US20220136388A1 - Sampling formation fluid in oil and gas applications - Google Patents
Sampling formation fluid in oil and gas applications Download PDFInfo
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- US20220136388A1 US20220136388A1 US17/089,126 US202017089126A US2022136388A1 US 20220136388 A1 US20220136388 A1 US 20220136388A1 US 202017089126 A US202017089126 A US 202017089126A US 2022136388 A1 US2022136388 A1 US 2022136388A1
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- downhole
- tool
- sampling tool
- downhole sampling
- drill pipe
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- 238000005070 sampling Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 134
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 64
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 61
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 44
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 31
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000010349 pulsation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 2
- 208000031872 Body Remains Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009849 deactivation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000265 homogenisation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002035 prolonged effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000246 remedial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008439 repair process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007665 sagging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009987 spinning Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B49/00—Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
- E21B49/08—Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B49/00—Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
- E21B49/08—Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
- E21B49/081—Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells with down-hole means for trapping a fluid sample
- E21B49/083—Samplers adapted to be lowered into or retrieved from a landing nipple, e.g. for testing a well without removing the drill string
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
- E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
- E21B17/05—Swivel joints
Definitions
- This disclosure relates to methods of sampling formation fluid and related systems and downhole tools.
- Collecting formation fluid samples from a rock formation with a sampling tool at a downhole end a drill string requires the sampling tool and therefore, the drill string, to be stationary for a prolonged period of time. For example, depending on a permeability of the rock formation, the drill string may need to be stationary over four hours. While the stationary positioning is necessary for operation of the sampling tool, such stationary positioning also facilitates undesirable, differential sticking along surface areas of contact between the drill string and the rock formation. In addition to preventing a drill string from being able to rotate or reciprocate within a wellbore, differential sticking may also result in several other negative consequences to wellbore operations, including additional costs associated with freeing the drill string from a stuck position and mud particle accumulation around the drill string within the wellbore.
- a downhole sampling tool is designed to sample formation fluid from a rock formation within a wellbore while maintaining a drill pipe that is coupled to an uphole end of the downhole sampling tool in a rotational state (for example, in a rotary mode).
- the downhole sampling tool includes a tool body that is equipped with a battery, a rotational device (for example, a swivel) at its uphole end, and an electronics module for receiving communication from a mud circulation system at the surface of the wellbore.
- the rotational device is attachable to the drill pipe and allows the drill pipe to rotate even while the tool body remains stationary during a sampling operation.
- Rotation of the drill pipe minimizes a time period during which any given circumferential point on the drill pipe is in contact with the rock formation and thus results in an overall minimal surface contact area between the drill pipe and the rock formation.
- the minimal surface contact area prevents or reduces the likelihood that the drill pipe will become stuck against a wall of the rock formation in a phenomenon known as differential sticking.
- a method of sampling a fluid from a rock formation includes deploying a downhole sampling tool to a target zone within a wellbore of the rock formation, with the downhole sampling tool being coupled to a downhole end of a drill pipe. The method further includes rotating the drill pipe within the wellbore while maintaining a body of the downhole sampling tool in a stationary angular position and while collecting samples of the fluid from the rock formation at the downhole sampling tool.
- Embodiments may provide one or more of the following features.
- the method further includes applying a torque to an uphole end of the drill pipe with a rotary system located at a surface of the wellbore.
- the method further includes allowing rotation of the drill pipe at the downhole end with respect to the body of the downhole sampling tool using a rotational device of the downhole sampling tool that is secured to the body.
- the rotational device includes a swivel.
- the method further includes rotating the drill pipe at an angular speed within a range of about 5 rpm to about 60 rpm.
- the method further includes powering the downhole sampling tool with a battery of the downhole sampling tool.
- the battery is replaceable on the downhole sampling tool.
- the method further includes receiving an operational signal at an electronics module of the downhole sampling tool from a component located at a surface of the rock formation.
- the operational signal includes a series of mud pulses, and the component includes a portion of a mud circulation system.
- the method further includes decoding the operational signal to activate the downhole sampling tool.
- the method further includes decoding the operational signal to determine a frequency at which the samples of the fluid are to be collected from the rock formation.
- the method further includes deploying the downhole sampling tool to a test position within the wellbore before deploying the downhole sampling tool to the target zone and testing a functionality of the downhole sampling tool at the test position.
