USOO654354OB2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 6,543,540 B2

(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR 5,803,186 A * 9/1998 Berger et al. .......... 166/250.17
DOWNHOLE PRODUCTION ZONE 5,831,156 A * 11/1998 Mullins ................. 166/250.17
5,857,519 A * 1/1999 Bowlin et al. ........... 166/105.6
(75) Inventors: Rune Woie, Hafrsfyord (NO); Harald
Grimmer, Lachendorf (DE) FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
(73) Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated, Houston, EP O 697 SOO A 2/1996
TX (US) EP 1 041 244. A 10/2000
WO WO 98 48.186 10/1998
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 sk -
U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. cited by examiner
(21) Appl. No.: 09/754,944 Primary Examiner David Bagnell
(22) Filed: Jan. 5, 2001 ASSistant Examiner Brian Halford
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Madan, Mossman &
(65) Prior Publication Data Sriram, P.C.
US 2001/0050170 A1 Dec. 13, 2001 (57) ABSTRACT
(Under 37 CFR 1.47)
The present invention provides Systems and methods for
Related U.S. Application Data performing production testing in open holes and in cased
(60) Provisional application No. 60/174.777, filed on Jan. 6, holes that avoid transporting formation fluid to the Surface.
2000. The invention essentially comprises a test String for testing
(51) Int. Cl." ......................... E21B 43/26; E21B 43/16; a production Zone interSecting a wellbore. The String further
E21B 47/00, E21B 49/08 comprises a fluid communication member allowing flow of
(52) U.S. Cl. .............................. 166/305.1; 166/250.02; fluid therethrough, a Sealing device for isolating a produc
166/264; 166/250.01; 166/308 tion Zone intersecting the wellbore to allow fluid flow from
(58) Field of Search ................................. 166/106, 169, the production Zone into the fluid communication member,
166/250.17, 264,313, 250.02, 250.01, 308, a Second Sealing device Spaced apart from the first Sealing
3.05.1, 252.1 device for isolating9. a Second iniection Zone interSecting9. the
(56) References Cited wellbore, a pump for pumping fluid between Zones, and flow
control devices.
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,335,732 A * 8/1994 McIntyre ............... 166/250.01 24 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets

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 US 6,543,540 B2
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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR which pollute the environment. Hydrocarbons also are often
DOWNHOLE PRODUCTION ZONE discharged into the environment. These problems are exas
perated for offshore wells. In certain regions, Such as the
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED Norwegian Continental Shelf, regulations restrict or prohibit
APPLICATION burning of polluting matters. The operators in Such regions
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional collect the produced reservoir fluid and transport it to
Patent Application No. 60/174,777, filed on Jan. 6, 2000. Suitable offsite processing plants. Accordingly, it is increas
ingly becoming important to devise production testing meth
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ods which are Safe, environmentally friendly and less
weather dependent.
1. Field of the Invention Before conducting production testing, casing is often
This invention relates generally to oilfield well testing and cemented in the well to insulate various permeable layers,
more particularly to production testing of Wells wherein and to comply with Safety requirements. Usually, Special
fluid from a production Zone is injected into a another production tubing is used down to the layer/bed (Zone) to be
Subsurface Zone. 15 tested. These preparations are time-consuming and expen
2. Description of the Related Art Sive. Safety considerations make it Sometimes necessary to
After drilling of a well to a known depth, a production Strengthen an already Set casing, perhaps over the entire or
Zone or Zones are identified by a variety of known tech a Substantial part of the length of the well; particularly in
niques. “Production test” or “production testing” is carried high pressure wells where it might be required to install
out to obtain data to determine a variety of characteristics of extra casings in the upper parts of the well.
the oil and gas reservoirs, including the flow characteristics It can be difficult to Secure a good cementing. Channels,
of the reservoir fluid, Such as permeability. cracks or Voids my exist in the cemented Zones. In many
A variety of production testing methods are known. cases, it is difficult to define or measure the quality of the
Production tests are performed prior to completing a well (in 25
cementing operation or the presence of cement. Unsatisfac
open holes) as well as in cased or completed wells. Usually, tory cementing can cause So-called croSS flows to or from
a production test has two phases, each with a duration of other permeable formations outside the casing. CroSS flows
Several hours to a few days. In the beginning, the fluid may, to a high degree, influence the measurements carried
adjacent the production Zone flows into the well, but gradu out. Time-consuming and very expensive cementing repairs
ally the fluid from greater distances must flow into the well. might be required in order to eliminate Such Sources of
COS.
