System and method for transient testing in wells

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable storage mediums for managing testing of a well to facilitate completion of the well is disclosed. The system may include a tool usable to perform testing on the well. The tool may include a circulation assembly and a hydraulic assembly. The circulation assembly may be reconfigurable by selectively isolating an annulus of the well from a fluid chamber of the circulation assembly. The hydraulic assembly may facilitate reconfiguration of the circulation assembly to selectively isolate the annulus, and facilitate flowing of various fluids and gasses to perform the testing.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSIENT TESTING IN WELLSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 615, 821 filed December 29, 2023.BACKGROUND

[0002] Geological formations may host a range of resources. For example, geological formations may include trapped liquids and / or gasses that may include hydrocarbons of various types. These hydrocarbons may be used for a variety of purposes.

[0003] The geological formations may also be used for other purposes. For example, undesired materials may be sequestered in the geological formations. Green house gases such as carbon dioxide may be sequestered in geological formations to limit impacts of the green house gases on the environment.SUMMARY

[0004] A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.

[0005] In an aspect, a tool for use with respect to a well is provided. The tool may include a circulation assembly that includes a fluid chamber; an opening in the circulation assembly; and a fluid control system adapted to selective isolate the fluid chamber from the opening, while the fluid chamber is not isolated from the opening the fluid chamber is in fluidcommunication with an ambient environment via the opening, and while the fluid chamber is isolated from the opening the fluid chamber is not in fluid communication with the ambient environment via the opening. The tool may also include a portion of a hydraulic assembly that includes a hydraulic system adapted to control the fluid control system to selectively isolate the fluid chamber from the opening.

[0006] The fluid control system may include a piston; a hydraulic chamber; and a flow line that allows the hydraulic system to selectively fill and evacuate the hydraulic chamber to move the piston between two positions, while the piston is in a first position of the two positions the fluid chamber is isolated from the opening; and while the piston is in a second of the two positions the fluid chamber is not isolated from the opening. The piston may be oriented along a length of the circulation assembly, and moving between the two positions may include a translation of the piston along the length of the circulation assembly.

[0007] The circulation assembly may also include a port positioned to place the fluid chamber in fluid communication with a drill pipe while the drill pipe is connected to the circulation assembly.

[0008] The circulation assembly and the hydraulic assembly may, when used in a well, be adapted to be arranged in a string with the circulation assembly being positioned higher in the string with respect to the hydraulic assembly.

[0009] The tool may also include at least one flow line adapted to place a source of at least one fluid in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. The hydraulic system may also be adapted to: selectively pump, via the at least one flow line, the at least one fluid between the source and the fluid chamber while fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the source. A fluid of the at least one fluid is a formation fluid from the well.

[0010] The hydraulic system may include at least one pump; and at least two valves being positioned with respect to the at least one pump to selectively connect a pump of the at least two pumps to the at least one flow line.

[0011] While the at least two valves connect the pump of the at least one pump to a first flow line of the at least one flow line, the pump may be adapted pump a fluid with respect to the fluid control system, and the pumping of the fluid may selectively actuate the fluid control system to selective isolate the fluid chamber from the opening.

[0012] While the at least two valves connect the pump of the at least one pump to a second flow line of the at least one flow line, the pump may be adapted to pump a fluid with respect to the fluid chamber, and the pumping of the fluid may selectively fill the fluid chamber or evacuate the fluid chamber with respect to the fluid.

[0013] The tool may additionally include a control system coupled to the circulation assembly and the hydraulic assembly adapted to orchestrate performance of a test with respect to the well. The performance of the test may include, while the circulation assembly and the hydraulic assembly are positioned in the well, and an interval of the well is isolated: performing a first isolating, using the fluid control system, of the fluid chamber from the opening to isolate the fluid chamber from an annulus of the well; while the annulus is isolated from the fluid chamber, flowing, using the hydraulic system, a test fluid into the fluid chamber to fill a drill pipe string attached to the circulation assembly with an amount of the formation fluid; and using the test fluid from the drill pipe string to perform a first transient test on the well to obtain a first test result.

[0014] The performance of the test may further include after performing the first transient test, connecting, using the fluid control system, the fluid chamber to the opening to connect the fluid chamber to the annulus of the well; while the fluid chamber is connected to the annulus, removing the test fluid from the drill pipe string using a gas; after the formation fluid is removed from the drill pipe string using the gas, performing a second isolating, using the fluid control system, of the fluid chamber from the opening to isolate the fluid chamber from the annulus of the well; and while the annulus is isolated from the fluid chamber, performing a second transient test on the well using the gas to obtain a second test result.

[0015] Connecting, using the fluid control system, the fluid chamber to the opening may include sending a first signal to the hydraulic system that causes the hydraulic system to evacuate a hydraulic chamber of the fluid control system to place the fluid chamber in fluid communication with the opening, and the evacuating of the hydraulic chamber moving a piston of the fluid control system to a first position.

[0016] Connecting, using the fluid control system, the fluid chamber to the opening to connect the fluid chamber to the annulus of the well may include sending a second signal to the hydraulic system that causes the hydraulic system to fill the hydraulic chamber of the fluid control system to place the fluid chamber in fluid communication with the opening, and the filling of the hydraulic chamber moving the piston of the fluid control system to a second position.

[0017] Using the test fluid from the drill pipe to perform the first transient test on the well to obtain the first test result may include measuring a characteristic of a pumping of the test fluid into a geological formation proximate to the interval.

[0018] Performing the second transient test on the well using the gas to obtain the second test result may include measuring a characteristic of a pumping of the gas into the geological formation proximate to the interval.

[0019] In an aspect, a non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for managing performance of a test is disclosed. The operations may cause the test, as discussed above, to be performed.

[0020] In an aspect, method of performance at test is disclosed. The test may be performed using a data processing system that may include a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor to store instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations for managing performance of the test. The operations may cause the test, as discussed above, to be performed.

[0021] Various refinements of the features noted above may be undertaken in relation to various aspects of the present disclosure. Further features may also be incorporated in these various aspects as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to one or more of the illustrated embodiments may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure alone or in any combination. The brief summary presented above is intended only to familiarize the reader with certain aspects and contexts of embodiments of the present disclosure without limitation to the claimed subject matter.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Embodiments disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a diagram illustrating a first system in accordance with an embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 2A shows a diagram illustrating a bottom hole assembly in accordance with an embodiment.

[0025] FIGs. 2B-2F show diagrams illustrating a circulation assembly in accordance with an embodiment

[0026] FIG. 2G shows a diagram illustrating a hydraulic assembly in accordance with an embodiment.

[0027] FIGs. 2H-2K show hydraulic schematic diagrams in accordance with an embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with an embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a system in accordance with an embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram illustrating a data processing system in accordance with an embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Various embodiments will be described with reference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings will illustrate the various embodiments. The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments disclosed herein.

[0032] Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” and “an embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

[0033] Geological formations may be exploited to obtain various energy resources (e.g., hydrocarbons entrained in fluids / gases), to sequester undesired materials, and / or for other purposes. To exploit a geological formation, the properties (e g., physical structure, thermal, etc.) of the geological formation may be characterized.

[0034] Turning to FIG. 1, a diagram of geological formation 110 in accordance with an embodiment is shown. Geological formation 110 may be a portion of the Earth’s crust. In FIG. 1, geological formation 110 is illustrated as being positioned on land. However, it will be appreciated that embodiments disclosed herein may be used with respect to geological formation positioned below oceans or other bodies of water.

[0035] Geological formation 110 may be usable, for example, to sequester undesired materials (e.g., greenhouse gasses), produce energy resources (e.g., hydrocarbons), and / or for other purposes. To exploit geological formation 110, a well 120 may be drilled to provide for physical access to geological formation 110. In this manner, materials may be removed from and / or added to geological formation 110.

