Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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LOGGING SYSTEM, METHOD OF LOGGING AN EARTH FORMATION AND
METHOD OF PRODUCING A HYDROCARBON FLUID
Field of the Invention
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a
logging system for use in a wellbore formed in an earth
formation. In another aspect, the invention relates to a
method of logging the earth formation. In still another
aspect, the invention relates to a method of producing a
hydrocarbon fluid.
Background of the Invention
US published patent application 2004/0074639
describes a logging system for use in a wellbore wherein
a tubular conduit extends from surface into the wellbore.
The tubular conduit contains a body of wellbore fluid. A
pressure pulse device is arranged together with a logging
tool string within the same conduit. The pressure pulse
device generates pressure pulses in the body of the
wellbore fluid, which pressure pulses represent data
communicated by the logging tool string to the pressure
pulse device during logging of the logging tool string.
These pressure pulses are detected by a control system at
surface.
The operator is thereby in a position to evaluate the
functioning of the logging tool string during the logging
operation, and to take appropriate measures at an early
stage if necessary.
While the system described above may be successful in
avoiding wasting time taking data while the logging tool
is incorrectly deployed, one of its drawbacks is that the
system offers limited options for remedy.
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Summary of the Invention
In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a
logging system for use in a wellbore formed in an earth
formation, comprising
- a tubular conduit extending from surface into the
wellbore;
- a surface communication device located at the
surface;
a telemetry device inside the wellbore, capable of
sending and receiving signals to and/or from the surface
communication device, the signals representing commands
and/or data;
a logging tool string capable of passing from a
position within the conduit to a position outside the
conduit at a lower end part thereof and capable of being
suspended in said position outside the conduit;
a communication interface between the logging tool
string and the telemetry device for providing in
communication of the commands and/or data between the
logging tool string and the telemetry device.
The logging tool string may thereby communicate
logging data to the surface communication and control
device via the telemetry device.
The logging tool string may communicate commands to
the surface communication and control device via the
telemetry device. The communication device may comprise
or be coupled to a control device capable of controlling
one or more operational parameters on surface, such that
an operator intervention may not be needed in all
instances to take appropriate measures.
The surface communication and control device may send
commands to the logging tool string via the telemetry
device, for instance to control a logging operation. The
communication device may comprise or be coupled to a
control device capable of controlling one or more
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operational parameters relevant for the logging tool
string, such that an operator intervention may not be
needed in all instances to take appropriate measures. -
Accordingly, the ability to send and receive commands
= 5 to and/or from the logging tool string downhole in the
wellbore may give rise to significant saving of valuable
time.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided
a method of logging an earth formation in the vicinity of
= 10 a wellbore formed in the earth formation,
comprising
- lowering of a tubular conduit from surface into the
wellbore;
- lowering of a telemetry device in the wellbore;
15 - passing a logging tool string from a position within
the conduit to a position outside the conduit at a lower
end part thereof and suspending the logging tool string
in said position outside the conduit;
- inducing the logging tool string to log the earth
20 formation;
- establishing communication of data and/or commands
between the logging tool string and the telemetry device;
- sending and receiving signals between a surface
communication device and the telemetry device, the
25 -signals representing the commands and/or data.
Subsequently to these steps, a flow of a hydrocarbon
fluid may be induced from the earth formation into and
through the wellbore as a part of a method of producing a
hydrocarbon fluid from the earth formation.