The preSSure in the well decreases because the fluid must
flow over a longer distance through the formation, Subject Systems currently used can be adequate for take care of
ing it to increasing preSSure loSS. When a constant flow rate drilling wells in deep waters, but do not provide Safe and
from a particular Zone is maintained, then the pressure in the Secure production testing. In deep water operations, it is
well depends only on the character of the formation. During 35 difficult to remain secure when the drilling vessel drifts out
the first phase of a production test, pressure and temperature of position, or whenever the riser is Subjected to large,
measurements over time are recorded, during constant flow uncontrollable and not measurable vibrations or leeway.
rate. In the Second phase of the production test, the fluid flow Such a situation requires a rapid disconnection of the riser or
from the production Zone being tested is stopped. The production tubing Subsequent to closing the production
preSSure within the well then gradually rises to the formation 40
valve at the seabed.
pressure as the formation around the well is filled with the Further, in ordinary production it is usual to use various
fluid from the remote areas. The pressure build up over time forms of well stimulation. Such stimulation may include
and temperature overtime are recorded. The pressure injection of chemicals into the formation in order to increase
overtime, temperature over time and the flow rate measure the flow rate. A simple well Stimulation includes Subjecting
ments are most commonly used to analyze the reservoir 45 the formation to pressure pulses So that it cracks and, thus,
characteristics. becomes more permeable. Such methods are referred to as
During the first phase of the production testing, the “fracturing of the formation. A side-effect of fracturing can
reservoir fluid is conducted to the Surface via a tubing. be a large increase in the amount of Sand accompanying the
Packers in the annulus between the tubing and the well are reservoir fluid. In connection with production testing, it may
placed to seal the annulus so the formation fluid will flow 50 in Some instances be of interest to be able to effect a well
through the tubing and not through the annulus. A flow Stimulation in order to observe the effect thereof. Again, the
control valve at the upper end of the tubing at the Surface is case is Such that an ordinary production equipment is
used to control the flow of the fluid from the formation. adapted to avoid, withstand, resist and Separate out Sand,
Downhole pumps are Sometimes installed to maintain the while corresponding measures are of leSS importance when
desired fluid flow rate. The above-described and other 55 carrying out a production test.
known production testing methods usually require flowing In Some cases, it is useful to be able to carry out a reversed
Substantial amounts of formation fluid to the Surface during production test, i.e., pumping produced fluid back into the
the first phase of the production test. Such methods suffer production formation. However, this presupposes that pro
from a number of disadvantages. duced fluid can be kept at approximate reservoir preSSure
In open hole wells, there usually are no or very inadequate 60 and temperature. This will require extra equipment, and it
facilities at the Surface to process the formation fluid brought will be necessary to use additional Safety measures. Further,
to the Surface. The reservoir fluid poses Safety risks as it is it would require transfer of the production tubing. Probably,
flammable and hazardous to the environment. Therefore, the production tubing would have to be pulled up and Set
Substantial Safety measures are taken in connection with once more, in order to give access to another formation. This
Such production tests. To reduce the environmental risks, the 65 is time-consuming as well as expensive. Therefore, it is not
reservoir fluid is usually burned off at the well site. Com of actual interest to use Such reversed production tests in
bustion of hydrocarbons, however, produces unwanted gases connection with prior art techniques. During a reversed
 US 6,543,540 B2
3 4
production test, a preSSure increase is observed in the well detailed description thereof that follows may be better
while a reversed constant fluid flow is maintained. When the understood, and in order that the contributions to the art may
reversed fluid flow is interrupted, a gradual pressure reduc be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of
tion will be observed in the well. Reversed production test the invention that will be described hereinafter and which
may contribute to revealing a possible connection in the rock 5 will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.
ground between formations connected by the channel, and BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
may in Some cases also contribute to defining the distance
from the well to such a possible connection between the For detailed understanding of the present invention, ref
formations. erences should be made to the following detailed description
The present invention provides Systems and methods for of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the
performing production testing in open holes and in cased accompanying drawings, in which like elements have been
holes that avoid transporting formation fluid to the Surface. given like numerals and wherein:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows, diagrammatically and in a Side elevational
15 View, a part of a sketch of a well where a channel has been
A main feature of the invention is that formation fluid is disposed which connects two permeable formations.