[0036] To decide how to exploit geological formation 110, information regarding the properties of geological formation 110 may be collected. To do so, a tool 100 may be used. The tool may include any off surface facility 102, drill string 104, bottom hole assembly 106, and / or components not illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0037] Surface facility 102 may be a facility positioned above geological formation 110. While drawn in FIG. 1 as being positioned on land and including a derrick, the surface facility 102 may include a water born vessel such as a drill ship or other type of sea going vessel (e.g., a platform) without departing from embodiments disclosed herein.

[0038] Surface facility 102 may include, for example, (i) control systems for other components, (ii) materials (e.g., drilling mud, water, gasses such as carbon dioxide) usable to form and characterize well 120 / geological formation 110, (iii) various assemblies and / or components usable with other assemblies, (iv) drill pipe and / or other components for well development, (v) completion components such as cement for completion of well 120, (vi) power systems, (vii) storage tanks for various materials used in well construction, and / or other materials, systems, etc. for well development.

[0039] Drill string 104 may include (i) any number of sections of drill pipe, (ii) wirelines usable to send control signals and / or power to downhole components, (iii) fluid lines and / or other lines for moving of fluids between bottom hole assembly 106 and / or surface facility 102, and / or other components usable as part of a drill string. Drill string 104 may connect bottom hole assembly 106 to surface facility 102, and may divide the wellbore into an annulus(e.g., area between outside of drill pipe / components and wellbore walls) and interior of tool100.

[0040] Bottom hole assembly 106 may provide for, in addition to other functions, performance of various tests on well 120 and / or portions of geological formation 110 proximate to well 120. Refer to FIG. 2A for additional details regarding bottom hole assembly 106.

[0041] In general, embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for completing wells, obtaining information to aid in the modeling of geological formations, and / or obtaining information usable to grade or characterize wells and / or geological formations for various uses. To obtain information regarding wells and geological formations, after wellbores are drilled, various intervals (e.g., portions of a well) along the wellbores and / or proximate portions of geological formation may be characterized using transient testing. An interval may be an isolated portion of the wellbore (e.g., isolated using packers or other space fdling components). The transient testing may be performed by (i) isolating an interval, (ii) attempting to pump (and / or allow to flow due to existing pressure) fluids and / or gasses into and / or out of the intervals, (iii) measuring flow properties (e.g., fall off rates) during the pumping of the fluids and / or the gasses, (iv) using the measured flow properties to model and / or grade the interval with respect to one or more potential uses (e.g., such as material sequestration, and / or other actions usable to obtain information usable to guide well development.

[0042] Once the model and / or grade are obtained, the model and / or grade (e.g., for any number of intervals) may be used to establish a completion plan (e.g., may define components for installation, location of the installations, etc.) for the well and / or exploitation plan (e.g., how to operate a completed well, and / or guide completion of the well to improve yield for various purposes) for the geological formation. The plans may be obtained in an automated (e.g., computer defined), semiautomated (e.g., computer guided with subject matter expertreview / feedback), and / or manual (e.g., subject matter expert defined) manner using various test results.

[0043] Once obtained, the wells may then be completed and the geological formation may be exploited using the plans. Thus, the resulting wells and corresponding exploitation of the geological formation may be more likely to be desirable by virtue of the testing information used in the formulation of the plans.

[0044] For example, the testing may be used to identify portions of the geological formation that are better able to sequester various materials, better able to produce hydrocarbons, etc. Accordingly, a completion plan may, for example, be established with injection / extraction sites along the wellbore at these identified portions of the geological formation.

[0045] To perform the testing, various fluid connections between the surface facility and the geological formation may need to be selectively opened and closed over time during the testing. To do so, bottom hole assembly 106 may include various components that allow fluid connectivity between surface facility 102 and geological formation 110 to be established. FIGs. 2A-2K show diagrams based on portions of bottom hole assembly 106 in accordance with an embodiment.

[0046] Turning to FIG. 2A, a first diagram of bottom hole assembly 106 in accordance with an embodiment is shown. FIG. 2A and similar figures may show cross sections (e.g., down a center and / or along a length) of bottom home assembly 106, and / or portions thereof. As noted above, bottom hole assembly 106 may allow various fluid connections of tool 100 to be dynamically established over time. For example, fluid connections between a top side facility and the geological formation may be dynamically changed by bottom hole assembly 106. The changes in fluid connectivity may allow testing of the geological formation to be performed, which may include pumping of various materials out of and into the geological formation over time and measuring characteristics (e.g., fall rate, pumping pressures, flowrates, etc.) of the pumping. These measured characteristics may facilitate modeling and exploitation of a geological formation. Refer to FIG. 3 for additional details regarding performance of transient testing of a geological formation using tool 100.

[0047] Bottom hole assembly 106 may include circulation assembly 200, flow assembly 290, hydraulic assembly 250, and / or other assemblies (e.g., packers usable to isolate intervals of wells, product! on / sampling assemblies usable to extract / sample fluids produced from isolated intervals, downhole pump assemblies to pump various fluids, fluid analysis assemblies to analyze fluids as they are obtained, etc ). Each of these assemblies is discussed below.

[0048] Circulation assembly 200 may facilitate flowing of fluids into and / or out of a geological formation. To do so, circulation assembly 200 may be adapted to (i) connect to drill pipe 292 (e.g., part of a drill pipe string) which may be connected to a top side facility and through which fluids, power, information, and / or other things may be exchanged with the top side facility, and (ii) dynamically reconfigure fluid connections that it maintains. The fluid connections may be dynamically reconfigured to selectively isolate or connect flows of fluid within circulation assembly 200 to annulus 124 between bottom hole assembly 106 and wellbore wall 122. The fluid connections may be reconfigured as part of a testing process. Refer to FIGs. 2B-2F for additional information regarding circulation assembly 200.

[0049] Flow assembly 290 may facilitate flows of fluids between hydraulic assembly 250 and circulation assembly 200. For example, flow assembly 290 may include various flowlines that form fluid connections between portions of circulation assembly 200 and hydraulic assembly 250.

[0050] Flow assembly 290 may also facilitate flows of power, data, and / or other things between circulation assembly 200 and hydraulic assembly 250. For example, flow assembly 290 may include various wiring harnesses, cable bundles, etc. that facilitate such flows.

[0051] Hydraulic assembly 250 may facilitate flowing of fluids to (i) establish flows of formation fluids and / or other fluids (e.g., “test fluids”) into and / or of a geological formation to circulation assembly 200, and (ii) establish flows usable to actuate circulation assembly 200 to modify its fluid connectivity. For example, a control system may utilize valves and / or other components of hydraulic assembly 250 to flow fluids for sampling purposes, to drive hydraulic systems of circulation assembly 200, etc.

[0052] To do so, hydraulic assembly 250 may be in fluid communication with portions of circulation assembly 200 and sources of fluids via various flowlines. The sources of fluids may include pumps thereby providing access to pumped fluid sources. Hydraulic assembly 250 may also include valves, manifolds, and / or other structures usable to dynamically and / or statically modify the fluid connectivity provided by the flowlines. As part of various testing processes, and / or for other reasons, hydraulic assembly 250 may modify its fluid connectivity and / or the fluid connectivity of circulation assembly 200 to obtain measurements usable to derive properties of and / or uses for geological formations. Refer to FIGs. 2G-2K for additional details regarding hydraulic assembly 250.

