Abstract: Improved systematic inversion methodology applied to formation testing data interpretation with spherical, radial and/or cylindrical flow models is disclosed. A method of determining a flow line parameter includes determining a diverse set of flow models and selecting at least one flow model from the diverse set of flow models representative, at least in part, of a formation tester tool, at least one formation, at least one fluid, and at least one flow of the at least one fluid. The method further includes lowering the formation testing tool into the at least one formation to intersect with the formation at least one formation and sealing a probe of the formation tester placed in fluid communication with the at least one formation. The method further includes initiating flow from the at least one formation and utilizing the at least one selected flow model to predict the flow line parameter.

Abstract: Improved systematic inversion methodology applied to formation testing data interpretation with spherical, radial and/or cylindrical flow models is disclosed. A method of determining a parameter of a formation of interest at a desired location comprises directing a formation tester to the desired location in the formation of interest and obtaining data from the desired location in the formation of interest. The obtained data relates to a first parameter at the desired location of the formation of interest. The obtained data is regressed to determine a second parameter at the desired location of the formation of interest. Regressing the obtained data comprises using a method selected from a group consisting of a deterministic approach, a probabilistic approach, and an evolutionary approach.

Abstract: Improved systematic inversion methodology applied to formation testing data interpretation with spherical, radial and/or cylindrical flow models is disclosed. A method of determining a flow line parameter includes determining a diverse set of flow models and selecting at least one flow model from the diverse set of flow models representative, at least in part, of a formation tester tool, at least one formation, at least one fluid, and at least one flow of the at least one fluid. The method further includes lowering the formation testing tool into the at least one formation to intersect with the formation at least one formation and sealing a probe of the formation tester placed in fluid communication with the at least one formation. The method further includes initiating flow from the at least one formation and utilizing the at least one selected flow model to predict the flow line parameter.

Abstract: An improved formation testing method for measuring at least three formation parameters such as spherical permeability, permeability anisotropy, well bore skin damage, with at least two short duration pressure tests using a formation tester with two or more probe flow areas of different shapes.

Abstract: Improved systematic inversion methodology applied to formation testing data interpretation with spherical, radial and/or cylindrical flow models is disclosed. A method of determining a parameter of a formation of interest at a desired location comprises directing a formation tester to the desired location in the formation of interest and obtaining data from the desired location in the formation of interest. The obtained data relates to a first parameter at the desired location of the formation of interest. The obtained data is regressed to determine a second parameter at the desired location of the formation of interest. Regressing the obtained data comprises using a method selected from a group consisting of a deterministic approach, a probabilistic approach, and an evolutionary approach.

Abstract: Improved systematic inversion methodology applied to formation testing data interpretation with spherical, radial and/or cylindrical flow models is disclosed. A method of determining a parameter of a formation of interest at a desired location comprises directing a formation tester to the desired location in the formation of interest and obtaining data from the desired location in the formation of interest. The obtained data relates to a first parameter at the desired location of the formation of interest. The obtained data is regressed to determine a second parameter at the desired location of the formation of interest. Regressing the obtained data comprises using a method selected from a group consisting of a deterministic approach, a probabilistic approach, and an evolutionary approach.

Abstract: A formation fluid sampling tool includes a housing, and at least one sampling probe proximate an external surface of the housing. The at least one sampling probe includes an opening sized and positioned to receive one or more heated formation fluids, and a plurality of heating elements arranged concentrically around the opening and configured to conductively heat a subterranean formation through an external surface of the sampling probe.

Abstract: A formation fluid sampling tool includes a housing, and at least one sampling probe proximate an external surface of the housing. The at least one sampling probe includes an opening sized and positioned to receive one or more heated formation fluids, and a plurality of heating elements arranged concentrically around the opening and configured to conductively heat a subterranean formation through an external surface of the sampling probe.

Abstract: A downhole formation testing and sampling apparatus. The apparatus includes a setting assembly and an actuation module that is operable to apply an axial compressive force to the setting assembly shifting the setting assembly from a radially contracted running configuration to a radially expanded deployed configuration. A plurality of probes is coupled to the setting assembly. Each probe has a sealing pad with an outer surface operable to seal a region along a surface of the formation to establish the hydraulic connection therewith when the setting assembly is operated from the running configuration to the deployed configuration. Each sealing pad has at least one opening establishing fluid communication between the formation and the interior of the apparatus. In addition, each sealing pad has at least one recess operable to establish fluid flow from the formation to the at least one opening.