conducted from a first, expected permeable formation to a FIG. 1A corresponds to FIG. 1, but here is shown a minor
Second permeable formation as opposed to prior art tech modification of the channel-forming pipe establishing the
nique where fluid is conducted between a formation and the fluid flow path between the two formations, the borehole
Surface. According to the invention, prior to a production through Said Second formation not being lined.
test, at least one channel connection is established between FIG. 2 shows a part of a well having a channel, corre
two formations, of which one (a first) formation is the one sponding to FIG. 1, and where a pump has been disposed.
to be production tested. Further, Sealing devices are disposed
to limit the fluid flow between the formations through the FIG.3 shows a schematic elevational view of a cased well
channel connection(s). When fluid flow takes place from the that has been prepared for production testing wherein for
first to the Second formation the Sealing devices, e.g. annulus 25 mation fluid from a production Zone is injected into an
packers, prevent fluid from flowing between the formations, injection Zone below the production Zone.
outside the channel(s). FIG. 4 shows a schematic elevational view of a cased well
Within the channel, flow controlling devices are disposed, that has been prepared for production testing wherein for
which may include flow control valves and a pump, operable mation fluid from a production Zone is injected into a
from the Surface in order to control the fluid flow in the formation above the production Zone.
channel and, thus, between the formations. Further, within FIG. 5 shows a schematic elevation view of an open hole
the channel, a flow rate Sensor is disposed. This Sensor may that has been prepared for production testing according to
be readable from a Surface location. one method of the present invention.
Additionally, Sensors adapted to determine pressure, 35 FIG. 6 (FIGS. 6A and 6B) shows a schematic elevation
temperature, detect Sand, water and the like from the Surface view of a wellbore with multiple production zones that has
may be disposed. Of course, Several Sensors of each type been prepared for production testing of one or more Zones
may be disposed in order to monitor the desired parameters according to one method of the present invention.
at Several places within the channel. AS discussed, Sensors DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
for pressure and temperature are disposed within the well. 40 PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Likewise, equipment for timekeeping and recording of the
measured valves are positioned in the well. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a part of a vertical
During a production test, by using the flow rate Sensor, the well lined with a casing 2. The well 1 is extended with an
adjustable valve and, possibly, by use of Said pump, a open (not lined) hole 3 drilled through a first, expected
constant fluid flow is established and maintained in the 45 permeable formation 4 to be production tested. The casing 2
channel, for fluid flowing from one formation to the other is provided with a perforation 5 in an area where the well 1
formation. PreSSure and other well parameters are read and passes through a Second, permeable formation 6. According
recorded as stated above. Thereafter, the fluid flow is ceased, to FIG. 1A, second permeable formation 6 is not insulated
and the pressure build up within the well is monitored and or isolated by the casingS 2. One or both permeable forma
recorded as Stated. This production test may be extended to 50 tions 4 and 6 may be Stimulated using chemicals or may be
a reversed flow through the utilization of a reversible pump fractured using a fracture mechanism (not separately shown)
So that fluid can be pumped in the opposite direction to increase flow in the formations 4 and 6. A well known
between the two formations. device and method of fracturing a formation is a pump used
Storing produced reservoir fluid in a formation results in to initiate preSSure pulses for causing cracks to form in the
the advantage that the fluid may have approximately reser 55 formation.
voir conditions when it is conducted back into the reservoir. First formation 4 is insulated from possible permeable
Further, according to the invention, well Stimulating mea formations adjacent the bottom of the well by a bottom
Sures in the formation being production tested may be used. packer 7. A tubular channel 8 extends concentrically with the
Fracturing may be achieved by methods known in the art. To well 1 from the area at first formation 4 to a place above the
this end, the well is Supplied with pressurized liquid, e.g., 60 perforations 5. Thus, an annulus 9 is formed between the
through a drill String coupled to the channel. Thereafter, a channel 8 and the casing 2.