[0053] While not shown in FIG. 2A, hydraulic assembly 250 may be connected to other assemblies. For example, bottom hole assembly 106 may be connected to packer, sampling, drilling, and / or other types of assemblies as part of bottom hole assembly 106. Thus, these other assemblies may allow for isolating of intervals and flowing of materials to / from the isolated intervals.

[0054] Turning to FIG. 2B, a first diagram showing circulation assembly 200 in accordance with an embodiment is shown. As noted above, circulation assembly 200 may facilitate various flows usable for various purposes including, for example, reservoir testing. To facilitate the flows and corresponding purposes of the flows, circulation assembly 200 may be adapted to dynamically reconfigure its fluid connectivity. The configuration of the fluid connectivity may be used, for example, to prepare for and perform various tests.

[0055] To do so, circulation assembly may include tubular body 202, fluid chamber 204, any number of flow line ports (e.g., 206), one or more openings (e.g., 208), piston 210, one or more flow control components (e.g., 211), hydraulic chamber 214, fluid lines (e.g., 216), various flow lines (e.g., 218-220), and / or other components. Each of these components is discussed below.

[0056] Tubular body 202 may be a housing for other components of circulation assembly 200, and may facilitate attachment of and / or formation of operable connections to other assemblies / components to circulation assembly 200. For example, tubular body 202 may be a cylindrically shaped structure with various attachment points towards a top / bottom of circulation assembly 200. Additionally, tubular body 202 may include wire harnesses, flowlines, and / or other structures to establish operable connections (e.g., power, data, gas, fluid, and / or other types of connections) with to the other assemblies / components.

[0057] The upper attachment points may allow for drill pipe 292 to be fixedly attached to tubular body. When so attached, various fluid lines, flow lines, data lines, power lines, flowlines, and / or other structures of drill pipe 292 may be operably connected to complementary structures of circulation assembly 200. For example, fluid line 216 may connect to a similar fluid line of drill pipe 292, which in turn may be connected to various top side components such as fluid / gas tanks, pumps, etc.

[0058] The lower attachment points may allow for tubular body 202 to be attached to other assemblies such as, for example, flow assembly 290. When so attached, various fluid lines, flow lines, data lines, power lines, flowlines, and / or other structures of circulation assembly 200 may be operably connected to complementary structures of flow assembly 290 (which may in turn connect them to complementary structures of hydraulic assembly 250). For example, flowlines 218, 220 of circulation assembly 200 may be extended via complementary flowlines in flow assembly 290 and / or hydraulic assembly 250 to place various portions of circulation assembly 200 in fluid communication with various portions ofhydraulic assembly 250. Refer to FIG. 2J for additional details regarding the resulting hydraulic system (e.g., 260) established by the various assemblies of tool 100.

[0059] Fluid chamber 204 may be an interior region of circulation assembly 200 to which various fluids may be circulated. For example, fluid chamber 204 may be a hollow section of circulation assembly 200 inside of tubular body 202.

[0060] Fluid chamber 204 may be in (i) fluid communication with various flow lines ports (e.g., 206) which may in turn place fluid chamber 204 in fluid communication with various portions of hydraulic assembly 250, and (ii) selective fluid communication with opening 208 which may in turn place fluid chamber 204 in fluid communication with annulus 124.

[0061] For example, any of the flowline ports may be in fluid communication via flowlines (e.g., 218) to portions of hydraulic assembly 250 thereby allowing fluids to flow between fluid chamber 204 and portions of hydraulic assembly 250.

[0062] In another example, fluid chamber 204 may be in selective fluid communication with opening 208 that is controlled by fluid control system 209. Fluid control system 209 may selectively connect or isolate opening 208 and fluid chamber 204. To do so, fluid control system 209 may include piston 210, retaining ring 212, and hydraulic chamber 214.

[0063] One or more flow control components (e.g., 211) may be positioned with fluid chamber 204. The flow control components may manage flows within fluid chamber 204.For example, the flow control components may operate as one way valves (or other type of flow control components), and may be implemented with flappers or other structures. When so positioned in fluid chamber 204, the flow control components may limit and / or prevent flows of material from fluid chamber 204, into the drill pipe string, and towards a surface facility.

[0064] The flow control components may be attached in a manner that allows for removal. The flow control components may be selectively added to and / or removed from fluid chamber 204. The flow control components may be added or removed depending, forexample, on a workflow to be performed using circulation assembly 200. For example, to perform some types of formation testing, the flow control components may be positioned in fluid chamber 204 to cause fluids that flow into fluid chamber 204 to flow out of opening 208 and into annulus 124 rather than up the drill pipe string.

[0065] Fluid controls system 209 may selectively isolate opening 208 from fluid chamber 204. Opening 208 may be selectively isolated during various portions of testing of a geological formation to established desired flow paths for fluids. Fluid control system 209 may include piston 210, hydraulic chamber 214, retaining ring 212, and / or other components.

[0066] Piston 210 may be implemented using a plug that is moveable between two positions. In a first position, piston 210 may seal the opening 208 from fluid chamber 204. In the second position, piston 210 may unseal the opening from fluid chamber 204. In FIG. 2B, piston 210 is illustrated in the second position thereby placing fluid chamber 204 in fluid communication with opening 208 (and in turn, annulus 124). Refer to FIG. 2F for an example of piston 210 being in the first position thereby sealing off fluid chamber 204 from opening 208. Piston 210 may be at least partially positioned in hydraulic chamber 214.

[0067] Hydraulic chamber 214 may be a chamber in which a portion of piston 210 is positioned. Piston 210 may seal the hydraulic chamber. Consequently, evacuating fluid from or pumping fluid into hydraulic chamber 214 may apply force to piston 210 to cause piston 210 to move between the two positions (and / or other positions). For example, flowline 220 may place hydraulic chamber 214 in fluid connection with a pump of hydraulic assembly 250. Operation of the pump may, therefore, fill or evacuate hydraulic chamber 214 thereby applying force to piston 210 to cause piston 210 to move between the two positions.

[0068] Retaining ring 212 may be a portion of tubular body 202 that limits travel of piston 210. For example, retaining ring 212 may be an opening that is too small for piston 210 to traverse. Retaining ring 212 may be positioned in line with a direction of travel of piston 210.Piston 210 may seal fluid chamber 204 from opening 208 when piston 210 is pressed against retaining ring 212.

[0069] While not shown, various sensors (e.g., fluid pressure) may be positioned with the components of fluid control system 209 to allow for active feedback to be taken into account during actuation of fluid control system 209. For example, to move piston to the first position, fluid may be pumped into hydraulic chamber 214 via flowline 220 which may initially cause piston 210 to move until its movement is limited by retaining ring 212. After piston 210 has reached retaining ring 212, pressure may build. The pressure may be measured and used as a signal to indicate whether piston 210 has moved to the first position. Similar measurements may be used when fluid is evacuated from hydraulic chamber 214 to ascertain whether piston 210 has reached the second position. The sensors and / or other active components (e g., microcontrollers, digital signal processors, etc.) of fluid control system 209 may be operably connected to other components via wire lines, harnesses, etc. Any of the sensors may be positioned in other assemblies without departing from embodiments disclosed herein.

[0070] The information collected by these sensors and / or other types of sensors positioned with tool 100 may be used to provide information for real-time monitoring. For example, wirelines and / or other communication systems may transmit data based on the obtained information to surface facilities which may then use (e.g., at the surface facility) and / or distribute the data to data centers and / or other computer installations for real-time management, monitoring, etc.

[0071] Thus, circulation assembly 200 may be reconfigured to establish different fluid flow patterns by isolating opening 208 from fluid chamber 204, and pumping fluids into or out of fluid chamber 204. Refer to FIGs. 2C-2F for additional details regarding fluid flow patterns that may be established.