- a downhole sampling tool in another aspect, includes a tool body at which fluid samples are collected, a rotational device carried on the tool body and configured to allow rotation of a pipe connected to an uphole end of the tool body with respect to the tool body, and an electronics module configured to receive signals for controlling operation of the downhole sampling tool to collect the fluid samples.
- Embodiments may provide one or more of the following features.
- the rotational device includes a swivel.
- the downhole sampling tool further includes a battery carried on the tool body for powering the sampling tool.
- the battery is replaceable on the downhole sampling tool.
- a fluid sampling system in another aspect, includes a drill pipe disposed within a wellbore of a rock formation, a rotary system disposed at a surface of the rock formation and coupled to an uphole end of the drill pipe for rotating the drill pipe, a mud circulation system disposed at a surface of the rock formation, and a downhole sampling tool coupled to a downhole end of the drill pipe.
- the downhole sampling tool includes a tool body at which fluid samples are collected, a rotational device carried on the tool body and configured to allow rotation of the drill pipe with respect to the tool body, and an electronics module configured to receive signals from the mud circulation system for controlling operation of the downhole sampling tool to collect the fluid samples.
- Embodiments may provide one or more of the following features.
- the rotational device includes a swivel.
- the downhole sampling tool further includes a battery carried on the tool body for powering the sampling tool.
- the battery is replaceable on the downhole sampling tool.
- FIG. 1 is a side view of a sampling system installed at a wellbore within a rock formation.
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a downhole sampling tool of the sampling system of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an example method of sampling a fluid from a rock formation using the sampling system of FIG. 1 and the downhole sampling tool of FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 1 illustrates an example fluid sampling system 100 that is designed to sample formation fluid 111 at a wellbore 101 within a rock formation 103 .
- the fluid sampling system 100 includes a drill pipe 102 to be deployed within the wellbore 101 during a drilling and workover operation at a rig 105 , a downhole sampling tool 110 that is coupled to a downhole end 104 of the drill pipe 102 for sampling the formation fluid 111 from the rock formation 103 , and a rotary system 106 (for example, a top drive system) that is coupled to an uphole end 108 of the drill pipe 102 for imparting rotation to the drill pipe 102 at a surface 107 of the wellbore 101 .
- a rotary system 106 for example, a top drive system
- the fluid sampling system 100 also includes a mud circulation system 112 that is located at the surface 107 for circulating mud 150 within the wellbore 101 to communicate with the downhole sampling tool 110 .
- the mud circulation system 112 may include a pump 132 for pumping mud through the drill pipe 102 in a downhole direction 136 in a pulsative manner and a control module 134 for controlling a variable flow rate (for example, a frequency) at which the mud 150 is pumped.
- Mud pulses for example, downlinks
- sent by the mud circulation system 112 pass through the downhole sampling tool 110 and, while passing through, can be decoded by the downhole sampling tool 110 into operational commands.
- the fluid sampling system 100 After passing through the downhole sampling tool 100 , the mud 150 circulates in an uphole direction 140 back to the surface 107 through an annular region 146 defined between the drill pipe 102 and the rock formation 103 . Accordingly, the fluid sampling system 100 also includes a mud analyzer 148 located at the surface 107 for collecting and analyzing the circulated mud 150 .
- the mud analyzer 148 is equipped with a fluid collection chamber 152 and a pressure transducer 154 and control logic 158 , among other components, for performing these respective functions.
- the downhole sampling tool 110 is operable to collect volumetric samples of formation fluid 111 from the rock formation 103 , analyze the samples to generate data that characterizes the formation fluid 111 and the rock formation 103 , and circulate mud pulses that encode the data to the surface 107 .
- the downhole sampling tool 110 is designed to remain stationary at a target zone 109 during a sampling operation while simultaneously rotating the drill pipe 102 (for example, spinning the drill pipe 102 about its axis 142 ) within the wellbore 101 .
- Rotation of the drill pipe 102 minimizes a time period during which any given point on an exterior wall surface 114 of the drill pipe 102 is in contact with the rock formation 103 and thus prevents or reduces the likelihood that the drill pipe 102 will succumb to differential sticking against the rock formation 103 within the wellbore 101 .