production test is carried out as described above. A lower annular packer 10 placed further from the bottom
Additionally, a reversed production test may be conducted to of the well 1 than first permeable formation 4, defines the
obtain the production testing data from two separated layers lower end of the annulus 9. An upper annular packer 11
without having to remove the test String. 65 placed further from the bottom of the well 1 than the
Examples of the more important features of the invention perforations 5, defines the upper end of the annulus 9. An
thus have been summarized rather broadly in order that the intermediate annular packer 12 placed closer to the bottom
 US 6,543,540 B2
S 6
of the well 1 than the perforations 5, prevents communica the tubing 115 (also referred to herein as the tubular channel
tion between the perforations 5 and possible other permeable or the channel) and the casing 103. This ensures flow of
formations above the lower packer 10. formation fluid 109 only into the tubing 115. Similarly,
The channel 8 is closed at the upper end and, according packers 122a and 122b Seal the annulus 125 between the
to FIGS. 1 and 2, open at the lower end. In an area distanced tubing 115 and the casing 103 below and above the perfo
from the upper end of the channel 8, below the place where rations 107 ensuring that the fluid from the tubing 115 will
the upper packer 11 is mounted, the channel 8 is provided only be pumped or injected into the formation 108.
with gates 13 establishing a fluid communication between The string 110 includes a motor 130 that drives a pump
the channel 8 and the annulus 9 outside the channel. Thus, 132 disposed at a suitable location in the tubing 115. A drive
fluid may flow from the first formation 4 to the well 1 and shaft 131 coupled to the motor 130 passes through the
into the channel 8 at the lower end thereof, through the packer or seal 120b and drives the pump 132. Seals 133
channel 8 and out through the gates 13 and further, through around the shaft 131 inhibit fluid communication through
the packer 120b. The motor 130 preferably is a mud motor
the perforations 5, to second formation 6. which is driven when drilling fluid or mud 135 Supplied to
In accordance with FIG. 1A, there is no need here for the 15
the drill pipe 112 under pressure from the surface. The mud
perforations 5 as in FIGS. 1 and 2. The annulus packers 11 135 drives the motor 130 and re-circulates or returns to the
and 12 will then act against the wall defining the borehole. Surface via the annulus 138 when a motor exit valve 137 is
The packer 7 can also be a part of the channel-forming pipe opened. The motor 130 may also be an electric motor or any
8 when the pipe wall is perforated 21 between the packer 7 other type of suitable motor. The motor may be a reversible
and the packer 10. type So that fluid may be pumped in either the uphole or
When the annulus packer 7 is mounted to the channel downhole direction. A stabilizer/centralizer 139 may be
forming pipe 8, the latter may be closed at the lower end provided above the motor 130 to provide lateral or radial
thereof which, according to FIG. 1A, is positioned below the stabilization to the string 110.
first, expected permeable formation layer 4. In an area above The test string 110 further includes a shut-in valve 140
which controls the flow of the fluid from formation 106 to
the annulus packer 7, the channel-forming pipe 8 is, thus, 25 the tubing 115. An injection valve 142 controls the fluid flow
provided with through-going lateral gates 21 which, together from the tubing 115 to the injection Zone 108. A circulation
with the through-going lateral gates 13, establish fluid valve 144 at the bottom of the tubing 115 may be provided
communication between the formations 4 and 6.
to control fluid flow from the tubing 115 to the wellbore
Referring to FIG. 1, in the channel 8, a remotely operable section below the string 110. A float valve 146 may be
valve (not shown) is disposed, said valve being adapted to provided inside the rotor to prevent the back flow of the
control a fluid flow through the channel 8. The valve may, produced fluid 109. A bypass valve 145 is provided in the
as known perse, comprise a remotely operated displaceable, packer 120b. During tripping of the string 110 into the well
perforated sleeve 14 adapted to cover the gates 13, wholly 101, the bypass valve 145 is opened, which allows the mud
or in part, the radially directed holes 14a of the sleeve 14 135 to return to the Surface via the annulus between the
being brought to register more or less with the gates 13 or 35 tubing 115 and the casing 103 thereby cleaning the wellbore.