[0072] While fluid control system 209 is illustrated as being based on a hydraulic system to selectively isolate opening 208 from fluid chamber 204, fluid control system 209 may be based on other types of systems. For example, fluid control system 209 may be electromagnetic based (e.g., may include motors that modify the fluid connectivity between opening 208 and fluid chamber 204), may be mechanical (e.g., may include return springs and / or other mechanical elements that modify the fluid connectivity between opening 208 and fluid chamber 204), and / or may be based on other types of systems capable of selectively isolating opening 208 from fluid chamber 204.

[0073] Turning to FIG. 2C, a first diagram illustrating a first example fluid flow pattern in accordance with an embodiment is shown. In FIG. 2C, the fluid flow pattern is illustrated using oversized arrows. For example, in the configuration of circulation assembly 200 shown in FIG. 2C, piston 210 may be positioned to place opening 208 in fluid communication with fluid chamber 204. Consequently, when a material is pumped from the surface and down the drill pipe, the flow of material enters fluid flow chamber and flows out of opening 208 into the annulus between the tool and wellbore wall 122. Accordingly, the flow of material from the surface circulates back to the surface via the annulus.

[0074] The aforementioned flow pattern may be established, for example, to fill the drill pipe with a particular material, to fill the annulus with the material, to purge existing material in the drill string and / or annulus from either area, and / or for other purposes.

[0075] In this first example fluid flow pattern, no materials may be pumped by the hydraulic assembly. Thus, material neither enters or exits flowline port 206.

[0076] Turning to FIG. 2D, a second diagram illustrating a second example fluid flow pattern in accordance with an embodiment is shown. In FIG. 2D, the fluid flow pattern is illustrated using oversized arrows. For example, in the configuration of circulation assembly 200 shown in FIG. 2D, piston 210 may be positioned to place opening 208 in fluid communication with fluid chamber 204. Consequently, when a material is pumped by thehydraulic assembly into the fluid chamber (e.g., 204) via flowline 218 and flowline port 206, the flow of material enters fluid chamber 204 and flows out of opening 208 into the annulus between the tool and wellbore wall 122. Accordingly, the flow of material from the hydraulic assembly flows to the surface via the annulus.

[0077] The aforementioned flow pattern may be established, for example, to sample materials being produced by an isolated interval of a geological formation.

[0078] In this second example fluid flow pattern, no materials are pumped from the surface down through the drill pipe string. Thus, material neither enters or exits fluid line 216.

[0079] Turning to FIG. 2E, a third diagram illustrating a third example fluid flow pattern in accordance with an embodiment is shown. In FIG. 2E, the fluid flow pattern is illustrated using oversized arrows. For example, in the configuration of circulation assembly 200 shown in FIG. 2E, piston 210 may be positioned to place opening 208 in fluid communication with fluid chamber 204. Consequently, when a first material is pumped by the hydraulic assembly into the fluid chamber (e.g., 204) via flowline 218 and flowline port 206 and a second material is pumped from the surface into the fluid chamber via the drill pipe string, the flows of material enters fluid chamber 204 and flow out of opening 208 into the annulus between the tool and wellbore wall 122. Accordingly, the combined flow of material from the hydraulic assembly flows to the surface via the annulus.

[0080] The aforementioned flow pattern may be established, for example, to sample materials being produced by an isolated interval of a geological formation while retaining pressurization levels between the annulus and the interior of the drill pipe string.

[0081] It will be appreciated that the flow of material from the hydraulic assembly may be reversed in FIG. 2E to flow material from the fluid chamber out of both opening 208 and flowline port 206. Doing so may allow for material to exit the drill string and / or circulationassembly 200 (e.g., via flowline port 206 and opening 208) rather than via the fluid flow pattern illustrated in FIG. 2C.

[0082] Turning to FIG. 2F, a fourth diagram illustrating a fourth example fluid flow pattern in accordance with an embodiment is shown. In FIG. 2F, the fluid flow pattern is illustrated using oversized arrows. For example, in the configuration of circulation assembly 200 shown in FIG. 2F, piston 210 may be positioned to isolate opening 208 from fluid chamber 204 and the flow control components may be removed (e.g., the flow control components are illustrated in FIG. 2F only for context regarding where they would otherwise be located, drawn with dashed white outline to indicate that they are not present in this configuration, the flow control components if present may otherwise prevent the fluid flow up the drill pipe string). Consequently, when a material is pumped by the hydraulic system into the fluid chamber (e.g., 204) via flowline 218 and flowline port 206, the flow of material may enter fluid chamber 204 and flow out of fluid line 216 into the drill pipe string (e.g., in such a scenario, flappers and / or other flow control components that may be positioned in fluid chamber 204 may not be present to allow for flow out of fluid line 216 and into drill pipe 292). Accordingly, the flow of material from the hydraulic assembly may flow to the surface via the drill pipe string.

[0083] The aforementioned flow pattern may be established, for example, to capture and store formation fluids in fluid line 216 for future use in various forms of transient testing.

[0084] In this fourth example fluid flow pattern, no materials are pumped from the surface down through the drill pipe string.

[0085] Refer to FIG. 3 for additional details regarding how these fluid flow patterns are utilized in transient testing of wells and proximate geological formations.

[0086] To establish the aforementioned fluid flow patterns, various materials may be pumped by hydraulic assembly 250 via flow lines. For example, some materials may be pumped by hydraulic assembly 250 to actuate fluid control system 209 and other materialsmay be pumped by hydraulic assembly 250 to capture formation fluids for future use and / or for other purposes. To further clarify operation of hydraulic assembly 250, examples diagrams of hydraulic assembly 250 and resulting hydraulically driven system are shown in FIGs. 2G-2I.

[0087] Turning to FIG. 2G, a first diagram of hydraulic assembly 250 in accordance with an embodiment is shown. As noted above, hydraulic assembly 250 may facilitate flowing of various fluids usable for various purposes including, for example, reservoir testing. To provide for flowing of fluids and use of the flowing fluids, hydraulic assembly 250 may be adapted to (i) dynamically reconfigure its fluid connectivity, and (ii) dynamically reconfiguring how fluids flow through it and with respect to other assemblies. The configurations may be used, for example, to prepare for and perform various tests on a reservoir and / or actuate fluid control system 209.

[0088] To do so, hydraulic assembly may include tubular body 252, a portion of hydraulic system 260 (e.g., which may include pump assemblies 284-286 shown in other figures, manifold 270 shown in other figures, valve assembly 266 (e.g., which may include valves 272-274 shown in other figures, routing plug 268, and / or other component), various flowlines (e.g., 218, 220), and / or other components. Each of these components is discussed below.

[0089] Tubular body 252 may be a housing for other components of hydraulic assembly 250, and may facilitate attachment of other assemblies / components to hydraulic assembly 250. For example, tubular body 252 may be a cylindrically shaped structure with various attachment points towards a top / bottom of hydraulic assembly 250.

[0090] The upper attachment points may allow for a flow assembly or other type of assembly to be fixedly attached to tubular body 252. When so attached, various fluid lines, flow lines, data lines, power lines, flowlines, and / or other structures of the attached assembly may be operably connected to complementary structures of hydraulic assembly 250. Forexample, the connections may extend flowlines 218-220 between components of hydraulic assembly 250 and circulation assembly 200.

[0091] The lower attachment points may allow for tubular body 252 to be attached to other assemblies such as, for example, a packer assembly (e.g., usable to isolate an interval by sealing the annulus above / below the interval with inflatable or other types of packers), a sampling assembly (e.g., usable to extract fluids produced from an isolated interval), etc. When so attached, various fluid lines, flow lines, data lines, power lines, flowlines, and / or other structures of hydraulic assembly 250 may be operably connected to complementary structures of these other assembly. For example, flowlines 218, 220 of circulation assembly 200 may be extended via complementary flowlines in these other assemblies to place various portions of hydraulic assembly 250 in fluid communication with various portions of these other assemblies. Consequently, sources of fluids, pumped fluids, etc. may be placed in fluid communication with hydraulic assembly 250, and components thereof.