- the downhole sampling tool 110 includes a tool body 116 that is equipped with components 144 designed to collect the samples of formation fluid 111 .
- Such components 144 may include a fluid analyzer for characterizing the formation fluid 111 with respect to several fluid parameters, sensors for determining characteristics of the rock formation 103 (for example, formation pressure and mobility), a pump for pumping formation fluid 111 out of the rock formation 103 , and fluid chambers (for example, fluid bottles) for collecting and storing formation fluid 111 .
- Fluid parameters that may be determined by the fluid analyzer include density, gas/oil ratio, viscosity, temperature, and hydrocarbon composition, among others.
- the tool body 116 is also equipped with a battery 118 for powering the downhole sampling tool 110 , a rotational device 120 at an uphole end 122 that allows the drill pipe 102 to rotate due to torque applied to the uphole end 108 of the drill pipe 102 by the rotary system 106 , and an electronics module 124 including control logic 126 that receives communications from the mud circulation system 112 at the surface 107 .
- the rotational device 120 is embodied as a swivel including a stationary support base 128 that is rigidly connected to the tool body 116 and a rotary component 130 that is rotatable with respect to the support base 128 and rigidly connected to the downhole end 104 of the drill pipe 102 .
- the rotational device 120 thus allows the tool body 116 of the downhole sampling tool 110 to remain in a fixed rotational position (for example, a fixed angular position) while the drill pipe 102 rotates within the wellbore 101 .
- the rotary system 106 and the rotational device 120 together ensure that the drill pipe 102 rotates in a stable, secure manner along an entire length of the drill pipe 102 .
- the electronics module 124 can determine characteristics (for example, amplitude, frequency, and pressure of mud pulses (for example, pressure pulses) sent from the mud circulation system 112 and decode these characteristics into commands. In this way, the mud pulses serve as signals carrying executable commands.
- the electronics module 124 can execute those commands to sample the formation fluid according to certain parameters (for example, activation or deactivation of the pump of the downhole sampling tool 110 , diversion of formation fluid 111 into the fluid chambers of the downhole sampling tool 110 , and a sampling frequency for collecting formation fluid 111 .
- the fluid analyzer and sensors of the downhole sampling tool 110 collect data about the formation fluid 111 and the rock formation 103 .
- the tool body 116 of the downhole sampling tool 110 is also equipped with a fluid pulsation device 156 (for example, a mud pulser) that is operable to control a flow of mud pumped from the sampling tool 110 in a manner that encodes the data acquired by the fluid analyzer and the sensors.
- the fluid pulsation device 156 can operate in modes of fully on, partially on (for example, restricted), and off, to generate mud pulses (for example, pressure pulses) that propagate in real time through the annular region 146 and/or through the drill pipe 102 in the uphole direction 140 to the surface 107 .
- the mud pulses are received at the mud analyzer 148 and decoded to reveal the data.
- the rotary system 106 rotates the drill pipe 102 at an angular speed that falls within a range of about 5 revolutions per minute (rpm) to about 60 rpm.
- the rotary system 106 may vary the angular speed of the drill pipe 102 based on the characteristics of the mud pulses received from the downhole sampling tool 110 .
- the drill pipe 102 is rotated continuously throughout an entire sampling operation. In other examples, the drill pipe 102 is rotated intermittently throughout a sampling operation.
- the battery 118 can power the downhole sampling tool 110 for about 24 hours (h) to about 72 h and is replaceable once consumed.
- the downhole sampling tool 110 is installed to the drill pipe 102 , and the drill pipe 102 and the downhole sampling tool 110 (for example, together forming a drill string 138 ) are deployed to a test position at a relatively shallow depth within the wellbore 101 below the surface 107 . Mud is then circulated by the mud circulation system 112 as part of a test to confirm that the rotational device 120 of the downhole sampling tool 110 is correctly attached to the drill pipe 102 and that the downhole sampling tool 110 is functioning correctly. Once the test is completed to confirm that the downhole sampling tool 110 is installed and functioning appropriately, the drill string 138 is further run into the wellbore 101 until the downhole sampling tool 110 is positioned at the target zone 109 .
- Mud pulses are circulated at variable flow rates and pressures through the drill pipe 102 and the downhole sampling tool 110 to activate the downhole sampling tool 110 , to cause the downhole sampling tool 110 to subsequently carry out the sampling operation, and to then deactivate the downhole sampling tool 110 once the sampling operation has been completed.