Abstract: An improved formation testing method for measuring at least three formation parameters such as spherical permeability, permeability anisotropy, well bore skin damage, with at least two short duration pressure tests using a formation tester with two or more probe flow areas of different shapes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for downhole formation testing based on the use of one or more elongated sealing pads disposed in various orientations capable of sealing off and collecting or injecting fluids from elongated portions along the surface of a borehole. The various orientations and amount of extension of each sealing pad can increase the flow area by collecting fluids from an extended portion along the surface of a wellbore, which is likely to straddle one or more layers in laminated or fractured formations. Various designs and arrangements for use with a fluid tester, which may be part of a modular fluid tool, are disclosed in accordance with different embodiments.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring a density of a fluid is provided. The sensor (200) includes a flow tube (104) for receiving the fluid and a vibration driver (102) coupled to the flow tube, the vibration driver configured to drive the flow tube to vibrate. The sensor also includes a vibration detector (106) coupled to the flow tube, the vibration detector detecting characteristics related to the vibrating flow tube, and a distributed temperature sensor (202) coupled to the flow tube, the distributed temperature sensor measuring a temperature of the flow tube as the flow tube vibrates. The sensor further includes measurement circuitry (110) coupled to the vibration detector and the distributed temperature sensor, the measurement circuitry determining a density of the fluid from the detected characteristics related to the vibrating flow tube and the measured temperature of the flow tube.

Abstract: In situ density and compressibility of a fluid sample are determined for a fluid sample collected downhole. The density and compressibility of the fluid sampled is determined by measuring a distance to a piston contained within the sample chamber using an external magnetic field sensor that senses a magnetic field emanating from a magnet provided on the piston internal to the sample chamber. The testing is performed quickly and at the surface in a noninvasive fashion (e.g., without opening the sample chamber).

Abstract: In situ density and compressibility of a fluid sample are determined for a fluid sample collected downhole. The density and compressibility of the fluid sampled is determined by measuring a distance to a piston contained within the sample chamber using an external magnetic field sensor that senses a magnetic field emanating from a magnet provided on the piston internal to the sample chamber. The testing is performed quickly and at the surface in a noninvasive fashion (e.g., without opening the sample chamber).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for downhole formation testing including use of a probe having inner and outer channels adapted to collect or inject injecting fluids from or to a formation accessed by a borehole. The probe straddles one or more layers in laminated or fractured formations and uses the inner channels to collect fluid.

Abstract: An instrument for determining fluid properties is provided. The instrument (300) includes a tube (304) receiving the fluid, a single magnet (302) attached to the tube, and a single coil (306) wound around the single magnet. The single coil is coupled to a pulse current source (312) and receives a pulse current that creates a magnetic field in the single coil, the created magnetic field interacting with the single magnet to drive the tube to vibrate. The instrument further includes a detector (306) coupled to the tube, wherein the detector is coupled to measurement circuitry (310) and detects properties of the tube as it vibrates, and the measurement circuitry determines the fluid properties based on the detected properties. The instrument also includes a housing (314) enclosing the tube, the single magnet, and the single coil wound around the single magnet.

Abstract: A system for pressure testing a formation includes a downhole tool configured to measure formation pressure, storage containing pressure parameters of a plurality of simulated formation pressure tests, and a formation pressure test controller coupled to the downhole tool and the storage. For each of a plurality of sequential pressure testing stages of a formation pressure test, the formation pressure test controller 1) retrieves formation pressure measurements from the downhole tool; 2) identifies one of the plurality of simulated formation pressure tests comprising pressure parameters closest to corresponding formation pressure values derived from the formation pressure measurements; and 3) determines a flow rate to apply by the downhole tool in a next stage of the test based on the identified one of the plurality of simulated formation pressure tests.

Abstract: Systems and methods for downhole formation testing based on the use of one or more elongated sealing pads disposed in various orientations capable of sealing off and collecting or injecting fluids from elongated portions along the surface of a borehole. The various orientations and amount of extension of each sealing pad can increase the flow area by collecting fluids from an extended portion along the surface of a wellbore, which is likely to straddle one or more layers in laminated or fractured formations. Various designs and arrangements for use with a fluid tester, which may be part of a modular fluid tool, are disclosed in accordance with different embodiments.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to advance a geological formation probe with a surrounding pad to seal the pad against a borehole wall, to adjust the size of the area associated with a fluid flow inlet of the probe, where the size of the inlet area is selectably and incrementally variable, and to draw fluid into the fluid flow inlet by activating at least one pump coupled to at least one fluid passage in the probe.

Abstract: A downhole formation testing and sampling apparatus. The apparatus includes an expandable packer having a radially contracted running configuration and a radially expanded deployed configuration. At least one elongated sealing pad is operably associated with the expandable packer such that operating the expandable packer from the running configuration to the deployed configuration establishes a hydraulic connection between the at least one elongated sealing pad and the formation. The at least one elongated sealing pad has at least one opening establishing fluid communication between the formation and the interior of the apparatus. In addition, the at least one elongated sealing pad has an outer surface operable to seal a region along a surface of the formation to establish the hydraulic connection therewith. The at least one elongated sealing pad further has at least one recess operable to establish fluid flow from the formation to the at least one opening.