[0092] Hydraulic system 260 may facilitate flowing of various fluids to / from portions of circulation assembly 200 via flow lines 218-220. Additionally, hydraulic system 260 may be reconfigurable to modify the fluid connectivity between portions of hydraulic system 260 and other components. For example, hydraulic system 260 may include two pump assemblies 284-286 (e.g., positioned in other assemblies, refer to FIG. 2H) that are in fluid communication with various sources of fluids (e.g., may be in other assemblies such as formation fluids produced by a packer / sampling assembly attached below hydraulic assembly 250 shown in FIG. 2G). Pump assemblies 284-286 may pump fluids either from or to the sources of fluids thereby establishing pumped fluid sources 262-264.

[0093] Pump fluid sources 262-264 may be in fluid communication with various fluid flow control components such as manifolds, valve assembly 266, routing plug 268, and / or other flow control components. These fluid flow control components may enable the fluid connectivity between pumped fluid sources 264-268 to be reconfigured.

[0094] For example, the fluid flow control components may reconfigure the fluid connectivity with respect to pumped fluid source 264 to place it in fluid communication with hydraulic chamber 214 or a flowline port (e.g., in fluid communication with fluid chamber 204). Thus, pumped fluid source 264 may, depending on the configuration of the fluid flow components, pump or evacuate fluids to / from hydraulic chamber 214 (e.g., thereby actuating the fluid control system) or fluid chamber 204.

[0095] Additionally, a routing plug may be used to statically reconfigure, for example, which fluid source is connected to which fluid flow control component. For example, routing plug 268 may be a static fluid flow control component that may be replaced (e.g., with other versions that facilitate different fluid flows). Depending on the topology of routing plug 268, either of the pumped fluid sources may be connected to corresponding fluid flow control components. Refer to FIGs. 2H-2Kfor additional details regarding reconfiguration of the fluid connectivity of hydraulic assembly 250.

[0096] The fluid connectivity of hydraulic assembly 250 may be dynamically modified during transient testing (and / or other types of testing). Refer to FIG. 3 for additional details regarding reconfiguration of the operation of the components of hydraulic assembly 250 during transient testing.

[0097] Turning to FIG. 2H, a first hydraulic schematic diagram illustrating a hydraulic system (e.g., 260) formed using hydraulic assembly 250, circulation assembly 200, and / or other assemblies in accordance with an embodiment is shown. The hydraulic system may be used to perform testing of a well and / or associated geological formation.

[0098] Hydraulic system 260 may be in fluid communication with fluid sources (e.g., 280, 282). Fluid sources 280-282 may be sources of fluid to which fluid may be added and / or removed. For example, a fluid source may be formation fluids produced by a reservoir, a source of a fluid from the surface (e.g., fresh water), a reservoir of fluid in tool 100, etc. Fluid sources 280-282 may be similar or different sources. For example, when a well is established,formation fluids (e.g., water) may be produced by the geological formation in which the well is positioned. The sources of the formation fluid (i.e., the geological formation) may be a fluid source. Fluid sources 280-282 may be other types of fluid sources (e.g., fluids pumped from a surface assembly, a local reservoir of a fluid, etc.) without departing from embodiments disclosed herein.

[0099] Each of the fluid sources may be connected to a pump assembly (e.g., 284-286). Each pump assembly may include a pump and / or other components to facilitate pumping of a fluid between a fluid source and another component..

[0100] The pump assemblies may be connected to other components via routing plug 268. Routing plug 268 may be a replaceable, static fluid flow control component. Routing plug 268 may establish fluid communication between the pump assemblies and other components. The specific topology of the fluid communication may depend on the topology of routing plug 268. Thus, replacement of routing plug 268 with a different routing plug may change to which fluid source each pump assembly is in fluid communication.

[0101] The routing plug (e.g., 268) may place the pump assemblies (e.g., 284-286) in fluid communication with fluid flow control components such as a manifold (e.g., 270) and various valves of valve assembly 266. These fluid flow control components may selectively connect pump assembly 284 to hydraulic chamber 214 or a flowline port (e.g., 205, may be connected to the fluid chamber 204).

[0102] For example, by closing valve 274 and opening valve 272, pump assembly 262 may be placed in hydraulic communication with hydraulic chamber 214. In such a configuration, operation of pump assembly 284 may move piston 210 between the two positions by filling / emptying hydraulic chamber 214. Refer to FIG. 21 for additional details regarding operation of hydraulic chamber 214 via pump assembly 284.

[0103] In another example, by closing valve 272 and opening valve 274, pump assembly 284 may be placed in hydraulic communication with the fluid chamber (e.g., via flowline port205 and another flowline that is not numbered). Refer to FIG. 2J for additional details regarding filling of fluid chambers via pump assembly 284.

[0104] The other pump assembly (e.g., 286) may be in fluid communication with flowline port 206, which may (e.g., like flowline port 205) be in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. Thus, pump assembly 286 may be used to fill or empty the fluid chamber while pump assembly 262 may be selectively used to reconfigure circulation assembly 200 or to fill or empty the fluid chamber as well.

[0105] While illustrated as including pump assembly 286 and flowline port 206, it will be appreciated that the system shown in FIG. 2H may not include these components. Thus, a single pump assembly and set of valves may be used to sequentially modify a location of a piston and pump fluid with respect to the fluid chamber.

[0106] Turning to FIG. 21, a second hydraulic schematic diagram illustrating a hydraulic topology in accordance with an embodiment. The second hydraulic schematic is identical to the first except that a particular fluid communication path is highlighted. As seen by the highlighting, hydraulic chamber 214 is in fluid communication with pump assembly 284 rather than flowline port 205. Thus, pump assembly 262 may, in this configuration, be used to modify the fluid connectivity of circulation assembly 200.

[0107] Turning to FIG. 2J, a third hydraulic schematic diagram illustrating a hydraulic topology formed using hydraulic assembly and circulation assembly in accordance with an embodiment. The third hydraulic schematic is identical to the second except that an additional fluid communication path is highlighted. As seen by the additional highlighting, flowline port 206 is in fluid communication with pump assembly 286. Thus, pump assembly 286 may, in this configuration, be used to pump fluids between fluid chamber 204 and fluid source 282 (e.g., formation fluids).

[0108] Turning to FIG. 2K, a fourth hydraulic schematic diagram illustrating a hydraulic topology formed using hydraulic assembly and circulation assembly in accordance with anembodiment. The fourth hydraulic schematic is identical to the third except that the flow path between fluid source 280 and flowline port 205 is highlighted. As seen by the highlighting, flowline port 205 is in fluid communication with pump assembly 284. Thus, pump assembly 284 may, in this configuration, also be used to pump fluids between fluid chamber 204 and fluid source 280.

[0109] By modifying the configuration of the circulation assembly and the hydraulic system, various testing may be performed on wells and corresponding geological formations.

[0110] As discussed above, the components of FIG. 1 may be used to perform various methods to facilitate completion of wells. FIG. 3 illustrate a method that may be performed by the components of the system of FIG. 1. In the diagram discussed below and shown in FIG. 3, any of the operations may be repeated, performed in different orders, and / or performed in parallel with or in a partially overlapping in time manner with other operations.

[0111] Turning to FIG. 3, a flow diagram illustrating a method for performing testing usable to determine how to complete a well in accordance with an embodiment is shown. The method may be performed, for example, by any of the components of the system shown in FIGs. 1 and 4.