- the drill string 138 may then be moved in the uphole direction 140 or in the downhole direction 136 to position the downhole sampling tool 110 at a next target zone to carry out another the sampling operation or removed from the wellbore 101 altogether to retract the downhole sampling tool 110 for battery replacement, repair, or other maintenance.
- the downhole sampling tool 110 By allowing the drill pipe 102 to rotate during fluid sampling, the downhole sampling tool 110 significantly reduces the likelihood that the drill pipe 102 will become stuck in a fixed position within mud accumulated against a wall of the rock formation 103 . Accordingly, the downhole sampling tool 110 also avoids remedial costs that would otherwise be associated with freeing the drill pipe 102 from a stuck position within the rock formation 103 . In the same manner, the downhole sampling tool 110 also avoids settling of mud particles around the drill pipe 102 (for example, mud sagging) and precipitation of mud along the drill pipe 102 during a sampling operation, as rotation of the drill pipe 102 facilitates homogenization of the mud.
- FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an example method 200 of sampling a fluid (for example, the formation fluid 111 ) from a rock formation (for example, the rock formation 103 ).
- the method 200 includes a step 202 for deploying a downhole sampling tool (for example, the downhole sampling tool 110 ) to a target zone (for example, the target zone 109 ) within a wellbore (for example, the wellbore 101 ) of the rock formation, the downhole sampling tool being coupled to a downhole end (for example, the downhole end 104 ) of a drill pipe (for example, the drill pipe 102 ).
- the method 200 further includes a step 204 for rotating the drill pipe within the wellbore while maintaining a body of the downhole sampling tool in a stationary angular position and while collecting samples of the fluid from the rock formation at the downhole sampling tool.
- fluid sampling system 100 and the downhole sampling tool 110 have been described and illustrated with respect to certain dimensions, sizes, shapes, arrangements, materials, and methods 200 , in some embodiments, a fluid sampling system 100 or a downhole sampling tool that is otherwise substantially similar in construction and function to the fluid sampling system 100 or the downhole sampling tool 110 may include one or more different dimensions, sizes, shapes, arrangements, configurations, and materials or may be utilized according to different methods. Accordingly, other embodiments are also within the scope of the following claims.
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Abstract
A method of sampling a fluid from a rock formation includes deploying a downhole sampling tool to a target zone within a wellbore of the rock formation, with the downhole sampling tool being coupled to a downhole end of a drill pipe. The method further includes rotating the drill pipe within the wellbore while maintaining a body of the downhole sampling tool in a stationary angular position and while collecting samples of the fluid from the rock formation at the downhole sampling tool.
Description
- This disclosure relates to methods of sampling formation fluid and related systems and downhole tools.
- Collecting formation fluid samples from a rock formation with a sampling tool at a downhole end a drill string requires the sampling tool and therefore, the drill string, to be stationary for a prolonged period of time. For example, depending on a permeability of the rock formation, the drill string may need to be stationary over four hours. While the stationary positioning is necessary for operation of the sampling tool, such stationary positioning also facilitates undesirable, differential sticking along surface areas of contact between the drill string and the rock formation. In addition to preventing a drill string from being able to rotate or reciprocate within a wellbore, differential sticking may also result in several other negative consequences to wellbore operations, including additional costs associated with freeing the drill string from a stuck position and mud particle accumulation around the drill string within the wellbore.
- This disclosure relates to methods of sampling formation fluid and sampling systems and tools for carrying out such sampling. For example, a downhole sampling tool is designed to sample formation fluid from a rock formation within a wellbore while maintaining a drill pipe that is coupled to an uphole end of the downhole sampling tool in a rotational state (for example, in a rotary mode). The downhole sampling tool includes a tool body that is equipped with a battery, a rotational device (for example, a swivel) at its uphole end, and an electronics module for receiving communication from a mud circulation system at the surface of the wellbore. The rotational device is attachable to the drill pipe and allows the drill pipe to rotate even while the tool body remains stationary during a sampling operation. Rotation of the drill pipe minimizes a time period during which any given circumferential point on the drill pipe is in contact with the rock formation and thus results in an overall minimal surface contact area between the drill pipe and the rock formation. The minimal surface contact area prevents or reduces the likelihood that the drill pipe will become stuck against a wall of the rock formation in a phenomenon known as differential sticking.