not to register therewith. The string 110 includes a variety of sensors. Pressure
Further in FIG. 2, in the channel 8, remotely readable Sensors P, P and P. respectively provide pressures in the
Sensors are disposed, inclusive a preSSure Sensor 15, and a tubing 115 adjacent the production Zone 106, in the inter
flow sensor 16 and a temperature sensor 17. The channel 8 mediate Zone 110 and the injection Zone 108. Temperature
may be assigned a pump 18 adapted to drive a flow of fluid 40 Sensors T, T- and T provide temperatures corresponding to
through the channel 8. the pressures P, P and P. Flow measurement devices
The pump can be driven by a motor 19 placed in the (flow meters) such as “V” provides fluid flow rate through
extension of the channel 8. As known, a drive shaft 20 the tubing 115. Other flow meters may be used to measure
between motor 19 and pump 18 is passed pressure-tight flow rates and to detect leaks.
through the upper closed end of the channel 8. 45 A fluid sampler 150 (also referred to in the art as fluid
Advantageously, the motor 19 may be of a hydraulic type, collection chamber or System) may be provided on the high
adapted to be driven by a liquid, e.g. a drilling fluid which, pressure side (i.e. past the pump 132) to collect fluid
as known, is Supplied through a drill String or a coilable Samples. A variety of fluid Samplers are known. Any Suitable
tubing, not shown. Also, an electrical motor can be used Sampling or collection chamber device may be utilized for
which can be cooled through the circulation of drilling liquid 50 the purpose of this invention. In addition to the conventional
or through conducting fluid flowing in the channel 8, preSSure, temperature and flow rate measurements, the String
through a cooling jacket of the motor 19. 110 preferably includes a number of other sensors for
In the annulus 9, Sensors may be disposed, in order to determining reservoir characteristics. Such Sensors include
Sense and point out communication or croSS flowing to or Sensors for determining Viscosity, density, bubble point,
from the permeable layers, above or below the annulus. 55 composition and other chemical characteristics of the for
FIG. 3 shows Schematic elevation view of a cased well mation fluid. The sensors are generally denoted by “RCI' in
101 that has been prepared for production testing according FIG. 3. For motion evaluation, sensors such as resistivity
to one embodiment of the present invention. The well has Sensors, acoustic and gamma ray Sensors are disposed to
been lined with a casing 103 that has perforations 105 provide parameters of interest of the formation. Such Sen
adjacent a production Zone or formation 106 to be tested and 60 sors may be conveniently placed above the motor 139. Such
perforations 107 adjacent a permeable injection Zone or Sensors are designated a measurement-while-drilling or
formation 108. The test string 110 generally includes a “MWD' sensors and are denoted by numeral 152. A retriev
bottom hole assembly 100 conveyed in the well 101 with a able downhole memory unit 154 is preferably utilized to
drill pipe 112. The bottom hole assembly 100 has a tubular Store the production testing data, which is downloaded at the
member 115 that carries the various test devices. The test 65 surface for further analysis. The memory unit 154 can be
String 110 includes a lower packer or Seal 120a and an upper retrieved by a wireline or coiled tubing if the string 110 gets
packer 120b that respectively seal the annulus 123 between stuck in the well.
 US 6,543,540 B2
7 8
To conduct the production test, the string 110 is conveyed The above-described systems may be utilized when an
into the wellbore. The packers 120a and 120b, 122a and upper portion of a well is cased with a lower open hole.
122b are Set at the preferred locations. The precise location Appropriate Sealing devices, Such as packers are utilized
of the Zones may be determined from the MWD sensors 154. depending whether the well Section is cased or not.
The drilling fluid 135 is supplied under pressure, which FIG. 6, which comprises FIGS. 6A and FIG. 6B, shows an
rotates the motor that drives the pump 132. The mud 135 implementation of the present method for testing multiple
returns or re-circulates to the Surface via the motor exit valve Zones. FIG. 6 shows three production zones 406, 408 and
139. The shut-in-valve 140 and the injection valves 142 are 410 and one injection Zone 412. Each of the production
controllably opened to control the flow of the formation fluid Zones is isolated. For example, packers 420a and 420b
from the production Zone 106 to the injection Zone 108. The isolate Zone 406, packers 422a and 422b isolate Zone 408
preSSure, temperature and flow measurements are continu and packers 424a and 424b isolate Zone 410. Each produc
ously or periodically recorded into the memory 154. Elec tion Zone has a corresponding shut-in-valve. Valves 416, 418
tronic circuitry 153 preferably including microprocessor and 420 respectively control the flow from the production
based unit in the string 110 determines the values of various Zones 406, 408 and 410 into the tubing 415. A common
desired parameters from the downhole measurements. These 15
motor 430 and pump 432 may be utilized to pump the fluid
measured values and data may be transmitted to a Surface from any of the producing Zones into the injection Zone 412.
