines 116. FIG. 7B is a schematic of the cross section of control lines 116 comprising a nested tubes assembly. After achieving fluid connectivity with formation 104 using perforating assembly 550 to create a hole in the cement, for example, the operator releases pressure from control lines 116 by opening vent 408 (referring to FIG. 4) to create a lower pressure in fluid sub 606. If the pressure of formation 104 is high enough for the reservoir fluid to be pushed through filter housing 602, autoclave check valve 604, fluid sub 606, to control lines 116 to surface 114, the operator will only have to open inlet line 404 or outlet line 406 to collect a sample. However, if the pressure of formation 104 is not high enough for the reservoir fluid to be pushed to surface 114, the operator will need to pressurize the conduit between inner tubing 702 (referring to FIG. 7B) and outer tubing 704 of control lines 116, for example, by connecting outlet line 406 (referring to FIG. 4) to a high-pressure inert fluid such as nitrogen so that the reservoir fluid in fluid sub 606 will be pushed inside inner tubing 702 and the operator will be able to sample the reservoir fluid by closing outlet line 406 and opening inlet line 404. Alternatively, the high-pressure fluid may be conveyed through inner tubing 702 of control lines 116 to push reservoir fluid in the conduit between inner tubing 702 and outer tubing 704 for surface sampling. When the pressure inside fluid sub 606 is higher than the pressure inside U-tube filter housing 602, autoclave check valve 604 prevents any fluid from going from fluid sub 606 to U-tube filter housing 602.

[0055] As reservoir fluid is sampled and analyzed at surface regularly, the reservoir compositional variations may be monitored so that flow assurance and completion issues are anticipated, mitigated, or avoided, and / or reservoir connectivity may be monitored.

[0056] When the fluid flow management and sampling system of FIGS. 5-7 is positioned in an open hole wellbore, an operator may trigger the collection of a sample using the control panel as described above. Alternatively, the collection of a sample may be triggered autonomously based on burst disc 534 burst pressure setting. In embodiments, the fluid flow management and sampling system of FIG. 6 may be positioned above a carbon dioxide storage reservoir and burst disc 534 may be set at a pressure to detect carbon dioxide leak from the carbon dioxide storage reservoir, for example. In other embodiments, the fluid flow management and sampling system may be positioned above a reservoir that was stimulated by hydraulic fracturing and the collection of a sample may be triggered autonomously to detect migration of contaminants from the stimulated reservoir to detect contamination of overlying reservoirs such as drinking water reservoir, for example. The autonomous trigger may be based on the burst pressure setting of burst disc 534 as described above, based on a chemical sensor that triggers a signal above a concentration of one or more contaminants, or any combination thereof. In embodiments, the chemical sensor may be a substrate in burst disc 534 that dissolves upon exposure to at least one chemical product of the formation hydraulic fracturing, matrix acidizing, or any combination thereof. The dissolution of the substrate preventing burst disc 534 from bursting may be upon exposure of a fluoride containing compounds, for example.

[0057] The systems and methods described above are an improvement over the current technology. The fluid flow management and sampling system is capable of managing the flow of reservoir fluid from the bottom of the well to surface and vice versa. The fluid flow management and sampling system is capable of perforating cement without any additional line or conveying any other tool. The fluid flow management and sampling system is capable of sampling frequently or even continuously if needed without any other additional sampling tool. The fluid flow management and sampling system allows continuous monitoring of the composition of the reservoir fluid at different locations in the wellbore so that reservoir connectivity may be monitored and flow assurance and completion strategies may be adapted continuously.

[0058] Specifically, the system and methods are more efficient and less risky methods for obtaining fluid samples while also having “FMJ” pressure-testable connection. Further the fluid flow management and sampling system may comprise a nested tubes assembly, serving as a fluid communication pathway to the surface for collecting fluid samples. Unlike the existing “U-tube” fluid sampling system, which requires two wellhead penetrations, the nested tubes assembly requires only a single wellhead penetration. Additionally, the fluid flow management and sampling system may be activated using a rupture disc, eliminating the need for a separate control line to be run from the surface to the perforating assembly. Systems and methods described above may also support delayed firing heads, enabling multiple systems to be initiated within a well without requiring separate control lines for each system. Further, systems and methods may comprise a debris tube to prevent well, reservoir, or perforating debris from clogging the system and rendering it inoperable.

[0059] The preceding description provides various examples 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 examples may be discussed herein, the present disclosure covers all combinations of the disclosed examples, 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 “comprising,”“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 elements that it introduces.

[0060] 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.

[0061] Therefore, the present examples are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular examples 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 examples are discussed, the disclosure covers all combinations of all of the examples. 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 examples disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of those examples. 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.

Claims

1. A system comprising:a fluid flow management and sampling system comprising:a sample module, anda perforating assembly connected to the sample module, wherein the fluid flow management and sampling system is installed on a tubing and / or a casing and cemented in place.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sample module comprises:control lines connected to a surface, wherein the control lines comprise a nested tubes assembly;a fluid sub connected to the control lines; anda check valve connected to the fluid sub.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the check valve comprises an autoclave check valve.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the perforating assembly comprises:a sliding y-block connected to the check valve;a body section connected to the sliding y-block; anda fixed y-block connected to the fixed y-block.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the body section comprises a perforating gun connected to a debris tube at one end and a crossover at an opposite end.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the fixed y-block comprises a burst disc connected to a firing head through a mating connector.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the control lines are connected to a high-pressure inert fluid at surface.

8. A system comprising:a semi-permanent fluid flow management and sampling system comprising a sample module comprising:control lines connected to a surface, wherein the control lines comprise a nested tubes assembly;a fluid sub connected to the control lines; anda check valve connected to the fluid sub.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the semi-permanent fluid flow management and sampling system is installed on a tubing and / or a casing downhole.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a filter housing connected to the check valve.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the filter housing comprises a U-tube filter pressure housing.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the check valve comprises an autoclave check valve.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the semi-permanent fluid flow management and sampling system further comprises a perforating assembly, wherein the perforating assembly comprises:a sliding y-block connected to the check valve;a body section connected to the sliding y-block; anda fixed y-block connected to the fixed y-block.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the body section comprises a perforating gun connected to a debris tube at one end and a crossover at an opposite end.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the body section comprises a firing head comprising shear pins.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the fixed y-block comprises a burst disc.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the burst disc is fluidly connected to a firing head through a mating connector.

18. A system comprising:a permanent fluid flow management and sampling system comprising a sample module comprising:control lines connected to a surface, wherein the control lines comprise a nested tubes assembly;a fluid sub connected to the control lines; anda check valve connected to the fluid sub.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the permanent fluid flow management and sampling system is installed on a tubing and / or a casing downhole.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the permanent fluid flow management and sampling system further comprises a perforating assembly, and wherein the permanent fluid flow management and sampling system is cemented in place.

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