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In another aspect of the invention, there is provided
a logging system for use in a wellbore formed in an earth
formation, comprising a tubular conduit extending from surface
into and not fixed within the wellbore; a surface communication
device located at the surface; a telemetry device installed in
. the tubular conduit and positionable inside the wellbore,
capable of sending and receiving signals to and/or from the
surface communication device, the signals representing commands
and/or data; a logging tool string capable of passing from a
position within the conduit to a position outside the conduit
at a lower end part thereof and capable of being suspended in
said position outside the conduit; a communication interface
between the logging tool string and the telemetry device,
comprising: a first member installed in the logging tool string
and moveable relative to the tubular conduit; and a second
member installed in the tubular conduit separate from the
logging tool string, the first member, and the telemetry
device; and the first member being alignable within at least a
portion of the second member to enable communication of the
commands and/or data between the logging tool string and the
telemetry device when the tubular conduit is moveable within
the wellbore.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided
a method of logging an earth formation in the vicinity of a
wellbore formed in the earth formation, comprising lowering of
a tubular conduit from surface into the wellbore; lowering of a
telemetry device installed in the tubular conduit into the
wellbore; passing a logging tool string from a position within
the conduit to a position outside the conduit at a lower end
part thereof and suspending the logging tool string in said
position outside the conduit; inducing the logging tool string
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to log the earth formation when the tubular conduit is movable
in the wellbore; establishing communication of data and/or
commands between the logging tool string and the telemetry
device with a communication interface, the interface
comprising: a first member installed in the logging tool string
and movable relative to the tubular conduit; and a second
member installed in the tubular conduit separate from the
logging tool string, the first member, and the telemetry
device; wherein establishing communication comprises aligning
the first member at least partially within the second member to
enable the communication; and sending and receiving signals
between a surface communication device and the telemetry device
through the first and second members, the signals representing
the commands and/or data.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided
a method of producing a hydrocarbon fluid from an earth
formation, comprising logging the earth formation in the
vicinity of a wellbore formed in the earth formation where a
tubular conduit and a telemetry device installed in the tubular
conduit are lowered from surface into the wellbore and a
logging tool string is passed from a position within the
conduit to a position outside the conduit at a lower end part
thereof and suspended in said position outside the conduit and
induced to log the earth formation when the conduit is movable
in the wellbore, and establishing communication of commands
and/or data between the logging tool string and the telemetry
device using a communication interface, comprising aligning a
first member installed in the logging tool string and movable
relative to the tubular conduit at least partially within a
second member installed in the tubular conduit separate from
the logging tool string, the first member, and the telemetry
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device, and signals sent and received between a surface
communication device and the telemetry device through the first
and second members, the signals representing the commands
and/or data; and subsequently inducing a flow of the
hydrocarbon fluid through the wellbore.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention will be described hereinafter in more
detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
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Fig. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of the
logging system and method according to the invention,
using a casing extending in the wellbore;
Fig. 2 schematically shows a second embodiment of the
logging system and method according to the invention,
using a drill string extending in the wellbore; and
Fig. 3 schematicaly shows the embodiment of Fig. 2
during a further stage of operation.
In the Figures like reference numerals relate to like
components.
Detailed Description of Embodiments
Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a wellbore 1
formed in an earth formation 2. The wellbore may be
filled with a drilling fluid or a hydrocarbon fluid or
another fluid. The wellbore 1 has an upper portion 4
provided with a casing 6 extending from a drilling rig or
a production facility (not shown) at surface 8 into the
wellbore 1 to a casing shoe 5, and an open lower portion
7 extending below the casing shoe 5.
A tubular conduit 9 extends from the surface 8 into
the wellbore 1 whereby an open lower end 11 is arranged
in the open lower portion 7 of the wellbore 1. Also the
tubular conduit 9 may contain a fluid, such as for
instance the same fluid that fills the wellbore 1. A
wellhead 22 is connected to the upper end of the casing
5. The wellhead 22 may be connected to a production
facility, but as shown in Fig. 1 it is provided with an
outlet conduit 24 debouching in a fluid reservoir 26
which may be provided with a suitable sieve means (not
shown) for removing particulates from the fluid. A pump
28 having an inlet 30 and an outlet 32 may be arranged to
pump a fluid from the fluid reservoir 26 into the upper
end of the tubular conduit 9.
A logging tool string 12, capable of passing through
the tubular conduit 9 by being lowered or raised through
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the tubular conduit 9, is retrievably suspended in the
tubular conduit 9 by suitable means (not shown). Suitable
means may include a wire line or a gripping mechanism. In
the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1, the upper end of the
5 logging tool string 12 is provided with a latch 20 for
latching of a wireline (not shown) to the logging tool
string 12.
