WIRELINE FORMATION TESTING

Sammy Haddad, Ph.D.

Reservoir Engineering Advisor
WIRELINE FORMATION TESTING OUTLINE
• Introduction
• Formation Fluid Pressure Measurement –
– XPT Tool
– XLD-PA
– VIT
– Minifrac
– CHDT & OH-CHDT
• DFA & Sampling
– Downhole Fluid Analysis (DFA)
– Sampling, CFA & LFA
– QuickSilver
– XLD & PA for sampling
 Why Wireline Formation Testing?

Wireline Formation testing allows determination of

pressure of mobile fluid in the reservoir and its
identification through fluid analysis/sampling

Potential Hydrocarbon
Zones

Potential Water
Zones
Why Wireline Formation Testing?
Comparison Wireline Formation Testing vs DST
(Drill Stem Test):
•Environmentally Friendly – No Hydrocarbon Flaring
•Faster-day vs. weeks
•Better reservoir characterization (detailed analysis for
each zone tested)
•Performed in Open Hole, possibility to change completion
program due to contingency
Evolution of Formation Testers
50s FT 70s RFT 90s MDT Modular
Formation Repeat Formation Dynamics
Tester Formation Tester Tester

Electrical Power

Hydraulic Power
Year 2001 - CHDT
Probe Cased Hole Dynamics Tester

Dual-probe
Dual
Packer
Flow control

Optical Fluid Analyzer

Multisample

Sample

Sample

Pumpout
Year 2004 - XPT
Pressure Express Tool
1955 - 1975 1975 - Present 1991/1993 - Present
New Generation
 CQG

Pretest with MDT

Single Probe Module Isolation
Valve

Equalising
Valve F
l
o
w Single
Strain l
Gauge i Probe
n (MRPS)
e

Pretest
B
u
Front s
Shoe Resistivity/
Packer Temperature
Cell

Articulated
Flowline
Filter
Back-up
Probe Telescoping
Pistons Pistons
Filter
Valve

MRPS BLOCK
Determining Formation Fluid Pressure

µ = C q / ∆P
K/µ

C=2395 for LD
C=5660 for SP

When the probe is set in the wellbore, a

short test, which is called a pretest, is
conducted to measure the formation
pressure. Usually up to 20 cm3 of fluid is
withdrawn from the formation during the
pretest. At the end of the drawdown
period, the pretest chamber is full and the
build up period starts.
 Examples of flow geometries experienced in the vicinity
of a wireline formation tester (Goode et al., 1991)

6-3
Theoretical log-log plot of pressure derivative for a sink probe buildup

6-4
 Log-log plot of pressure derivative for a sink probe buildup

6-5
 MDT Modular Design
Basic tool modules
• Electrical power
• Hydraulic power
• Single probe
• Sample chambers

Optional tool modules

• Dual-probe
• Flow-control
• Dual-packer
• Multisample
• MPSR 450 cc PVT
• SPMC 250 cc Single Phase
• Pumpout
• Optical Fluid Analyzer
XPT- Pressure Express Tool
Formation Fluid Pressure Measurement
XPT PressureXpress
• Combines with almost all Schlumberger tools (i.e PEX,
DSI,FMI,ECS)

•Minimizes Risk of tool sticking

• Small diameter 3 7/8”
• ½” eccentered tool
• Shorter test measurement time

•Smart pretesting
• Measures rapidly reservoir pressure
• Increased test success in tight formations
Tool Specifications
•Rating: 20,000 psi and 150°C
•Diameter: 3.375 in.
(3.875 in. at probe)
•Length: 6.4 m.
•Weight: 125 Kg
•Hole sizes: 4.75 to 15.4 in.
•Pretest volume: 0.1 to 37 cc
•Pretest rate: 0.02 to 2.6 cc/s

Two Sapphire Gauges

• ± 5 psi accuracy, 0.04 psi resolution, 20 kpsi,
175°C
• Simultaneous Formation and Hydrostatic
pressure
CQG-
CQG-L
• ±2.5 psi accuracy, 0.005 psi resolution, 15
kpsi, 175°C
Identifying fluid types, densities and contacts

Gradients gives in-

situ fluid densities
(psi/m)

Fluid Density (g/cm3) = Pressure Gradient (psi/m)

