Closed Chamber Well Test Flow Control Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current well testing methods, such as closed chamber tests and slug tests, face challenges in data interpretation due to complex wellbore dynamics and fluid flow variations, leading to inaccurate reservoir property estimation and environmental concerns with conventional drill stem tests.
Innovation Solution
A closed chamber testing system with a downhole flow control device that regulates fluid flow and pressure measurements, allowing for improved estimation of reservoir properties by controlling fluid flow rates and reducing noise in pressure signals, thereby enhancing the accuracy of formation parameter estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a closed chamber test is used to avoid environmental hazards and extensive surface equipment, then environmental safety and equipment cost are improved, but the quantity of produced fluid is reduced leading to insufficient wellbore cleanup and smaller investigation radius
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the flow control device during the test to transition from a restricted state (maintaining closed chamber benefits) to an open state (increasing fluid production for wellbore cleanup). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to achieve both environmental safety and sufficient fluid production at different phases of the test.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control device changes the flow rate parameter from a restricted value during the initial closed chamber phase to a higher value during the production phase. This parameter change enables the system to first maintain the environmental benefits of a closed chamber, then increase fluid production to achieve adequate wellbore cleanup and investigation radius.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a closed chamber test confines fluid downhole, then environmental safety is improved, but the quality of collected fluid samples deteriorates due to mixing of completion, cushion, and formation fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary wellbore cleanup by producing a large volume of fluid through the flow control device before closing the chamber. This preliminary action removes incompatible fluids and debris from the wellbore, ensuring that subsequent fluid samples collected in the closed chamber are of high quality and representative of formation fluids only.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control device maintains continuous fluid production to achieve adequate wellbore cleanup before sample collection. This continuous action ensures that the wellbore is thoroughly cleaned of incompatible fluids, allowing the closed chamber to then collect high-quality formation fluid samples without contamination.
3Productivity
If the upper end of the surge chamber is open during the test, then fluid production can continue to surface, but the test shares similar issues with slug tests including noisy pressure signals and variable flow rates complicating data interpretation
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control device acts as an intermediary between the formation and the closed chamber, regulating fluid flow to eliminate the surge flow effect. By controlling the flow rate through this intermediary device, the system achieves continuous fluid production while maintaining stable pressure signals that are free from the noise characteristic of open surge chamber tests.
4Quantity of substance
If a drill string is used to produce and flow formation fluid to the surface, then a larger quantity of formation fluid is produced leading to larger investigation radius and better sample quality, but extensive surface equipment is required posing environmental handling hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the flow control device during the test to transition from a restricted state (maintaining closed chamber benefits) to an open state (increasing fluid production for wellbore cleanup). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to achieve both environmental safety and sufficient fluid production at different phases of the test.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control device changes the flow rate parameter from a restricted value during the initial closed chamber phase to a higher value during the production phase. This parameter change enables the system to first maintain the environmental benefits of a closed chamber, then increase fluid production to achieve adequate wellbore cleanup and investigation radius.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides more accurate and reliable reservoir property estimation with a larger investigation radius, reducing environmental impact and improving the quality of fluid samples by controlling fluid flow and pressure measurements, thus addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
a flow control device 40 positioned above the lower isolation valve 50 within the well test system 10 that controls a flow rate of fluid from the formation 20 into a closed chamber 60
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus for performing a well test operation includes a tubular member having a surge chamber and a valve that can control fluid flow from a well into the surge chamber during the well test operation. The apparatus can also include a flow control device, in addition to the valve, for further controlling fluid flow into the surge chamber from the well. Flow rate and pressure data can be measured during the well test operation and used to estimate reservoir properties. Various other systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.