Abstract: Measuring a parameter characteristic of a formation in an oil well with a device configured to generate a sensing field within a volume of the formation and cause a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field. The device also comprises sensors responsive to changes in the volume, which indicate existent amounts of fluid, such as hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements may be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.

Abstract: Measuring a parameter characteristic of a formation in an oil well with a device configured to generate a sensing field within a volume of the formation and cause a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field. The device also comprises sensors responsive to changes in the volume, which indicate existent amounts of fluid, such as hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements may be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.

Abstract: Measuring a parameter characteristic of a formation in an oil well with a device configured to generate a sensing field within a volume of the formation and cause a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field. The device also comprises sensors responsive to changes in the volume, which indicate existent amounts of fluid, such as hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements may be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus to estimate one or more volumes of one or more components of a fluid in a sample chamber of a downhole tool are described. An example method includes obtaining a sample chamber volume measurement, a flowline volume measurement and a supplemental volume measurement. The example method includes drawing the fluid into the sample chamber until the sample chamber is substantially full and measuring a characteristic of the fluid in the sample chamber at a first time to obtain a first characteristic measurement. The example method also includes adding a supplemental volume corresponding to the supplemental volume measurement to over-pressurize the sample chamber after measuring the characteristic at the first time and measuring the characteristic of the fluid in the sample chamber at a second time to obtain a second characteristic measurement. The second time is after the sample chamber is over-pressurized.

Abstract: Subsurface formation evaluation comprising, for example, sealing a portion of a wall of a wellbore penetrating the formation, forming a hole through the sealed portion of the wellbore wall, injecting an injection fluid into the formation through the hole, and determining a saturation of the injection fluid in the formation by measuring a property of the formation proximate the hole while maintaining the sealed portion of the wellbore wall.

Abstract: A system for automatically optimizing a Field Development Plan (FDP) for an oil or gas field uses a fast analytic reservoir simulator to dynamically model oil or gas production from the entire reservoir over time in an accurate and rapid manner. An objective function defining a Figure of Merit (FoM) for candidate FDPs is maximized, using an optimization algorithm, to determine an optimized FDP in light of physical, engineering, operational, legal and engineering constraints. The objective function for the Figure of Merit, e.g., net present value (NPV) or total production for a given period of time, relies on a production forecast from the fast analytic reservoir simulator for the entire FDP.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus to estimate one or more volumes of one or more components of a fluid in a sample chamber of a downhole tool are described. An example method includes obtaining a sample chamber volume measurement, a flowline volume measurement and a supplemental volume measurement. The example method includes drawing the fluid into the sample chamber until the sample chamber is substantially full and measuring a characteristic of the fluid in the sample chamber at a first time to obtain a first characteristic measurement. The example method also includes adding a supplemental volume corresponding to the supplemental volume measurement to over-pressurize the sample chamber after measuring the characteristic at the first time and measuring the characteristic of the fluid in the sample chamber at a second time to obtain a second characteristic measurement. The second time is after the sample chamber is over-pressurized.

Abstract: Subsurface formation evaluation comprising, for example, sealing a portion of a wall of a wellbore penetrating the formation, forming a hole through the sealed portion of the wellbore wall, injecting an injection fluid into the formation through the hole, and determining a saturation of the injection fluid in the formation by measuring a property of the formation proximate the hole while maintaining the sealed portion of the wellbore wall.

Abstract: A system for automatically optimizing a Field Development Plan (FDP) for an oil or gas field uses a fast analytic reservoir simulator to dynamically model oil or gas production from the entire reservoir over time in an accurate and rapid manner. An objective function defining a Figure of Merit (FoM) for candidate FDPs is maximized, using an optimization algorithm, to determine an optimized FDP in light of physical, engineering, operational, legal and engineering constraints. The objective function for the Figure of Merit, e.g., net present value (NPV) or total production for a given period of time, relies on a production forecast from the fast analytic reservoir simulator for the entire FDP. The position, orientation and dimensions of analytical model elements for the subsurface oil or gas field, as well as the physical properties associated with these elements, correlate to connected flow volume data from a Shared Earth Model (SEM). Uncertainty in the SEM is considered via stochastic sampling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sampling formation fluid includes drawing formation fluid from the subterranean formation into the downhole tool and collecting the formation fluid in a sample chamber. An exit flow line is operatively connected to the sample chamber for selectively removing a contaminated and/or clean portion of the formation fluid from the sample chamber whereby contamination is removed from the sample chamber. For example, a clean portion of the formation fluid may be passed to another sample chamber for collection, or a contaminated portion may be dumped into the borehole.

Abstract: A method for refining fluid sample data includes obtaining optical density data for a fluid sample in at least two color channels and at least one fluid component channel and determining a color-absorption function from the optical density data for the fluid sample in the at least two color channels. The method also includes calculating a portion of the optical density caused by color absorptions in each of the at least one fluid component channels, and de-coloring the optical density data in each of the at least one fluid component channels by removing the portion of the optical density data caused by color absorption.

Abstract: A method of sampling reservoir fluid includes establishing communication between a reservoir and an entry port of a flow line disposed in a borehole penetrating the reservoir. The method includes separating fluid received in the entry port into individual fluid components and sequentially flowing slugs of each individual fluid component along the flow line, observing the slugs as they move along the flow line in order to determine the composition of the slugs, estimating when a desired slug containing a desired fluid component would be in the vicinity of a sample chamber in the flow line, and opening the sample chamber to capture the desired slug when the desired slug is in the vicinity of the sample chamber. The method also includes checking that the sample chambers open and close successfully. Finally, the method further includes creating an accurate record of events, which can then be used to audit the sampling process.

Abstract: A method for refining fluid sample data includes obtaining optical density data for a fluid sample in at least two color channels and at least one fluid component channel and determining a color-absorption function from the optical density data for the fluid sample in the at least two color channels. The method also includes calculating a portion of the optical density caused by color absorptions in each of the at least one fluid component channels, and de-coloring the optical density data in each of the at least one fluid component channels by removing the portion of the optical density data caused by color absorption.