1.422

Typical fluid densities (g/cm3)

Gas 0.18 0.1psi/ft

Oil 0.64 0.3psi/ft
Water 1.03 0.465psi/ft
Gradient
example 1
Gradient
example 2
MDT - Modular Dynamics Tester

Formation fluid pressure measurement

and characterization
Evolution of Formation Testers
50s FT 70s RFT 90s MDT Modular
Formation Repeat Formation Dynamics
Tester Formation Tester Tester

Electrical Power

Hydraulic Power
Year 2001 - CHDT
Probe Cased Hole Dynamics Tester

Dual-probe
Dual
Packer
Flow control

Optical Fluid Analyzer

Multisample

Sample

Sample

Pumpout
Year 2004 - XPT
Pressure Express Tool
1955 - 1975 1975 - Present 1991/1993 - Present
New Generation
 CQG

Single Probe Isolation

Valve

Module Equalising
Valve F
l
o
w Single
Strain l
Gauge i Probe
n (MRPS)
e

Pretest
B
u
Front s
Shoe Resistivity/
Packer Temperature
Cell

Articulated
Flowline
Filter
Back-up
Probe Telescoping
Pistons Pistons
Filter
Valve

MRPS BLOCK
MDT Log
Example Mud
Pressure

Formation
Pressure

Mud
Pressure
Factors Affecting Sample Capture
•Single phase sample
•Difference between reservoir pressure & HC bubble
point or dew point pressure
•Draw Down pressure
•Flow rate sufficient to clean up
•Area available to flow Liquid

Initial Pr & Tr

APO

K = C q µ / ∆P

Pressure
2Φ

∆P ∝ q µ / k A Gas

Temperature

Single-
Single- phase Bottomhole Sampler
Extra Large Diameter Module, XLD

XLD
- ~100% Increase in flow area.
area. (2.01in^2
(2.01in^2 vs 0.85in^2)
- Reduces drawdown (100 psi vs 700 psi).
psi).
- Replaces MDT packer saving rig time.
- Increases number of effective pre-
pre-tests.
- Increases mobility range.
Quicksilver – the Concept
Current generation sampling tools

One pump

One flowline

Kv / Kh, invasion and fluid viscosity contrast
causes contamination

Even long clean up time will not prevent
contamination

Focused Sampling with QuickSilver probe

Step change in sampling technology

Sampling using two synchronized pumps

Independent flow lines for both pumps

Optimize flowrate ratio between guard and
sampling lines

Proven reduction in clean-up times

Very low contamination levels expected
pump1 Focused- pump2
MRPC MRSC/M LFA1 MRHY probe LFA2
EDTC
S
IPTT Interval Pressure Transient
VIT Vertical Interference Test

vertical probe 2
3160
3000

3140
Probe 2
2000 vertical probe 1
3120

zo2
14.4ft
1000 sink probe
3100
Probe 1

horizontal probe
6.4ft
zo1 0 3080
3080 3120 3160 3200
Dual probe
Packer
time, s
MDT Mini-Frac Test
Wireline

Pumpout module
P
Pressure gage
Inflate seal
valve
Packer
Interval seal P
valve 1m

Packer

P
Sliding
coupling Hydraulic
Flow control
Module Fracture
Sample
chamber
CHDT – Testing Formations Behind Casing
•Length (without sampling) 31.2 ft
•Optional sample chamber 9.7 ft
•Tool OD 41/4 in.
Telemetry 9.6 ft
262 lbm
•Casing size 51/2 to 13 3/8 in.
Optional GR or CCL •Casing thickness Up to 0.625” thick
•Temperature 350°F
•Pressure 20,000 psi
7.9 ft 1-gal, 4¼-in.
189 lbm
Power supply sample chambers •H2S service Yes
•Max underbalance 4000 psi
•Max holes drilled/plugged †6 per run

•Drilled hole diameter 0.28 in.