[0112] At operation 300, an interval of a well is isolated and prepared for transient testing. The interval of the well may be isolated by placing packers (or other isolation components) above / below the interval in the well and expanding the packers to isolate the interval along the well from other intervals.

[0113] The well may be prepared for transient testing by pumping mud from the interval into the annulus. To do so, a circulation assembly may be configured as in FIG. 2D, and a hydraulic system may be configured as in FIG. 2J to pump the mud.

[0114] At operation 302, drill pipe and the annulus are prepared for transient testing. The drill pipe and the annulus may be prepared for transient testing by pumping, from a surfacefacility, a material down the drill pipe string, into the fluid chamber, and out of the opening into the annulus. While doing so, the hydraulic assembly may stop pumping of fluids.

[0115] The pumped material may have a lower density than a formation fluid produced by the geological formation in the isolated interval or other type of test fluid. For example, a glycol may be pumped to establish a buffer layer in the circulation assembly / drill pipe string / annulus / etc.

[0116] At operation 304, the annulus is isolated from the drill pipe. The annulus may be isolated by initiating pumping, by the hydraulic system, of fluid into the hydraulic chamber of the circulation assembly. The pumped fluid may reposition the piston to isolate the fluid chamber of the circulation assembly from the annulus. The annulus may be isolated differently depending on the type of fluid control system and mechanisms that it utilizes. For example, if electric motor driven, when application of electricity to the motors may be used to actuate the fluid control system to isolate the annulus.

[0117] At operation 306, while the annulus is isolated from the drill pipe, a test fluid may be flowed into the drill pipe to fill the drill pipe with an amount of the test fluid. The test fluid may be a formation fluid or another fluid (e g., fresh water).

[0118] If the test fluid is a formation fluid, the formation fluid may be flowed by pumping the formation fluid into the fluid chamber of the circulation assembly by the hydraulic system. Because the annulus is isolated, the pumped formation fluid may flow up the drill pipe string (e g., pushing the buffer layer up with it). The amount may be based on a test that is to be performed, which may require a particular volume of the formation fluid.

[0119] At operation 308, a first transient test is performed using the test fluid. The first transient test may be performed by pumping, by the surface facility and / or the hydraulic system, some of the test fluid into the isolated interval. While the pumping is being performed, transient characteristics (e.g., fall off rate, pressures, flow rates, etc.) of the pumping process may be measured to obtain a first test result. The first test result may beused to deduce information about the geological formation such as, for example, flow rate estimates for fluids / gasses with respect to the geological formation.

[0120] At operation 310, after performing the first transient test a flow of gas (e.g., carbon dioxide or other gasses that may be considered for sequestration), a fluid, and / or other material may be directed into the drill pipe from the surface facilitate to remove the test fluid from the drill pipe. The flow may be maintained until the test fluid in the drill pipe string has been displaced by the flow.

[0121] In an embodiment, the drill pipe is connected to the annulus during the flow of the gas. The drill pipe may be connected to the annulus by reversing the pumping of fluid into the hydraulic chamber. Thus, the reverse flow may evacuate fluid from the hydraulic chamber and cause the piston to reposition to the configuration shown in FIG. 2A. Consequently, the test fluid may flow down from the drill pipe and into the annulus and geological formation.

[0122] In an embodiment, the drill pipe is not connected to the annulus during the flow of the gas. In other words, the position of the piston may be maintained.

[0123] At operation 312, after the test fluid is removed from the drill pipe, the drill pipe is isolated from the annulus, and a second transient test is performed. The annulus may be isolated as described with respect to operation 304. Once isolated and to perform the second transient test, a flow pattern that is the reverse of that shown in FIG. 2F may be established. In other words, the gas filling the drill pipe may be pumped down through the fluid chamber, flow port, through a flowline, and into the geological formation. The second transient test may be performed by pumping, by the surface facility and / or the hydraulic system, some of the gas into the isolated interval.

[0124] While the gas is flowing into the isolated interval, the pumping process (e.g., pressures, flow rates, fall off rates, etc.) may be monitored to obtain the second test result.Thus, the second test result may include information regarding the pumping of the gas / other fluid (that was above the formation fluid) into the geological formation.

[0125] At operation 314, after the second transient test is performed, the well is placed in a safe state. The well may be placed in the safe state by displacing gas in the drill pipe with another fluid such as fresh water, fresh water and / or mud may be circulated to the isolated interval and / or the annulus, and / or other operations may be performed to place the well in a safe state.

[0126] The method may end following operation 314.

[0127] Once the test results are obtained, the test results may be used to deduce properties of the geological formation and / or grade the interval with respect to various potential uses such as production, sequestration, etc. The analysis may then be used to establish a completion plan and / or exploitation plan (and / or may be used for other purposes). To do so, a system similar to that shown in FIG. 4 may be used.

[0128] Turning to FIG. 4, a block diagram of a modeling system in accordance with an embodiment is shown. The modeling system may be used to establish completion and / or exploitation plans for wells.

[0129] To provide the above noted functionality, the modeling system of FIG. 4 may include planning system 400, control system 410, and communication system 420. Each of these components is discussed below.

[0130] Planning system 400 may facilitate completion planning for wells. To do so, planning system 400 may gather and provide information regarding a not-yet-completed well and perform various analysis of the collected information. The collected information may include results obtained using the tool shown in FIG. 1.

[0131] Based on the testing results, various properties of the geological formation in which a wellbore is positioned as well as gradings for intervals may be obtained. Planningsystem 400 may use this information to define a completion / exploitation plan, and / or manage completion of a well based on the completion / exploitation plan.

[0132] For example, planning system 130 may use the graded intervals to define a topology of the completed well. The topology may be defined in an automated manner (e.g., automatic selection of where the well will interact with the geologic formation), semiautomated (e.g., suggest where the well will interact with the geologic formation, allow a subject matter expert to confirm / reject / modify the suggestion), and / or manual manner (e.g., allow the subject matter expert to review and use the information to define the completion plan).

[0133] To provide its functionality, planning system 130 may include any number of endpoint devices 402-404. The endpoint devices may include various types of computing devices used by personnel working on completion of the wells.

[0134] Control system 410 may include one or more computing units (e.g., central processing units, microcontrollers, etc.) of tool 100 used to manage the operation of tool 100. For example, the computing units may store code usable to manage operation of the assemblies of tool 100 to perform transient testing. During the transient testing, the computing units may read various sensors (e.g., flow, pressure, etc.) positioned to capture information usable to derive information regarding and / or grade intervals for various purposes thereby obtaining various test results. Refer to FIG. 3 for additional details regarding performing an testing of wells.

[0135] When providing their functionality, any of (and / or components thereof) planning system 400 and control system 410 may perform all, or a portion, of the actions and methods illustrated in FIGs. 2A-3.

[0136] Any of (and / or components thereof) planning system 400 and control system 410 may be implemented using a computing device (also referred to as a data processing system) such as a host or a server, a personal computer (e.g., desktops, laptops, and tablets), a “thin”client, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a Web enabled appliance, a mobile phone (e.g., Smartphone), an embedded system, local controllers, an edge node, and / or any other type of data processing device or system. For additional details regarding computing devices, refer to FIG. 5.

[0137] Any of the components illustrated in FIG. 4 may be operably connected to each other (and / or components not illustrated) with communication system 420. In an embodiment, communication system 420 includes one or more networks that facilitate communication between any number of components. The networks may include wired networks and / or wireless networks (e.g., and / or the Internet). The networks may operate in accordance with any number and types of communication protocols (e.g., such as the internet protocol).

[0138] While illustrated in FIG. 4 as including a limited number of specific components, a system in accordance with an embodiment may include fewer, additional, and / or different components than those illustrated therein.

