Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article may operate to move fluid from at least one fluid container into a flow line so as to cause the fluid to contact at least one surface having a condition affecting sensor information provided by a sensor. Additional activities may include adjusting operation of a fluid transport mechanism based on the sensor information and baseline information, to continue moving the fluid and change the condition until the fluid is depleted from the at least one fluid container or the sensor information conforms to the baseline information to a selected degree. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A sampling tool to sample formation fluids in a wellbore is disclosed. The sampling tool may include a sample chamber having a fluid inlet port and a tubular portion. A first piston may be sealably and movably disposed within the tubular portion. One or more surfaces of the first piston and the sample chamber may, at least in part, define a sample space. A second piston may be sealably and movably disposed within the first piston.

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: The present invention relates to a method for measuring the characteristics of a downhole fluid. The method for measuring the characteristics of a downhole fluid includes passing a downhole fluid sample through an analyzer, analyzing the downhole fluid sample by illuminating the downhole fluid sample with light from a light source and detecting light that interacts with the fluid sample. The method is applicable to detecting carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide directly in a downhole environment.

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: Methods for determining the quality of data gathered in a wellbore in a subterranean formation including (a) collecting a formation fluid sample in the wellbore in the subterranean formation using a formation tester for receiving the formation fluid, wherein the formation tester is lowered to at least one depth in the wellbore in the subterranean formation by a conveyor; (b) acquiring a wellbore measurement (“WM”) from the least one depth with the formation tester; (c) determining from the WM a measured quality value (“MQV”); (d) assigning a threshold value (“TV”) to the MQV; (e) assigning a range value (“RV”) to the MQV, based on geometric scaling of the TV, the RV defining the limits of the MQV above and below the TV; and (f) calculating a score value (“SV”) based on the MQV, the TV, and the RV, wherein the SV is a number between 0 and 2*TV, and wherein the quality of the WM increases as the SV increases.

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: In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to advance a sampling and guard probe (100) with a surrounding sealing pad (108) 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 (104) is selectably and incrementally variable, and to draw fluid into the fluid flow inlet by activating at least one pump (344) coupled to at least one fluid passage (128) in the probe. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of determining a reservoir parameter of a subterranean formation comprising: initiating an initial pressure pulse in the subterranean formation; initiating a series of subsequent pressure pulses in the subterranean formation until the reservoir parameter may be determined, wherein each subsequent pressure pulse is optimized utilizing analytical and/or numerical simulation models; and determining the reservoir parameter.

Abstract: A method, and corresponding system, for formation testing includes establishing a control parameter and a test criterion for testing a formation, providing a formation tester equipped with the control parameter and the test criterion in a well bore at a test location, performing a first formation test, controlling the first formation test using the control parameter and the test criterion, collecting test data from the first formation test, and adjusting the control parameter using the test data. The method may include performing a second formation test, and controlling the second formation test using the adjusted control parameter and the test criterion. The method may include collecting additional test data from the second formation test, and readjusting the control parameter using the additional test data.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article may operate to move fluid from at least one fluid container into a flow line so as to cause the fluid to contact at least one surface having a condition affecting sensor information provided by a sensor. Additional activities may include adjusting operation of a fluid transport mechanism based on the sensor information and baseline information, to continue moving the fluid and change the condition until the fluid is depleted from the at least one fluid container or the sensor information conforms to the baseline information to a selected degree. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Interaction of adsorbing chemicals with a downhole tool presents inaccuracies in the adsorbing chemical measurement and analysis. The principles of the present disclosure provide a method and system of sampling fluids including an adsorbing chemical in a subterranean reservoir. One method may include modeling an interaction between the adsorbing chemical and a downhole tool, applying the model to a measurement of the adsorbing chemical, and adjusting the measurement in response to applying the model.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to measure formation fluid and obtain data, the data having measurement levels that vary over a parameter. The data is grouped in one or more categories, each category having data falling within a range, and the grouped data is analyzed as a function of the parameter. In some embodiments, the grouped data is used to identify at least one fluid type of the formation fluid using the grouped data.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to measure formation fluid and obtain data, the data having measurement levels that vary over a parameter. The data is grouped in one or more categories, each category having data falling within a range, and the grouped data is analyzed as a function of the parameter. In some embodiments, the grouped data is used to identify at least one fluid type of the formation fluid using the grouped data.

Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to monitor flow of single and multiple phase fluids. Sensors of a tool can be dispersed along the tool to collect measurements to be processed using an autocorrelation operation on the collected measurements to provide information relative to the phases of the fluid. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting synthetic mud filtrate in a downhole fluid including placing a downhole tool into a wellbore, introducing a downhole fluid sample into the downhole tool, analyzing the downhole fluid sample in the downhole tool, producing at least two filtrate markers from the analyzing of the downhole fluid sample and converting the at least two filtrate markers by vector rotation to a sufficiently orthogonal signal. The first pumped fluid sample giving initial plateau readings can be a proxy for 100% drilling fluid having an initial orthogonal signal and subsequent samples can be converted to orthogonal signals that are referenced to the first pumped fluid signal to give a calculation of percent contamination of the formation fluid.

Abstract: A method of determining anisotropy in a borehole is disclosed. An array of measurements along the borehole is obtained and a first depth in the borehole is selected. An arbitrary plane oriented with respect to the borehole at the first depth is designated and an anisotropy for the first depth with respect to the arbitrary plane is determined. The arbitrary plane is repositioned at the first depth and an anisotropy for different positions of the arbitrary plane at the first depth is determined. A minimum anisotropy coefficient with respect to the arbitrary plane at the first depth is identified based on anisotropy for different positions of the arbitrary plane. An anisotropy tensor for the first depth is then identified.

Abstract: A method of evaluating fluid sample contamination is disclosed. A formation tester tool is introduced into a wellbore. The formation tester tool comprises a sensor. Sensor data is acquired from the sensor and a contamination estimation is calculated. A remaining pump-out time required to reach a contamination threshold is then determined.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring properties of formation material and fluid in a borehole wall. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a cylinder with a drawdown piston slideably disposed therein, a probe assembly and a passageway configured to provide fluid communication between the probe assembly and the cylinder. The probe assembly has a housing, a piston slideably disposed within the housing, the piston having a throughbore and a pad coupled thereto, and a tubular slideably disposed within the throughbore. The drawdown piston is translatable from a first position toward a second position to draw fluid into the probe assembly, the passageway and the cylinder, and translatable from the second position toward the first position to increase pressure of fluid in the passageway.

Abstract: Systems and methods for downhole formation testing based on the use of one or more elongated sealing pads capable of sealing off and collecting or injecting fluids from elongated portions along the surface of a borehole. The modified sealing pads increase the flow area by collecting fluids from an extended portion along the surface of a borehole, which is likely to straddle one or more layers in laminated or fractured formations. A tester device using the elongated sealing pads can be deployed and withdrawn using an extendible element pressing the pads to the borehole. 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.