controller or processor which may be a computer System. To test a particular Zone, for example 406, the shut-in
The downhole processor and/or the Surface control unit are valves 418 and 420 are closed, while the valve 416 is
programmed to control the various flow control devices, and opened. This only allows fluid from formation 406 to enter
may be programmed to control the fluid flow rate from the the tubing 415. This fluid is then pumped by the pump into
production Zone 106 to the injection Zone 108. the injection Zone 412. The production testing is completed
Once the first phase of the production test has been with respect to the Zone 406 in the manner described above
completed, the shut-in-Valve and the injection valve are in reference to FIG. 5. To test the production Zone 408, the
turned off, and the fluid communication between the pro Zones 406 and 410 are shut off. The system of FIG. 6 also
duction and injection Zone stopped. The preSSure in the Zone allows for testing Zones Sequentially or Simultaneously. For
25
123 starts to rise. The pressure over time and temperature example, any two of the three Zones or all of the three Zones
over time measurements are recorded until the pressure P. may be tested Simultaneously. The flow rate of each Zone is
builds up to the formation pressure or for a Selected time independently controlled by the surface and/or downhole
period. controller.
AS noted above, the production testing measurements In the above-described systems, additional downhole
may be recorded in downhole memory 154 and/or transmit instruments and Sensors may easily be deployed. For
ted to a Surface controller. The valves 137, 140, 142, 145, example, one or more types of known fluid analysis devices
and 146 and other such devices are remotely controllable. may be disposed prior to the Sample collection chamber
The system can control the flow of fluid from the production (sampler) or they may be positioned at any other Suitable
Zone 108 to the injection Zone at any desired flow rate. The 35
location. Such Sensors may include acoustic Sensors, near
System is a closed loop System, wherein the operating infrared Sensors, density measurement devices, chemical
parameters may be altered downhole, from the Surface, or analysis devices etc. The System is adapted to control
any other remote location. operations downhole and/or from the Surface. The System
Simultaneous to the pressure and temperature measure provides the production testing measurements, fluid Sam
ments of the production Zone, pressure and temperature 40
pling and in-situ fluid analysis. Reservoir characterization
measurements for the injection Zone also may be recorded, instrumentation is disposed downhole to provide Substan
which provides data for characterizing the injection Zone tially real-time information.
during a single trip. During the production testing phase, the The foregoing description is directed to particular
fluid samples may be analyzed downhole by the reservoir embodiments of the present invention for the purpose of
characterization instruments (“RCI”). Fluid samples are 45
illustration and explanation. It will be apparent, however, to
collected by the sampler 150 and are analyzed upon retrieval one skilled in the art that many modifications and changes to
of the string 110 to the surface. the embodiment set forth above are possible without depart
FIG. 4 is an example of the implementation of production ing from the Scope and the Spirit of the invention. It is
testing in a cased well wherein the production Zone 206 is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace
below or downhole of the injection Zone 208. The operation 50 all Such modifications and changes.
of the various valves is the same as described above. The What is claimed is:
sampler 250 is disposed above the pump 232 since that is the 1. A test String for in-situ testing a production Zone
high preSSure Side. In this configuration, the packerS 220a interSecting a wellbore traversing a formation, comprising:
and 220b isolate the production Zone 206 while the packers a fluid communication member adapted to allow fluid
222a and 222b isolate the injection Zone 208. For conve 55 flow therethrough;
nience the remaining elements are identified by the same at least one first Sealing device for isolating at least one
numerals as shown in FIG. 3. production Zone interSecting Said wellbore to allow a
FIG. 5 shows an example of implementation of the fluid to flow from Said at least one production Zone into
production testing method of the present invention in an Said fluid communication member;
open hole 301. The system 300 is substantially identical to 60 at least one Sealing device Spaced apart from Said at least
the system described in reference to FIG. 4, except that one first Sealing device for isolating at least one injec
Suitable open hole packers and Stabilizers are utilized. In tion Zone interSecting Said wellbore;
FIG. 5, the open hole packers 320a and 320b isolate the a pump for pumping Said fluid from Said at least one
production Zone while packers 322a and 322b isolate the production Zone to Said at least one injection Zone
injection Zone. Formation evaluation measurements made 65 through Said fluid communication member;
by the MWD sensors 152 may be utilized to precisely one or more Sensors for measuring one or more reservoir
position the string 300 in the wellbore. characteristics downhole;
 US 6,543,540 B2
9 10
a flow control device for controlling flow of said fluid 17. The test string of claim 14, wherein said formation
from Said at least one production Zone; and fracturing mechanism pulses Said fluid to fracture Said
a control unit for controlling Said flow control device, formation.