In one embodiment as described now, the logging tool
string 12 comprises a repeat formation tester (RFT) tool
14 having retractable arms 16, and a first member 18 of a
communication interface arranged at the upper side of the
RFT tool 14.
Inside the wellbore 1 is a telemetry device 21. The
telemetry device 21 is capable of sending and receiving
signals back and forth to and/or from a surface
communication device 34, which is located at the surface
8. Such a communication device may in embodiments also
comprise or be coupled to a control device. In the
following, reference will be made to a communication
device in the form of a communication and control device
34.
In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1, the telemetry
device 21 is mechanically coupled to the tubular conduit
9, as is the sending and receiving part of the surface
communication and control device 34.
Coupled to the telemetry device 21, or part thereof,
is a second member 23 of the communication interface. The
communication interface establishes a capability of
transmitting and receiving data and/or commands back and
forth between the telemetry device 21 and the logging
tool string 12.
The logging tool string 12 is capable of passing from
a position within the tubular conduit 9 to a position
outside the tubular conduit 9 where it can be suspended
by the tubular conduit 9. This is the position showing in
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Fig. 1. The RFT tool 14 extends below the lower end part
11 of the tubular conduit 9 and the first member 18 of
the communication interface is arranged within the
tubular member 9. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the first
member 18 aligns with the second member 23 of the
communications interface to enable communication.
The RFT tool 14 may be powered by a battery (not
shown) and may optionally be provided with an electronic
memory (not shown) for storing logging data. Electric
signals transmitted by the RFT tool 14 and/or the
telemetry device 21 can be communicated from the first
member 18 to the second member 23 of the communication
interface and vice versa. These signals may represent
commands and/or data comprising logging data produced by
the RFT tool 14 during logging of the earth formation 2.
A control system 34 located at surface is connected
to the tubular conduit 9 for sending or receiving signals
representing the commands and/or data back and forth to
the telemetry device 21.
The second embodiment shown in Fig. 2 is largely
similar to the first embodiment, except with respect to
the following aspects. The tubular conduit 9 is provided
in the form of a drill string, comprising a drill bit 40
attached at the lower end thereof. The logging tool
string 12 is shown as being lowered through the drill
string 9. The drill bit 40 is provided with a passage 44
in fluid communication with the interior of the drill
string 9, which passage 44 is provided with a closure
element 46 removable from the passage 44 in outward
direction. The lower end of the logging tool string 12
and the upper end of the closure element 46 are provided
with respective co-operating latching members 48a, 48b
capable of latching the logging tool string 12 to the
closure element 46. These co-operating latching members
48a, 48b may be designed as set out in International
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publication W02004/063522.
In addition, closure element 46 has a latching
mechanism (not shown) for latching the closure element 46
to the drill bit 40. The latching mechanism is arranged
to co-operate with the latching members 48a, 48b in a
manner that the closure element 46 unlatches from the
drill bit 40 upon latching of latching member 48a to
latching member 48b, and that the closure element 46
latches to the drill bit 40, and thereby closes passage
44, upon unlatching of latching member 48a from latching
member 48b. A detailed embodiment of the latching of the
closure element 46 with the drill bit 40 can also be
found in International publication W02004/063522.
= Furthermore, the logging tool string 12 may be
provided with pump cups 50 for pumping the logging tool
string 12 through the drill string, either in downward or
upward direction thereof, and/or a latch 20 for latching
of a wireline (not shown) to the logging tool string 12.
In Fig. 3 is shown the embodiment of Fig. 2 during a
further stage of operation whereby the logging tool
string 12 has been latched to the closure element 46 and
the closure element 46 has been unlatched from the drill
bit 40. The drill string 9 has been raised a selected
distance in the wellbore 1 so as to leave a space 52
between the drill bit 40 and the wellbore bottom. The
logging tool string 12 is suspended by the drill string
9, in a manner that the RFT tool 14 extends through the
passage 44 to below the drill bit 40, and that the first
member 18 of the communication interface is arranged
within the drill string 9 aligned with the second member
23. The closure element 46 consequently extends below the
logging tool string 12.