Drilling controller •Max penetration 6 in.
9.8 ft
232 lbm •Plug pressure rating 10,000 psi, bidirectional
•Pretest volume 100 cm3, can be recycled
•Pressure sensors CQG and strain gauges
Probe module
•Standard CQG pressure 15,000 psi
•Sampling PVT and conventional
•Fluid identification Resistivity and LFA, CFA
MDT combinability Yes‡

13.5 ft • † Formation dependent

370 lbm • ‡ Combinable with MDT modules in 6-5/8 in. and larger casing (pumpout, LFA, CFA,
and PVT sample chambers)
CHDT – Testing Formations Behind Casing
•Length (without sampling) 31.2 ft
•Optional sample chamber 9.7 ft
•Tool OD 41/4 in.
Telemetry 9.6 ft
262 lbm
•Casing size 51/2 to 13 3/8 in.
Optional GR or CCL •Casing thickness Up to 0.625” thick
•Temperature 350°F
•Pressure 20,000 psi
7.9 ft 1-gal, 4¼-in.
189 lbm
Power supply sample chambers •H2S service Yes
•Max underbalance 4000 psi
•Max holes drilled/plugged †6 per run

•Drilled hole diameter 0.28 in.

Drilling controller •Max penetration 6 in.
9.8 ft
232 lbm •Plug pressure rating 10,000 psi, bidirectional
•Pretest volume 100 cm3, can be recycled
•Pressure sensors CQG and strain gauges
Probe module
•Standard CQG pressure 15,000 psi
•Sampling PVT and conventional
•Fluid identification Resistivity and LFA, CFA
MDT combinability Yes‡

13.5 ft • † Formation dependent

370 lbm • ‡ Combinable with MDT modules in 6-5/8 in. and larger casing (pumpout, LFA, CFA,
and PVT sample chambers)
Mobility
• Changes Near Wellbore…. CHDT example in CH

Bit Penetration 3.1” Bit Penetration 4.6” Bit Penetration 5.5”

Mobility 1.6 mD/cp Mobility 8.3 mD/cp Mobility 11 mD/cp
 Open Hole DT
• High overbalance, LCM, low
gravity solids plugging pores…???
• Why not testing formation past the
damaged zone?
– Combinable with MDT
– Set, Drill, Test, Retract…
– Pressure rating: 20 kpsi
Differential pressure rating: 6kpsi*
Temperature rating: 260 degF*
H2S service*
– Bit size: 5 7/8” – 10 ¼”*
– 30” of formation drilled per descent*
 Pumpout Module
Can pump formation fluids from Electrical power
formation into the borehole module
(Max. ∆p = 3500 psi, Max. rate 45 cc/s)
Typical rate is 1 liter/minute Pumpout
module
Clean the mud filtrate from the formation
before collecting fluid samples. Hydraulic
power module

Probe module

Dual-packer
module

Sample module
Downhole Fluid Analysis with MDT
-LFA Live Fluid Analyzer
-CFA Condensate Fluid Analyzer
 Holding Oil up to a Light
• Different oils are different colors
– black
– brown
– reddish
– yellowish
– clear
• Just as you would hold a test tube
of oil up to a light to look at its
color, that is what the Fluid
Analysis with MDT does downhole
 LFA - Optical Fluid Analyzer Module
•Ten optical detectors look at the
light source through the fluid
•A reflection system can tell if any Pumpout module
gas is in the flowline
Multisample module

Sample chamber

LFA

Single probe
module

Packer module
LFA – Liquid Analysis
Metal flowline
within the MDT

Intensity of
Visible and
light measured
near infrared
at different
light source
wavelengths

Fluid flowing from the

formation and along
the flowline
Optical density

I
T=
I
1
I I D = log {}
T
T D
100% 0
10% 1
l 1% 2
0.1% 3
Optical Density (D) is linear
with path length 0.01% 4
Optical Absorption Spectrum of fluids
CFA Spectrometer Optical Density
Channels

Hydrocarbon
Peak
 Crude Oil vs
OBM Filtrate
Since methane is present
in all naturally occurring
hydrocarbons and is
absent in drilling fluids,
any methane detected
is due to reservoir
hydrocarbon and not
filtrate.

