Baker Hughes Corporation

Conocophillips Company

Jaedong Lee

Matthias Meister

John M Michaels

Volker Krueger

Sven Krueger

Stanley C Jones

Eick Niemeyer

Guy Vachon

Chee M Chok

Brian L Thigpen

Garabed Yeriazarian

Clark Sann

Xin Liu

Rocco DiFoggio

Per-Erik Berger

C Mitch Means

Michael Shammai

Bradley James Huizinga

Dariusz Strapoc

Adewale J Lambo

Jianghui Wu

Michelle Ann Pittenger

Courtney Hanna Turich

This invention generally relates to natural gas and methylotrophic energy generation, bio-generated fuels and microbiology. In alternative embodiments, the invention provides nutrient amendments and microbial compositions that are both specifically optimized to stimulate methanogenesis, or 'methylotrophic' conversion. Additionally, the invention provides methods to develop nutrient amendments and microbial compositions that are both specifically optimized to stimulate methanogenesis in a given reservoir. The invention also provides methods for the evaluation of potentially damaging biomass formation and scale precipitation resulting from the addition of nutrient amendments. In another embodiment, the invention provides methods for simulating biogas in sub-surface conditions using a computational model.

In situ methanogenesis modeling and risk analysis

A system and method for supplying an additive into a well is disclosed that includes estimating injection rates for the additives and setting of one or more fluid flow control devices in the well based on a computer model. 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 subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Apparatus and method for managing supply of additive at wellsites

A system and method is provided for estimating an occurrence of a water breakthrough in a production well that includes estimating, at least periodically, a measure of water in the fluid produced from one or more production zones and estimating the occurrence of the water breakthrough utilizing at least in part a trend of the estimated measures of the produced fluid. A controller determines one or more actions to be taken to mitigate an effect of the water breakthrough and may automatically initiate one or more such actions.

System and method for water breakthrough detection and intervention in a production well

A system and method for producing fluid from a completed well is provided wherein the method in one aspect includes determining a first setting of at least one first device under use for producing the fluid from the well; selecting a first set of input parameters that includes at least one parameter relating to health of at least one second device and a plurality of parameters selected from a group consisting of information relating to flow rate, pressure, temperature, presence of a selected chemical, water content, sand content, and chemical injection rate; and using the selected first set of parameters as an input to a computer model, determining a second setting for the at least one first device that will provide at least one of an increased life of at least one second device and enhanced flow rate for the fluid from the completed well.

System and method for monitoring physical condition of production well equipment and controlling well production

A method of estimating a formation pressure in a wellbore is provided that in one aspect includes measuring a hydrostatic pressure at a selected location in the wellbore, and estimating supercharge pressure as a function of time using a forward model that utilizes the hydrostatic pressure and at least one property of mud in the wellbore that is a function of time. In another aspect, the method may estimate an initial formation pressure at a selected location in a wellbore by obtaining a hydrostatic pressure and at least three formation pressure measurements at three separate times at the selected location, and estimating the initial formation pressure using the hydrostatic pressure, the three pressure measurements and an internal mudcake parameter.

System and method for estimating formation supercharge pressure

The present invention provides an objective bubble point pressure determination method enables new applications of downhole PV (Pressure Volume) test results such as in situ measurement of the bubble point pressure for use as a quality control parameter for sampling. The present invention provides a method and apparatus to fit data points to a curve and to smooth these points over an interval of N points. The derivative of the curve is determined to obtain peak acceleration. The peak acceleration represents the bubble point pressure. This bubble point pressure is verified by comparison to changes in fluid compressibility and visual observation of a pressure volume plot history.

Downhole PV tests for bubble point pressure

A method of determining a formation pressure during drawdown of a formation comprises sampling fluid from a formation using a downhole tool. A fluid sample pressure is determined at two different times during the drawdown. The fluid sample pressures are analyzed using a higher-order pressure derivative with respect to time technique to determine the formation pressure during the drawdown. Another method of determining a formation pressure during drawdown of a formation comprises sampling fluid from a formation using a downhole tool. A fluid sample pressure is determined at two different times during the drawdown. The fluid sample pressures are analyzed using at least two analysis techniques to each determine an estimate of the formation pressure during the drawdown.