- In one aspect, a method of sampling a fluid from a rock formation includes deploying a downhole sampling tool to a target zone within a wellbore of the rock formation, with the downhole sampling tool being coupled to a downhole end of a drill pipe. The method further includes rotating the drill pipe within the wellbore while maintaining a body of the downhole sampling tool in a stationary angular position and while collecting samples of the fluid from the rock formation at the downhole sampling tool.
- Embodiments may provide one or more of the following features.
- In some embodiments, the method further includes applying a torque to an uphole end of the drill pipe with a rotary system located at a surface of the wellbore.
- In some embodiments, the method further includes allowing rotation of the drill pipe at the downhole end with respect to the body of the downhole sampling tool using a rotational device of the downhole sampling tool that is secured to the body.
- In some embodiments, the rotational device includes a swivel.
- In some embodiments, the method further includes rotating the drill pipe at an angular speed within a range of about 5 rpm to about 60 rpm.
- In some embodiments, the method further includes powering the downhole sampling tool with a battery of the downhole sampling tool.
- In some embodiments, the battery is replaceable on the downhole sampling tool.
- In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving an operational signal at an electronics module of the downhole sampling tool from a component located at a surface of the rock formation.
- In some embodiments, the operational signal includes a series of mud pulses, and the component includes a portion of a mud circulation system.
- In some embodiments, the method further includes decoding the operational signal to activate the downhole sampling tool.
- In some embodiments, the method further includes decoding the operational signal to determine a frequency at which the samples of the fluid are to be collected from the rock formation.
- In some embodiments, the method further includes deploying the downhole sampling tool to a test position within the wellbore before deploying the downhole sampling tool to the target zone and testing a functionality of the downhole sampling tool at the test position.
- In another aspect, a downhole sampling tool includes a tool body at which fluid samples are collected, a rotational device carried on the tool body and configured to allow rotation of a pipe connected to an uphole end of the tool body with respect to the tool body, and an electronics module configured to receive signals for controlling operation of the downhole sampling tool to collect the fluid samples.
- Embodiments may provide one or more of the following features.
- In some embodiments, the rotational device includes a swivel.
- In some embodiments, the downhole sampling tool further includes a battery carried on the tool body for powering the sampling tool.
- In some embodiments, the battery is replaceable on the downhole sampling tool.
- In another aspect, a fluid sampling system includes a drill pipe disposed within a wellbore of a rock formation, a rotary system disposed at a surface of the rock formation and coupled to an uphole end of the drill pipe for rotating the drill pipe, a mud circulation system disposed at a surface of the rock formation, and a downhole sampling tool coupled to a downhole end of the drill pipe. The downhole sampling tool includes a tool body at which fluid samples are collected, a rotational device carried on the tool body and configured to allow rotation of the drill pipe with respect to the tool body, and an electronics module configured to receive signals from the mud circulation system for controlling operation of the downhole sampling tool to collect the fluid samples.
- Embodiments may provide one or more of the following features.
- In some embodiments, the rotational device includes a swivel.
- In some embodiments, the downhole sampling tool further includes a battery carried on the tool body for powering the sampling tool.
- In some embodiments, the battery is replaceable on the downhole sampling tool.
- The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and description. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the embodiments will become apparent from the description, drawings, and claims.
