Formation Pressure Pretest Workflow for Noise and Supercharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Formation testing tools face challenges in low-mobility reservoirs due to long equilibration times, which increase rig time and risk of tool sticking, and are affected by pressure noise and supercharge effects during drilling, leading to inaccurate formation pore pressure measurements.

Innovation Solution

A downhole information handling system performs real-time statistical analysis of pressure data during drawdown and buildup periods, using denoising techniques to calculate a threshold value, and adjusts mud pump rates or performs additional pre-tests to ensure accurate formation pore pressure and mobility measurements by minimizing noise and supercharge effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If formation testing tools are used in low-mobility reservoirs, then formation pore pressure measurements can be obtained, but equilibration time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformation pore pressure measurementVSAvoidequilibration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing a drawdown period before the buildup measurement. During the drawdown, the piston is withdrawn to create a pressure difference that initiates fluid flow into the probe. This preliminary action prepares the system by establishing initial flow conditions and reducing the impact of supercharge effects, allowing the subsequent buildup to reach equilibrium faster and provide more accurate formation pore pressure measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the tool remains stationary for long equilibration periods, then accurate pressure measurements can be obtained, but the risk of differential tool sticking increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure measurement accuracyVSAvoidtool sticking risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drawdown phase serves as a preliminary action that actively engages the formation fluids and establishes flow patterns before the measurement phase. This prevents the tool from simply waiting in a static condition that could lead to differential sticking, while still enabling accurate pressure measurements during the subsequent buildup period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If pressure measurements are taken during dynamic drilling operations, then operational efficiency is maintained, but pressure noise and supercharge effects invalidate the measurements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidformation pore pressure measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The drawdown period acts as a preliminary action that clears supercharge effects from the near-wellbore region by inducing fluid flow. This preliminary flow activation removes the harmful supercharge pressure buildup that would otherwise invalidate measurements, enabling accurate formation pore pressure measurements to be taken during dynamic drilling operations without sacrificing operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach enhances the accuracy of formation pore pressure and mobility measurements by reducing noise and supercharge influences, thereby improving data quality and reducing operational risks and costs.

Implementation Method 1

the pressure sensor can measure the pressure of the fluids in the sealed connection volume which are in hydraulic communication with the fluids in the formation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic communication:

Implementation Method 2

the flowline pressure, Pfl, increases until it equilibrates to the formation pore pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure equilibration:

Implementation Method 3

It is important for the pad or the packer to make a seal to hydraulically isolate the probe and the formation from the wellbore

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic isolation:

Data Source

PatentUS12540545B1Interactive and smart workflow to measure noise free formation pressure and characterize supercharge in formation testing

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are systems and methods to obtain representative formation pore pressure and formation mobility from pressure measurements with a formation testing tool. In some embodiments, the method includes performing a first pre-test in which a pressure sensor measures a drawdown pressure and a buildup pressure, calculating a statistical value for the measured buildup pressure, determining if the statistical value is above or below a threshold, shutting down a mud pulser if the statistical value is above or below the threshold, and performing a second pre-test in which the pressure sensor measures a second drawdown pressure and a second buildup pressure. In embodiments, the second pre-test includes a formation fluid drawdown flow rate that is different than a formation fluid drawdown flow rate in the first pre-test.