Methods to detect formation pressure

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determination of the quality of a formation fluid sample including monitoring permeability and mobililty versus time to determine a filtrate contamination level, single phase state without gas and solids in the formation fluid, as it existed in the formation and the determination of laminar flow from the formation. The present invention also enables determination of an optimal pumping rate to match the ability of a subsurface formation to produce a single phase formation fluid sample in minimum time. The method and apparatus also detect pumping problems such as sanding and loss of seal with borehole.

Method and apparatus for pumping quality control through formation rate analysis techniques

A method and apparatus for of determining a formation parameter of interest. The method includes placing a tool into communication with the formation to test the formation, determining a first formation characteristic during a first test portion, initiating a second test portion, the second test portion having test parameters determined at least in part by the determinations made during the first test portion, determining a second formation characteristic during the second test portion, and determining the formation parameter from one of the first formation characteristic and the second formation characteristic. The apparatus includes a draw down unit and a control system for closed loop control of the draw down unit. A microprocessor in the control system processes signals from a sensor in the draw down unit to determine formation characteristics and to determine test parameters for subsequent test portions.

Formation testing apparatus and method for optimizing draw down

Methods for estimating formation pressure from data taken during the drawdown cycle are presented. In one aspect, a method of determining a formation pressure during drawdown of a formation comprises sampling fluid from a formation using a downhole tool having a sample volume and a fluid sampling device. At least one time dependent parameter of interest related to the fluid is determined during the drawdown. The at least one time dependent parameter is analyzed using a plurality of calculation techniques to determine the formation pressure. The techniques include (i) a first pressure derivative technique; (ii) a second pressure derivative technique; (iii) a formation rate analysis technique; (iv) a dp/dt-ratio technique; and (v) a stepwise drawdown technique.

The present invention provides method of quantifying sample clean up in real time by providing curve-fitting measurements of optical or physical properties of fluid samples in boreholes. Sample fluid is extracted from the formation surrounding the borehole. As fluid continues to be extracted the composition of the extracted sample changes, altering the values of physical properties of the sample being measured. Measurements are made of optical or physical properties of the sampled fluid, and regression analysis is performed on the acquired measured data points. In one embodiment of the invention, iterative methods enable a user to determine an asymptotic value of a physical property, i.e. absorbance, as well as the percent of the progress that the current sample has obtained toward reaching the asymptotic property value and a projected time to reach the asymptotic property value. If the projected time required to reach that asymptotic value is too long, the operator may decide to abandon extracting fluid from the region. In another embodiment, a more general method enables the user to estimate, through the value of a variable, the speed at which cleanup can occur. The physical properties of the sample may be fit as a function of pumping time or volume.

Method and apparatus for quantifying progress of sample clean up with curve fitting

A minimum volume apparatus and method is provided including a tool for obtaining at least one parameter of interest of a subterranean formation in-situ, the tool comprising a carrier member, a selectively extendable member mounted on the carrier for isolating a portion of annulus, a port exposable to formation fluid in the isolated annulus space, a piston integrally disposed within the extendable member for urging the fluid into the port, and a sensor operatively associated with the port for detecting at least one parameter of interest of the fluid.

Apparatus and method for formation testing while drilling with minimum system volume

An apparatus and method capable of incrementally decreasing the borehole pressure at a variable rate by controlling a test volume within the borehole. The system includes an incrementally controllable pump, closed loop feedback and a controller for drawing down the pressure of a test volume to a level just below formation pressure. This incremental drawdown system will significantly reduce the overall measurement time, thereby increasing drilling efficiency and safety.

Closed-loop drawdown apparatus and method for in-situ analysis of formation fluids

An apparatus and method for determining permeability of a subterranean formation is provided. The apparatus and method comprise a work string, at least one selectively extendable member mounted on the work string to isolate a portion of the annular space between the work string and borehole. A predetermined distance proportional to the radius of a control port separates at least two ports in the work string. A sensor operatively associated with each port is mounted in the work string for measuring at least one characteristic such as pressure of the fluid in the isolated section.

Formation testing while drilling apparatus with axially and spirally mounted ports

An apparatus and method for obtaining samples of pristine formation or; formation fluid, using a work string designed for performing other downhole work such as drilling, workover operations, or re-entry operations. An extendable element extends against the formation wall to obtain the pristine formation or fluid sample. The apparatus includes at least one extendable gripper element for anchoring the apparatus during testing and sampling operations.

Growing community of inventors

Katy, TX, United States of America

Jaedong Lee