wherein substantially all of said fluid remains in said 18. The test String of claim 1, further comprising a Sensor
production Zone and Said injection Zone. disposed on Said fluid communication member for measur
2. The test String of claim 1 further comprising at least one ing a production test parameter of interest.
preSSure Sensor for measuring preSSure of Said fluid received 19. The test string of claim 18, further comprising a
from Said production Zone into Said wellbore. processor located downhole for determining a value indica
3. The test String of claim 2 further comprising a pressure tive of Said production test parameter of interest.
Sensor for measuring preSSure of Said injection Zone. 20. A method of performing production testing of a
4. The test String of claim 1 further comprising at least one production Zone interSecting a wellbore traversing a forma
Sensor for providing a parameter of interest relating to a tion comprising:
characteristic of Said formation, Said parameter of interest establishing an injection Zone interSecting Said wellbore
indicative of location of Said production Zone. of Sufficient porosity and permeability to accept a body
5. The test String of claim 1 further comprising a Sensor 15
for determining a characteristic of Said fluid. of production fluid Supplied thereto under pressure;
6. The test string of claim 5, wherein said sensor is isolating Said production and injection Zones and estab
Selected from a group consisting of (i) a Sensor for deter lishing a fluid communication path between Said pro
mining density of Said fluid; (ii) a Sensor for determining a duction and injection Zones,
chemical characteristic of Said fluid; (iii) a Sensor for deter injecting Said production fluid from Said production Zone
mining Viscosity of Said fluid; and (iv) a sensor for deter into Said injection Zone at a known flow rate determin
mining composition of Said fluid. ing pressure of Said production fluid in Said commu
7. The test String of claim 1, wherein Said first Sealing nication path at least periodically over an extended time
device includes a Set of Spaced-apart packers. period;
8. The test String of claim 1 further comprising a motor 25
that drives Said pump. discontinuing flow of Said production fluid from Said
9. The test string of claim 8, wherein said motor is production Zone to allow Said production fluid preSSure
Selected from a group consisting of (i) a mud motor; and (ii) in Said communication path to build up;
an electric motor. at least periodically measuring at least Said production
10. The test string of claim 1 further comprising a memory fluid pressure over a Selected time period; and
unit that is adapted to Store test data downhole. determining from Said preSSure measurements at least one
11. The test string of claim 10, wherein said memory unit characteristic of Said production Zone.
is retrievable from a location in Said wellbore to a Surface
location. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing
12. The test String of claim 1 further having a Second 35 a Sample collection device for collecting a Sample portion of
control unit at a Surface location that is adapted to control said body of production fluid.
flow of said fluid from said production Zone into said 22. The method of claim 20, wherein said injecting
injection Zone. comprises providing a motor driven pump in Said wellbore
13. The test string of claim 1, wherein said wellbore is one to pump fluid from Said production Zone into Said injection
of (i) an open hole, (ii) a partially cased hole and (iii) a fully 40 ZOC.
cased hole. 23. The method of claim 20, further comprising fracturing
14. The test String of claim 1, further comprising a Said formation Surrounding at least one of Said injection
formation fracturing mechanism. Zone and Said production Zone.
15. The test string of claim 14, wherein said formation 24. The method of claim 20, wherein determining said at
fracturing mechanism is adapted to fracture Said at least one 45 least one characteristic of Said production Zone includes
production Zone. analyzing Said pressure measurements downhole using a
16. The test string of claim 14, wherein said formation downhole processor.
fracturing mechanism is adapted to fracture Said at least one
injection Zone.