In each of the above described embodiments, the
communications interface between the logging tool string
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12 and the telemetry device 21 may a wireless based
communication such as radio frequency transmissions,
electro-magnetic frequency transmissions, inductive
couplings and capacitance couplings. Alternatively, the
communication interface may comprise a plug and socket
arrangement that mate or interconnect when the logging
tool string 12 is suspended by the conduit 9 in the
position outside the conduit 9. It may include wiring
across tool joints.
The transmission line for transmitting the signals
between the telemetry device and the surface
communication device may be integral to the tubular
conduit such as is described in for instance US Pat.
6,670,880, US patent application publication numbers
15. 2004/0145492 and 2005/0173128.
The tubular conduit itself may be utilized for the
transmission of signals between the surface communication
device 34 and the telemetry device 21. Grant Prideco, for
instance, markets a system known as "Intellipipe" wherein
the tubular conduit itself is employed to provide for
high data rate telemetry. Another such system is
disclosed in US patent application publication number
2004/0163822.
Another embodiment wherein the tubular conduit forms
a transmission line for transmitting the signals between
the telemetry device and the surface communication device
= may be based on acoustic transmission through the
material of which the tubular conduit 9 is made:
=
Such acoustic transmission would require the
telemetry device and the surface communication device to
both comprise an acoustic transducer, one for generating
the acoustic signals the other for picking up the
acoustic signals from the tubular conduit. Such an
acoustic transducer may typically comprise a piezo
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ceramic stack contained in the body of the telemetry
device and the surface communication device,
respectively. The surface communication device may be
clamped onto a drill string rotating drive mechanism such
as a top drive or a swivel.
In acoustic transmission, signals generated by the
telemetry device 21 or the surface communication device
34 are conveyed to surface or to downhole by the steel of
the drill string 9. The information contained in the
received signals is then extracted and presented in a
useable format.
The acoustic signals may be generated at all times
during drilling and tripping operations. The signals are
independent of rig hydraulics (unlike mud pulse
telemetry) and formation effects (unlike electro-magnetic
telemetry).
Suitable acoustic systems are disclosed in US patent
application publication no 2005/0152219 and US patents
5,128,901; 5,222,049; 5,477,505; 6,147,932; 6,188,647,
and 6,956,991. Particularly suitable are telemetry
devices that allow an open bore for the logging tool
string 12 to pass through, such as the one described in
US patent number 6,956,991.
During normal operation of the embodiment of Fig. 1,
the drill string 9 is lowered into the wellbore 1 until
the lower end 11 of the conduit 9 is positioned in the
open wellbore portion 7. Next the logging tool string 12
is lowered from surface through the conduit 9 by means of
= 30 a wireline (not shown) latched to the logging tool
string
12 at latch 20, whereby during lowering the arms 16 are
retracted. Lowering continues until the RFT tool 14
extends below the tubular conduit 9 while the first
member 18 of the communication interfaced is positioned
within the tubular conduit 9 mated with the second member
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23 of the communication interface. In this position the
logging tool string 12 is suitably supported. The arms 16
are then extended against the wall of the wellbore 1 and
the RFT tool 14 is induced to log the earth formation 2.
5 More details on what happens during logging the earth
formation 2 will follow below.
After the logging run has been completed, the logging
tool string 12 is retrieved through the tubular conduit 9
to surface by wireline connected to latch 20. Optionally
10 the tubular conduit 9 is then also removed from the
wellbore 1.
During normal operation of the embodiment of Figs. 2
and 3, the drill string 9 is operated to drill the lower
wellbore portion 7 whereby the closure element 46 is
latched to the drill bit 40 so as to form a part thereof.
When it is desired to log the earth formation 2
surrounding the open wellbore portion 7, the logging tool
string 12 may be pumped down the drill string 9 using
pump 28 until the logging tool string 12 latches to the
closure element 46 by means of latching members 48a, 48b.