GOR determination

0 8
MDT pH sensor : Principle of measurement

Lamp
Dye Injector

water pumped
Flow line
Detector
MDT Ph sensor
 LFA Log - Oil Sampling
Pumpout stopped
Oil

Oil Peak Channel 8

Decreasing
contamination

Mud
Pumpout started
LFA Log - Formation Water Sampling

Pumpout stopped
Water

Water Peak Channels 6 and 9

Decreasing
contamination

Mud
Pumpout started
Growth of OD with Time

t2 t3 Oil
t1
Filtrate

Filtrate
OD Data
Oil cone
Filtrate

t1 t2 t3 Time

Probe
LFA gas detector

Wellbore fluids’
minimum θ c

Gases
Total reflection
if gas

Liquids

Sapphire

Fluid

Mostly refraction
if liquid
….

LFA Logs - “Fingerprints” of various Fluids

 Answer Product

• LFA independent
• CGA apparent fluid density (C1, C2-
5, C6+ partial densities addition)
• Water volume
• Color channels
• GOR/CGR
• Fluorescence channels
 CFA Compositional Fluid Analyzer

2.0
(normalized)
methane
OD (pathlength = 2mm)

1.5 ethane
propane
n-butane
1.0 n-heptane
CO2

0.5

0.0
1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100
Wavelength (nm)
Example 1
(Abu Dhabi)
Gas Injection
Monitoring

Depth A: no gas

Depth B: plenty gas

Depth C: Some gas

Depth D: Some gas

Example 2 (North Sea)

Vertical composition gradient is observed in an exploration well

Pressure Gradients Composition (wt%) GOR Ch. 1

(scf/bbl) (OD)
3660 C1 C2-C5 C6+ water
xx68.2m * 7900
9000 0.1
0.374 g/cc
xx75.1m
3680
2500 0.7
xx85.6m
Depth (m)

2100
2000 0.8
0..599 g/cc
3700
xy00.0m 1800 1.4
xy06.3m
1500 2.0
0.982 g/cc
3720
377 378 379 380 381
Pressure (bar)
 Crude oils from a Single Column.
Compositional Grading from Charge History.
(No Mixing! Nonequilibrium. Shell)
Heavies and light ends separately out of equilibrium
Bottom Top

Cap Rock Burial

Cap Rock Burial

Cap Rock
Ker
oge
o
100 C n Ker
Oil Window Cold oge
n
Warm Ker
oge
n
HOT
 Downhole Fluid Analysis (DFA)

Bottom Top

DFA Fluid Scanning

DFA GOC & OWC are NOT the Same That Picked From Pressure Gradients
and Anyway, Why Should they Be?
•Transition zone
•Gas Injection breakthrough
•Water Injection breakthrough GOC From Pressres

•Asphaltenes suspension OWC from Pressures

Representative Sampling - Review
Single-phase vs. Conventional (Oil Reservoir)

Liquid
Initial Pr & Tr
APO Reservoir Fluid
Pressure

Hydraulic Fluid

2Φ Nitrogen Gas

Gas
PV ∝ T
Temperature
Single-
Single-phase Bottomhole Sampler
Conventional Bottomhole Sampler
Flow Assurance
Asphaltenes: Alkane insoluble components of oil & precipitate D (P & T)
Waxes: Normal paraffin from C15 to C75 and become solid D (T & P)
16000
• Gas Injection
• Water Injection 14000
• Sampling above onset Press. 12000
Wax

Pressure (psia)
– Suspension & Precipitation
10000 Reservoir

8000 Hydrate
6000
Asphaltene
4000
Flow line Bubble Point
2000

0
0 50 100 150 200 25
Temperature (°F) 0
Organic Scale
Definitions & Phase Boundaries
Asphaltenes: Alkane insoluble components of oil & precipitate ∆ (P & T)
Waxs: Normal paraffin from C15 to C75 and become solid ∆ (T & P)
Hydrates: Gas hydrates are inclusion compounds & formed by water and small molecular
gases (C1, C2, C3, CO2, H2S) at low temperature and high pressure conditions

Reservoir P & T

Well Profile
Wax
Hydrate
Envelope
Asphaltene Envelope
V-L Equilibrium
Near-infra Red Technology for Onset of
Asphaltene Precipitation
Power

2,000
15,000
11,000
13,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
9,000

Pressure
 Oil Chemistry affects…
Flow Assurance
Asphaltene

Gas
Hydrate

Wax
Downhole Fluid Analysis benefits

• Improve sampling

• Fluid Identification Stations, to

complement gradient interpretation

• Define Compositional hydrocarbon

grading/ compartmentalization
Thank You