[0139] Thus, using the method illustrated in FIG. 3 and system illustrated in FIGs. 1- 21 and 4, embodiments disclosed herein may improve the likelihood of successfully exploiting geological formation for various purposes. The likelihood of success may be improved by performing transient tests on the geological formation in which wells are positioned. The transient testing results may facilitate modeling and understanding how various geological formation may respond to certain uses.

[0140] Thus, embodiments disclosed herein may address the technical challenge of identification of portions of a geological formation that are likely to be usable for various purposes. The disclosed embodiments may do so using a grading system that takes into account transient properties of interactions between fluids (e.g., liquids / gasses) and a geological formation.

[0141] Any of the components illustrated in FIGs. 1-4 may be implemented with one or more computing devices. Turning to FIG. 5, a block diagram illustrating an example of a data processing system (e.g., a computing device) in accordance with an embodiment is shown. For example, system 500 may represent any of data processing systems described above performing any of the processes or methods described above. System 500 can include many different components. These components can be implemented as integrated circuits (ICs), portions thereof, discrete electronic devices, or other modules adapted to a circuit board such as a motherboard or add-in card of the computer system, or as components otherwise incorporated within a chassis of the computer system. Note also that system 500 is intended to show a high level view of many components of the computer system. However, it is to be understood that additional components may be present in certain implementations and furthermore, different arrangement of the components shown may occur in other implementations. System 500 may represent a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, a server, a mobile phone, a media player, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal communicator, a gaming device, a network router or hub, a wireless access point (AP) or repeater, a set-top box, or a combination thereof. Further, while only a single machine or system is illustrated, the term “machine” or “system” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines or systems that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

[0142] In an embodiment, system 500 includes processor 501, memory 503, and devices 505-507 via a bus or an interconnect 510. Processor 501 may represent a single processor or multiple processors with a single processor core or multiple processor cores included therein. Processor 501 may represent one or more general-purpose processors such as a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), or the like. More particularly, processor 501 may be a complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, orprocessor implementing other instruction sets, or processors implementing a combination of instruction sets. Processor 501 may also be one or more special-purpose processors such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a cellular or baseband processor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), a network processor, a graphics processor, a network processor, a communications processor, a cryptographic processor, a co-processor, an embedded processor, or any other type of logic capable of processing instructions.

[0143] Processor 501, which may be a low power multi-core processor socket such as an ultra-low voltage processor, may act as a main processing unit and central hub for communication with the various components of the system. Such processor can be implemented as a system on chip (SoC). Processor 501 is configured to execute instructions for performing the operations discussed herein. System 500 may further include a graphics interface that communicates with optional graphics subsystem 504, which may include a display controller, a graphics processor, and / or a display device.

[0144] Processor 501 may communicate with memory 503, which in an embodiment can be implemented via multiple memory devices to provide for a given amount of system memory. Memory 503 may include one or more volatile storage (or memory) devices such as random access memory (RAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), static RAM (SRAM), or other types of storage devices. Memory 503 may store information including sequences of instructions that are executed by processor 501, or any other device. For example, executable code and / or data of a variety of operating systems, device drivers, firmware (e g., input output basic system or BIOS), and / or applications can be loaded in memory 503 and executed by processor 501. An operating system can be any kind of operating systems, such as, for example, Windows® operating system from Microsoft®, Mac OS® / iOS® from Apple, Android® from Google®, Linux®, Unix®, or other real-time or embedded operating systems such as VxWorks.

[0145] System 500 may further include IO devices such as devices (e.g., 505, 506, 507, 508) including network interface device(s) 505, optional input device(s) 506, and other optional IO device(s) 507. Network interface device(s) 505 may include a wireless transceiver and / or a network interface card (NIC). The wireless transceiver may be a WiFi transceiver, an infrared transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, a WiMax transceiver, a wireless cellular telephony transceiver, a satellite transceiver (e g., a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver), or other radio frequency (RF) transceivers, or a combination thereof. The NIC may be an Ethernet card.

[0146] Input device(s) 506 may include a mouse, a touch pad, a touch sensitive screen (which may be integrated with a display device of optional graphics subsystem 504), a pointer device such as a stylus, and / or a keyboard (e.g., physical keyboard or a virtual keyboard displayed as part of a touch sensitive screen). For example, input device(s) 506 may include a touch screen controller coupled to a touch screen. The touch screen and touch screen controller can, for example, detect contact and movement or break thereof using any of a plurality of touch sensitivity technologies, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contact with the touch screen.

[0147] IO devices 507 may include an audio device. An audio device may include a speaker and / or a microphone to facilitate voice-enabled functions, such as voice recognition, voice replication, digital recording, and / or telephony functions. Other IO devices 507 may further include universal serial bus (USB) port(s), parallel port(s), serial port(s), a printer, a network interface, a bus bridge (e g., a PCI-PCI bridge), sensor(s) (e.g., a motion sensor such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, a magnetometer, a light sensor, compass, a proximity sensor, etc.), or a combination thereof. IO device(s) 507 may further include an imaging processing subsystem (e.g., a camera), which may include an optical sensor, such as a charged coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) optical sensor,utilized to facilitate camera functions, such as recording photographs and video clips. Certain sensors may be coupled to interconnect 510 via a sensor hub (not shown), while other devices such as a keyboard or thermal sensor may be controlled by an embedded controller (not shown), dependent upon the specific configuration or design of system 500.

[0148] To provide for persistent storage of information such as data, applications, one or more operating systems and so forth, a mass storage (not shown) may also couple to processor 501. In an embodiments, to enable a thinner and lighter system design as well as to improve system responsiveness, this mass storage may be implemented via a solid state device (SSD). In an embodiments, the mass storage may primarily be implemented using a hard disk drive (HDD) with a smaller amount of SSD storage to act as a SSD cache to enable non-volatile storage of context state and other such information during power down events so that a fast power up can occur on re-initiation of system activities. Also a flash device may be coupled to processor 501, e.g., via a serial peripheral interface (SPI). This flash device may provide for non-volatile storage of system software, including a basic input / output software (BIOS) as well as other firmware of the system.

[0149] Storage device 508 may include computer-readable storage medium 509 (also known as a machine-readable storage medium or a computer-readable medium) on which is stored one or more sets of instructions or software (e.g., processing module, unit, and / or processing module / unit / logic 528) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. Processing module / unit / logic 528 may represent any of the components described above. Processing module / unit / logic 528 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within memory 503 and / or within processor 501 during execution thereof by system 500, memory 503 and processor 501 also constituting machine-accessible storage media. Processing module / unit / logic 528 may further be transmitted or received over a network via network interface device(s) 505.

[0150] Computer-readable storage medium 509 may also be used to store some software functionalities described above persistently. While computer-readable storage medium 509 is shown in an embodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e g., a centralized or distributed database, and / or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The terms “computer-readable storage medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of embodiments disclosed herein. The term “computer-readable storage medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media, or any other non-transitory machine-readable medium.

[0151] Processing module / unit / logic 528, components and other features described herein can be implemented as discrete hardware components or integrated in the functionality of hardware components such as ASICS, FPGAs, DSPs or similar devices. In addition, processing module / unit / logic 528 can be implemented as firmware or functional circuitry within hardware devices. Further, processing module / unit / logic 528 can be implemented in any combination hardware devices and software components.

[0152] Note that while system 500 is illustrated with various components of a data processing system, it is not intended to represent any particular architecture or manner of interconnecting the components; as such details are not germane to embodiments disclosed herein. It will also be appreciated that network computers, handheld computers, mobile phones, servers, and / or other data processing systems which have fewer components or perhaps more components may also be used with embodiments disclosed herein.