-
FIG. 1 is a side view of a sampling system installed at a wellbore within a rock formation. -
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a downhole sampling tool of the sampling system ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an example method of sampling a fluid from a rock formation using the sampling system ofFIG. 1 and the downhole sampling tool ofFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 1 illustrates an examplefluid sampling system 100 that is designed to sample formation fluid 111 at a wellbore 101 within a rock formation 103. Thefluid sampling system 100 includes adrill pipe 102 to be deployed within the wellbore 101 during a drilling and workover operation at arig 105, adownhole sampling tool 110 that is coupled to adownhole end 104 of thedrill pipe 102 for sampling the formation fluid 111 from the rock formation 103, and a rotary system 106 (for example, a top drive system) that is coupled to anuphole end 108 of thedrill pipe 102 for imparting rotation to thedrill pipe 102 at asurface 107 of the wellbore 101. - The
fluid sampling system 100 also includes amud circulation system 112 that is located at thesurface 107 for circulating mud 150 within the wellbore 101 to communicate with thedownhole sampling tool 110. For example, themud circulation system 112 may include apump 132 for pumping mud through thedrill pipe 102 in a downhole direction 136 in a pulsative manner and acontrol module 134 for controlling a variable flow rate (for example, a frequency) at which the mud 150 is pumped. Mud pulses (for example, downlinks) sent by themud circulation system 112 pass through thedownhole sampling tool 110 and, while passing through, can be decoded by thedownhole sampling tool 110 into operational commands. - After passing through the
downhole sampling tool 100, the mud 150 circulates in an uphole direction 140 back to thesurface 107 through an annular region 146 defined between thedrill pipe 102 and the rock formation 103. Accordingly, thefluid sampling system 100 also includes amud analyzer 148 located at thesurface 107 for collecting and analyzing the circulated mud 150. Themud analyzer 148 is equipped with afluid collection chamber 152 and apressure transducer 154 andcontrol logic 158, among other components, for performing these respective functions. - The
downhole sampling tool 110 is operable to collect volumetric samples of formation fluid 111 from the rock formation 103, analyze the samples to generate data that characterizes the formation fluid 111 and the rock formation 103, and circulate mud pulses that encode the data to thesurface 107. Advantageously, thedownhole sampling tool 110 is designed to remain stationary at atarget zone 109 during a sampling operation while simultaneously rotating the drill pipe 102 (for example, spinning thedrill pipe 102 about its axis 142) within the wellbore 101. Rotation of thedrill pipe 102 minimizes a time period during which any given point on an exterior wall surface 114 of thedrill pipe 102 is in contact with the rock formation 103 and thus prevents or reduces the likelihood that thedrill pipe 102 will succumb to differential sticking against the rock formation 103 within the wellbore 101. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , thedownhole sampling tool 110 includes atool body 116 that is equipped withcomponents 144 designed to collect the samples of formation fluid 111.Such components 144 may include a fluid analyzer for characterizing the formation fluid 111 with respect to several fluid parameters, sensors for determining characteristics of the rock formation 103 (for example, formation pressure and mobility), a pump for pumping formation fluid 111 out of the rock formation 103, and fluid chambers (for example, fluid bottles) for collecting and storing formation fluid 111. Fluid parameters that may be determined by the fluid analyzer include density, gas/oil ratio, viscosity, temperature, and hydrocarbon composition, among others. - The
tool body 116 is also equipped with abattery 118 for powering thedownhole sampling tool 110, arotational device 120 at anuphole end 122 that allows thedrill pipe 102 to rotate due to torque applied to theuphole end 108 of thedrill pipe 102 by therotary system 106, and anelectronics module 124 includingcontrol logic 126 that receives communications from themud circulation system 112 at thesurface 107. Therotational device 120 is embodied as a swivel including astationary support base 128 that is rigidly connected to thetool body 116 and arotary component 130 that is rotatable with respect to thesupport base 128 and rigidly connected to thedownhole end 104 of thedrill pipe 102. Therotational device 120 thus allows thetool body 116 of thedownhole sampling tool 110 to remain in a fixed rotational position (for example, a fixed angular position) while thedrill pipe 102 rotates within the wellbore 101. Therotary system 106 and therotational device 120 together ensure that thedrill pipe 102 rotates in a stable, secure manner along an entire length of thedrill pipe 102. - The
electronics module 124 can determine characteristics (for example, amplitude, frequency, and pressure of mud pulses (for example, pressure pulses) sent from themud circulation system 112 and decode these characteristics into commands. In this way, the mud pulses serve as signals carrying executable commands. Theelectronics module 124 can execute those commands to sample the formation fluid according to certain parameters (for example, activation or deactivation of the pump of thedownhole sampling tool 110, diversion of formation fluid 111 into the fluid chambers of thedownhole sampling tool 110, and a sampling frequency for collecting formation fluid 111. As the formation fluid 111 is sampled, the fluid analyzer and sensors of thedownhole sampling tool 110 collect data about the formation fluid 111 and the rock formation 103. - The