During lowering of the string 12, the arms 16 of the RFT
tool are retracted. Then the drill string 9 may be raised
a selected distance until there is sufficient space below
the drill string for the RFT tool 14 and the closure
element 46 to extend below the drill bit 40. Of course,
the raising of the drill string 9 may also be done prior
to or during the lowering of the logging tool string 12.
Upon latching of latching member 48a to latching
member 48b, the closure element 46 unlatches from the
drill bit 40 for instance in the way as described in
W02004/063522. Continuous operation of pump 28 causes
further downward movement of the combined logging tool
string 12 and closure element 46 until the logging tool
string 12 becomes suspended by the drill string 9. In
this position (shown in Fig. 3) the RFT tool 14 extends
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through the passage 44 into the space 52 below the drill
bit 40, and the first member 18 aligns with the second
member 23 of the communication interface.
The arms 16 are then extended against the wall of the
wellbore and the RFT tool 14 is induced to log the earth
formation 2.
After logging has been completed, the logging tool
string 12 is retrieved to surface through the drill
string 9 by wireline connected to latch 20. During
retrieval the closure element 46 latches to the drill
bit 40 (thereby closing the passage 44) and the latching
members 48a, 48b unlatch. Alternatively the logging tool
string can be retrieved to surface by reverse pumping of
drilling fluid, i.e. pumping of drilling fluid down
through the annular space between the drill string 9 and
the wellbore wall and into the lower end of the drill
string 9. Optionally a further wellbore section then can
be drilled, or the drill string 9 can be removed from the
wellbore 1.
Common to operation of both embodiments is what
happens during the logging of the earth formation 2 as
described now.
In both embodiments (i.e. the embodiment of Fig. 1
and the embodiment of Figs. 2 and 3), logging data and/or
commands are transmitted by the RFT device 14 to the
first member 18 of the communication interface in the
form of electric signals representing the data and/or
commands. Communication is established of the data and/or
commands between the first member 18 and the second
member 23 of the communication interface. Thus
communication is established between the logging tool
string 12 to and from the telemetry device 21. In
addition, the logging data or part of the logging data
may be stored in the optional electronic memory.
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Simultaneously with operating the logging tool
string 12, signals are sent and received by the telemetry
device 21 to and from the surface communication
In this manner the operator is in a position to monitor
the logging operation and to take corrective action if
necessary. =It would also be possible for the surface
communication and control device 34 to automatically
issue commands to the logging tool string 12 or vice
versa. For example, incorrect deployment of the arms 16
of the RFT tool can be detected and corrected in this
manner at an early stage.
Instead of lowering the logging tool string from
surface through the drill string, the logging tool string
can be latched into a lower section of the drill string
during lowering of the drill string into the wellbore. At
the desired depth the logging tool string is then moved
to the exterior of the drill string by, for example,
pumping a ball or a dart down the drill string so as to
activate the latch release mechanism of the logging tool
string.
At the same time, the lower end 11 of the tubular
conduit 9 may be equipped with a communication interface
allowing communication with tools other than the logging
tools, such as including rotary steerable tools, logging
while drilling tools.
As illustrated above, there is the ability to
exchange data and/or commands between surface and a
logging tool suspended downhole.
This provides ability to send commands to, receive
commands from, send data to and access data from a string
of wireline tools suspended through a tubular conduit and
in particular of through-bit tools deployed through the
drilling bit and in communication via the downhole
communications interface. Examples of the use of this
functionality include:
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- verifying that a string of logging tools are working
properly while tripping to acquire formation evaluation
data;
- commanding a formation testing tool to open and then to
close during formation pressure testing operations
monitoring a downhole fluid sampler and commanding the
sample chamber when to open and close
initiating, monitoring and terminating sidewall coring
with a rotary sidewall coring device;
- ability to take time-of-flight measurements for the
acoustic signal in steel travelling between the surface
and the telemetry device, and to convert this time into
tubular length. The length derived can then be used to
give the length of the length of the tubular conduit.
The logging tool string for the purposes of the present
specification is understood to include also other types
of tool strings effective to perform functions other than
or in addition to logging.
