Hydraulic injection diagnostic tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016084072-A1
Application number	US-201414495511-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 24, 2014
Priority date	Sep 24, 2014
Publication date	Mar 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus can include a conveyance device having a flow bore, an isolator forming a testing volume at least partially defined by an inner surface of a wellbore tubular, and one or more pressure sensors generating signals representative of a pressure in the testing volume while the conveyance device moves the isolator axially through the wellbore tubular. The isolator substantially isolates a testing fluid received from the flow bore in the testing volume from an adjacent bore of the wellbore tubular. A location of at least one flow path in the wellbore tubular is identified by estimating a pressure of the testing fluid in the testing volume. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the general subject matter of the technical disclosure.

First claim

I claim:

1 . An apparatus for performing a downhole operation, comprising:
a conveyance device having a flow bore; an isolator forming a testing volume at least partially defined by an inner surface of a wellbore tubular, wherein the isolator substantially isolates a testing fluid received from the flow bore in the testing volume from an adjacent bore of the wellbore tubular; and at least one pressure sensor generating signals representative of a pressure in the testing volume while the conveyance device moves the isolator axially through the wellbore tubular.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the isolator has an adjustable outer diameter, the outer diameter expanding from a first diameter during run-in to a second larger diameter during operation.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the isolator includes:
a mandrel having at least one opening providing fluid communication between the flow bore and the testing volume; and a first and a second isolating element disposed on the mandrel, wherein the testing volume is formed between the first and the second isolating element.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first and the second isolating elements are selected from at least one of: (i) a fixed cone, (ii) an expandable cone, (iii) a ring, (iv) a swab cup, (v) a packer, (vi) a cylindrical compartment, (vii) collets, and (viii) dogs.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the isolator includes an outer circumferential surface that includes at least one wear pad.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conveyance device is at least one of (i) a tubing, (ii) coiled tubing, (iii) drillpipe, (iv) wireline, (v) slickline, and (vi) electric line; and further comprising:
a fluid mover supplying the testing fluid to the testing volume via the conveyance device.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure sensor includes at least one of: (i) a pressure sensor at a fluid mover supplying the testing fluid, (ii) a pressure sensor at a downhole location, (iii) a pressure sensor at a surface location, (iv) a pressure sensor sending signals to a surface location, and (v) a pressure sensor sending signals to a memory module located at the downhole location.

8 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the isolator includes at least one of: (i) an actuator adjusting the outer diameter of the isolator, and (ii) an actuator controlling fluid flow into the testing volume.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the actuator includes at least one of a J-slot mechanism, diaphragm, sleeve, valve, and expendable material.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a well treatment tool disposed along the conveyance device at a fixed distance to the testing volume.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the well treatment tool receives a treatment fluid via the flow bore.

12 . The apparatus of 10 , wherein the well treatment tool includes at least a pair of zone isolation members defining a treatment zone.

13 . The apparatus of 12 , wherein the testing volume is positioned at one of: (i) within the treatment zone, and (ii) outside of the treatment zone.

14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the treatment fluid is a tracer, and wherein the well treatment tool comprises a tracer logging tool configured to measure a conductivity of at least one flow path in a treatment zone using the tracer.

15 . A method of performing a downhole operation, comprising:
forming a testing volume in a wellbore using an isolator, the testing volume being at least partially defined by an inner surface of a wellbore tubular;
moving the testing volume along the wellbore while substantially isolating the testing volume from an adjacent bore of the wellbore tubular; and
identifying a location of at least one flow path in a wellbore tubular by estimating a pressure of a testing fluid in the moving testing volume.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising supplying the testing fluid to the testing volume at least at a flow rate that generates a pressure variance indicating fluid flow into the at least one flow path.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the pressure indicative of a testing volume pressure is measured at at least one of: (i) a surface location, and (ii) a downhole location.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising allowing the testing fluid to flow through a predetermined clearance without creating a discernible pressure drop, wherein the isolator has at least one surface substantially isolating the testing fluid, and wherein the at least one surface has an outer diameter selected to form the predetermined clearance that separates the at least one surface from the inner surface of the wellbore tubular.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising performing a well treatment operation after identifying the location of at least one flow path.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising comparing the identified location with a well history before performing the well treatment operation.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the well treatment operation is at least one of: (i) a hydraulic fracturing operation, (ii) a well stimulation operation, (iii) a well tracer injection operation, (iv) a well intervention operation, and (v) a well cleaning operation.

22 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising positioning a well treatment tool used during the well treatment operation with reference to the identified location.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Flores Juan C
• O'Malley Edward J
• Harper Jason M

Classifications

• E21B33/126

  with fluid-pressure-operated elastic cup or skirt (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B37/00

  Methods or apparatus for cleaning boreholes or wells (E21B21/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B47/06 Primary

  Measuring temperature or pressure · CPC title

• E21B47/11

  using tracers; using radioactivity · CPC title

• E21B47/12

  Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling · CPC title