tool body 116 of thedownhole sampling tool 110 is also equipped with a fluid pulsation device 156 (for example, a mud pulser) that is operable to control a flow of mud pumped from thesampling tool 110 in a manner that encodes the data acquired by the fluid analyzer and the sensors. Thefluid pulsation device 156 can operate in modes of fully on, partially on (for example, restricted), and off, to generate mud pulses (for example, pressure pulses) that propagate in real time through the annular region 146 and/or through thedrill pipe 102 in the uphole direction 140 to thesurface 107. The mud pulses are received at themud analyzer 148 and decoded to reveal the data. - In some examples, the
rotary system 106 rotates thedrill pipe 102 at an angular speed that falls within a range of about 5 revolutions per minute (rpm) to about 60 rpm. Therotary system 106 may vary the angular speed of thedrill pipe 102 based on the characteristics of the mud pulses received from thedownhole sampling tool 110. In some examples, thedrill pipe 102 is rotated continuously throughout an entire sampling operation. In other examples, thedrill pipe 102 is rotated intermittently throughout a sampling operation. In some embodiments, thebattery 118 can power thedownhole sampling tool 110 for about 24 hours (h) to about 72 h and is replaceable once consumed. - In operation, the
downhole sampling tool 110 is installed to thedrill pipe 102, and thedrill pipe 102 and the downhole sampling tool 110 (for example, together forming a drill string 138) are deployed to a test position at a relatively shallow depth within the wellbore 101 below thesurface 107. Mud is then circulated by themud circulation system 112 as part of a test to confirm that therotational device 120 of thedownhole sampling tool 110 is correctly attached to thedrill pipe 102 and that thedownhole sampling tool 110 is functioning correctly. Once the test is completed to confirm that thedownhole sampling tool 110 is installed and functioning appropriately, thedrill string 138 is further run into the wellbore 101 until thedownhole sampling tool 110 is positioned at thetarget zone 109. Mud pulses are circulated at variable flow rates and pressures through thedrill pipe 102 and thedownhole sampling tool 110 to activate thedownhole sampling tool 110, to cause thedownhole sampling tool 110 to subsequently carry out the sampling operation, and to then deactivate thedownhole sampling tool 110 once the sampling operation has been completed. Thedrill string 138 may then be moved in the uphole direction 140 or in the downhole direction 136 to position thedownhole sampling tool 110 at a next target zone to carry out another the sampling operation or removed from the wellbore 101 altogether to retract thedownhole sampling tool 110 for battery replacement, repair, or other maintenance. - By allowing the
drill pipe 102 to rotate during fluid sampling, thedownhole sampling tool 110 significantly reduces the likelihood that thedrill pipe 102 will become stuck in a fixed position within mud accumulated against a wall of the rock formation 103. Accordingly, thedownhole sampling tool 110 also avoids remedial costs that would otherwise be associated with freeing thedrill pipe 102 from a stuck position within the rock formation 103. In the same manner, thedownhole sampling tool 110 also avoids settling of mud particles around the drill pipe 102 (for example, mud sagging) and precipitation of mud along thedrill pipe 102 during a sampling operation, as rotation of thedrill pipe 102 facilitates homogenization of the mud. -
FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating anexample method 200 of sampling a fluid (for example, the formation fluid 111) from a rock formation (for example, the rock formation 103). In some embodiments, themethod 200 includes astep 202 for deploying a downhole sampling tool (for example, the downhole sampling tool 110) to a target zone (for example, the target zone 109) within a wellbore (for example, the wellbore 101) of the rock formation, the downhole sampling tool being coupled to a downhole end (for example, the downhole end 104) of a drill pipe (for example, the drill pipe 102). In some embodiments, themethod 200 further includes astep 204 for rotating the drill pipe within the wellbore while maintaining a body of the downhole sampling tool in a stationary angular position and while collecting samples of the fluid from the rock formation at the downhole sampling tool. - While the
fluid sampling system 100 and thedownhole sampling tool 110 have been described and illustrated with respect to certain dimensions, sizes, shapes, arrangements, materials, andmethods 200, in some embodiments, afluid sampling system 100 or a downhole sampling tool that is otherwise substantially similar in construction and function to thefluid sampling system 100 or thedownhole sampling tool 110 may include one or more different dimensions, sizes, shapes, arrangements, configurations, and materials or may be utilized according to different methods. Accordingly, other embodiments are also within the scope of the following claims.