[0153] Some portions of the preceding detailed descriptions have been presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the ways used by thoseskilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of operations leading to a desired result. The operations are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities.

[0154] It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the above discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as those set forth in the claims below, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system’s registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

[0155] Embodiments disclosed herein also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. Such a computer program is stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium. A non-transitory machine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine- readable (e.g., computer-readable) medium includes a machine (e.g., a computer) readable storage medium (e.g., read only memory (“ROM”), random access memory (“RAM”), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices).

[0156] The processes or methods depicted in the preceding figures may be performed by processing logic that comprises hardware (e.g. circuitry, dedicated logic, etc.), software (e.g., embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium), or a combination of both. Although the processes or methods are described above in terms of some sequential operations, it should be appreciated that some of the operations described may be performedin a different order. Moreover, some operations may be performed in parallel rather than sequentially.

[0157] Embodiments disclosed herein are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of embodiments disclosed herein.

[0158] In the foregoing specification, embodiments have been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the embodiments disclosed herein as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A tool for use with respect to a well, the tool comprising: a circulation assembly comprising: a fluid chamber; an opening in the circulation assembly; and a fluid control system adapted to selective isolate the fluid chamber from the opening, while the fluid chamber is not isolated from the opening the fluid chamber is in fluid communication with an ambient environment via the opening, and while the fluid chamber is isolated from the opening the fluid chamber is not in fluid communication with the ambient environment via the opening; and a hydraulic assembly comprising: a portion of a hydraulic system adapted to control the fluid control system to selectively isolate the fluid chamber from the opening.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the fluid control system comprises: a piston; a hydraulic chamber; and a flowline that allows the hydraulic system to selectively fill and evacuate the hydraulic chamber to move the piston between two positions, while the piston is in a first position of the two positions the fluid chamber is isolated from the opening, and while the piston is in a second of the two positions the fluid chamber is not isolated from the opening.

3. The tool of claim 2, wherein the piston is oriented along a length of the circulation assembly, and moving between the two positions comprises a translation of the piston along the length of the circulation assembly.

4. The tool of claim 3, wherein the circulation assembly further comprises: a port positioned to place the fluid chamber in fluid communication with a drill pipe while the drill pipe is connected to the circulation assembly.

5. The tool of claim 4, wherein the circulation assembly and the hydraulic assembly are, when used in a well, adapted to be arranged in a string with the circulation assembly being positioned higher in the string with respect to the hydraulic assembly.

6. The tool of claim 1, further comprising: at least one flowline adapted to place a source of at least one fluid in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, wherein the hydraulic system is further adapted to: selectively pump, via the at least one flowline, the at least one fluid between the source and the fluid chamber while the fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the source.

7. The tool of claim 6, wherein a fluid of the at least one fluid is a formation fluid from the well.

8. The tool of claim 6, wherein the hydraulic system comprises: at least one pump; and at least two valves positioned with respect to the at least one pump to selectively connect a pump of the at least one pump to the at least one flowline.

9. The tool of claim 8, wherein while the at least two valves connect the pump of the at least one pump to a first flowline of the at least one flowline, the pump is adapted to pump a fluid with respect to the fluid control system, and the pumping of the fluid selectively actuates the fluid control system to selectively isolate the fluid chamber from the opening.

10. The tool of claim 8, wherein while the at least two valves connect the pump of the at least one pump to a second flowline of the at least one flowline, the pump is adapted to pump a fluid with respect to the fluid chamber, and the pumping of the fluid selectively fills the fluid chamber or evacuates the fluid chamber with respect to the fluid.

11. The tool of claim 1, further comprising: a control system coupled to the circulation assembly and the hydraulic assembly, the control system being adapted to orchestrate performance of a test with respect to the well, the performance of the test comprising: while the circulation assembly and the hydraulic assembly are positioned in the well, and an interval of the well is isolated: performing a first isolating, using the fluid control system, of the fluid chamber from the opening to isolate the fluid chamber from an annulus of the well; while the annulus is isolated from the fluid chamber, flowing, using the hydraulic system, a test fluid into the fluid chamber to fill a drill pipe string attached to the circulation assembly with an amount of the test fluid; and using the test fluid from the drill pipe string to perform a first transient test on the well to obtain a first test result.

12. The tool of claim 11, wherein the performance of the test further comprises: after performing the first transient test, connecting, using the fluid control system, the fluid chamber to the opening to connect the fluid chamber to the annulus of the well; while the fluid chamber is connected to the annulus, removing the test fluid from the drill pipe string using a gas; after the test fluid is removed from the drill pipe string using the gas, performing a second isolating, using the fluid control system, of the fluid chamber from the opening to isolate the fluid chamber from the annulus of the well; and while the annulus is isolated from the fluid chamber, performing a second transient test on the well using the gas to obtain a second test result.

13. The tool of claim 12, wherein connecting, using the fluid control system, the fluid chamber to the opening comprises:sending a first signal to the hydraulic system that causes the hydraulic system to evacuate a hydraulic chamber of the fluid control system to place the fluid chamber in fluid communication with the opening, and the evacuating of the hydraulic chamber moving a piston of the fluid control system to a first position.

14. The tool of claim 13, wherein connecting, using the fluid control system, the fluid chamber to the opening to connect the fluid chamber to the annulus of the well comprises: sending a second signal to the hydraulic system that causes the hydraulic system to fill the hydraulic chamber of the fluid control system to place the fluid chamber in fluid communication with the opening, and the filling of the hydraulic chamber moving the piston of the fluid control system to a second position.

15. The tool of claim 12, wherein using the test fluid from the drill pipe to perform the first transient test on the well to obtain the first test result comprises: measuring characteristic of a pumping of the test fluid from a geological formation proximate to the interval.

16. The tool of claim 15, wherein performing the second transient test on the well using the gas to obtain the second test result comprises: measuring a characteristic of a pumping of the gas into the geological formation proximate to the interval.

17. A method of testing a well that is positioned with a geological formation, comprising: while a tool is positioned in the well, and an interval of the well is isolated: performing, using the tool, a first isolating of a fluid chamber of the tool from an opening in the tool to isolate the fluid chamber from an annulus of the well; while the annulus is isolated from the fluid chamber, flowing, using the tool, a formation fluid into the fluid chamber to fill a drill pipe string attached to a circulation assembly of the tool with an amount of the formation fluid; andusing the formation fluid from the drill pipe to perform a first transient test on the well to obtain a first test result.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: after performing the first transient test, connecting, using the tool, the fluid chamber to the opening to connect the fluid chamber to the annulus of the well; while the fluid chamber is connected to the annulus, removing, using the tool and a gas, the formation fluid from the drill pipe string; after the formation fluid is removed from the drill pipe string using the gas, performing a second isolating, using the tool, of the fluid chamber from the opening to isolate the fluid chamber from the annulus of the well; and while the annulus is isolated from the fluid chamber, performing, using the tool and the gas, a second transient test on the well using the gas to obtain a second test result.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein connecting, using the tool, the fluid chamber to the opening comprises: sending a first signal to a hydraulic system of the tool that causes the hydraulic system to evacuate a hydraulic chamber of a fluid control system of the tool to place the fluid chamber in fluid communication with the opening, and the evacuating of the hydraulic chamber moving a piston of the fluid control system to a first position.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein connecting, using the tool, the fluid chamber to the opening to connect the fluid chamber to the annulus of the well comprises: sending a second signal to the hydraulic system that causes the hydraulic system to fill the hydraulic chamber of the fluid control system to place the fluid chamber in fluid communication with the opening, and the filling of the hydraulic chamber moving the piston of the fluid control system to a second position.

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