Claims (20)
1. A method of sampling a fluid from a rock formation, the method comprising:
deploying a downhole sampling tool to a target zone within a wellbore of the rock formation, wherein the downhole sampling tool is coupled to a downhole end of a drill pipe and comprises:
a tool body,
a swivel carried on the tool body and connected directly to the downhole end of the drill pipe,
an electronics module carried on the tool body, and
a battery carried on the tool body between the swivel and the electronics module for powering the downhole sampling tool; and
rotating the drill pipe within the wellbore while maintaining a body of the downhole sampling tool in a stationary angular position and while collecting samples of the fluid from the rock formation at the downhole sampling tool.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a torque to an uphole end of the drill pipe with a rotary system located at a surface of the wellbore.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising allowing rotation of the drill pipe at the downhole end with respect to the body of the downhole sampling tool using a rotational device of the downhole sampling tool that is secured to the body.
4. (canceled)
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rotating the drill pipe at an angular speed within a range of about 5 rpm to about 60 rpm.
6. (canceled)
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery is replaceable on the downhole sampling tool.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an operational signal at an electronics module of the downhole sampling tool from a component located at a surface of the rock formation.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the operational signal comprises a series of mud pulses, and wherein the component comprises a portion of a mud circulation system.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising decoding the operational signal to activate the downhole sampling tool.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising decoding the operational signal to determine a frequency at which the samples of the fluid are to be collected from the rock formation.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
deploying the downhole sampling tool to a test position within the wellbore before deploying the downhole sampling tool to the target zone; and
testing a functionality of the downhole sampling tool at the test position.
13. A downhole sampling tool, comprising:
a tool body at which fluid samples are collected;
a swivel carried on the tool body and configured to allow rotation of a pipe connected to an uphole end of the tool body with respect to the tool body, the swivel being connectable directly to the downhole end of the pipe;
an electronics module carried on the tool body and configured to receive signals for controlling operation of the downhole sampling tool to collect the fluid samples; and
a battery carried on the tool body between the swivel and the electronics module for powering the downhole sampling tool.
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. The downhole sampling tool of claim 13 , wherein the battery is replaceable on the downhole sampling tool.
17. A fluid sampling system, comprising:
a drill pipe disposed within a wellbore of a rock formation;
a rotary system disposed at a surface of the rock formation and coupled to an uphole end of the drill pipe for rotating the drill pipe;
a mud circulation system disposed at a surface of the rock formation; and
a downhole sampling tool coupled to a downhole end of the drill pipe, the downhole sampling tool comprising:
a tool body at which fluid samples are collected,
a swivel carried on the tool body and configured to allow rotation of the drill pipe with respect to the tool body, the swivel being connected directly to the downhole end of the drill pipe,
an electronics module carried on the tool body and configured to receive signals from the mud circulation system for controlling operation of the downhole sampling tool to collect the fluid samples, and
a battery carried on the tool body between the swivel and the electronics module for powering the downhole sampling tool.
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. The fluid sampling system of claim 17 , wherein the battery is replaceable on the downhole sampling tool.
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US17/089,126 US11339652B1 (en) | 2020-11-04 | 2020-11-04 | Sampling formation fluid in oil and gas applications |
PCT/US2021/058032 WO2022098855A1 (en) | 2020-11-04 | 2021-11-04 | Sampling formation fluid in oil and gas applications |
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US17/089,126 US11339652B1 (en) | 2020-11-04 | 2020-11-04 | Sampling formation fluid in oil and gas applications |
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US20230383649A1 (en) * | 2022-05-24 | 2023-11-30 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Downhole acoustic wave generation systems and methods |
US12031431B2 (en) * | 2022-05-24 | 2024-07-09 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Downhole acoustic wave generation systems and methods |
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WO2001011180A1 (en) * | 1999-08-05 | 2001-02-15 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Continuous wellbore drilling system with stationary sensor measurements |
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US20230383649A1 (en) * | 2022-05-24 | 2023-11-30 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Downhole acoustic wave generation systems and methods |
US12031431B2 (en) * | 2022-05-24 | 2024-07-09 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Downhole acoustic wave generation systems and methods |
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US11339652B1 (en) | 2022-05-24 |
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