Abstract: Formation testing which may involve circulating mud in a pipe string from a mud pit through a port in the pipe string to a downhole diverter sub, wherein the pipe string is suspended in a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, operating a downhole pump to pump formation fluid from the formation, wherein the formation fluid comprises gas, and mixing the pumped formation fluid with circulated mud such that a proportion of the pumped formation gas in the circulated mud is maintained below a threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of sealing a region of a sand screen of an Open Hole Gravel Pack without the need to perforate the sand screen and a tool for use in such. The tool being a eutectic/bismuth based alloy well plugging/sealing tool (1) having a tubular heater body (2) with an internal cavity (4) capable of receiving a chemical heat source (105). The tool is provided with a quantity of eutectic/bismuth based alloy (3) around an outer surface of the heater body (2) such that it can be heated by the chemical heat source (105). In addition the tool (1) has an insulating sleeve (7) provided around an outer surface of the alloy (3), wherein the sleeve (7) is configured to provide a focused egress for the alloy (3) as it is melted by the chemical heat source (105).

Abstract: An inlet for a single packer, having at least one sample inlet and at least one guard inlet surrounding the periphery of the at least one sample inlet, wherein the at least one sample inlet has at least one side that is parallel to another side of the at least one sample inlet and the at least one sample inlet has at least two rounded ends connecting each of the parallel sides, and the at least one guard inlet has at least one side that is parallel to another side of the at least one guard inlet and the at least one guard inlet has at least two rounded ends connecting each of the parallel side of the guard inlet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chemical heater for use in down-hole operations together with methods for operating such in oil/gas wells. The chemical heater comprises a heater body (1) housing a chemical reaction heat source material (2). The heater body (1) has a leading end that, in use, is deployed down-hole first. The heater is provided with ignition means (3), located in a heating zone proximal to the leading end of the heater body, for triggering a chemical reaction in the chemical reaction heat source material located in the heating zone (4, 4a). The heater is further provided with an actuator (5,6) housed within the heater body (1) and configured to urge the chemical reaction heat source material (2) towards the heating zone so as to generate a focused heating pattern.

Abstract: Formation testing which may involve circulating mud in a pipe string from a mud pit through a port in the pipe string to a downhole diverter sub, wherein the pipe string is suspended in a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, operating a downhole pump to pump formation fluid from the formation, wherein the formation fluid comprises gas, and mixing the pumped formation fluid with circulated mud such that a proportion of the pumped formation gas in the circulated mud is maintained below a threshold value.

Abstract: A configuration for testing fluid with a single packer includes at least one sample inlet and at least one guard inlet surrounding a periphery of the at least one sample inlet, wherein the at least one sample inlet has at least one side that is parallel to another side of the at least one sample inlet and the at least one sample inlet has at least two rounded ends connecting each of the parallel sides, and the at least one guard inlet has at least one side that is parallel to another side of the at least one guard inlet and the at least one guard inlet has at least two rounded ends connecting each of the parallel side of the guard inlet.

Abstract: Formation testing which may involve circulating mud in a pipe string from a mud pit through a port in the pipe string to a downhole diverter sub, wherein the pipe string is suspended in a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, operating a downhole pump to pump formation fluid from the formation, wherein the formation fluid comprises gas, and mixing the pumped formation fluid with circulated mud such that a proportion of the pumped formation gas in the circulated mud is maintained below a threshold value.

Abstract: Collecting temperature data at a plurality of locations along a wellbore, performing thermo-mechanical simulations of a drill string in response to mud circulation wherein the drill string comprises a tool string suspended in the wellbore from a pipe string, determining changes in length of the pipe string due to temperature changes, positionally fixing the tool string at one of the locations, and adjusting the length of the pipe string based on the determined change in length of the pipe string. Positionally fixing the tool string may comprise lowering the drill string a side entry sub of the drill string is proximate a top end of the wellbore wherein the side entry sub is configured to allow a wireline cable to enter a bore of the drill string, positioning the side entry sub above a blow-out-preventer, and closing the blow-out-preventer around the drill string below the side entry sub.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a pump assembly is disclosed. The method includes characterizing a pump of the pump assembly to determine a performance characteristics of the pump. The method may also include calibrating a sensor associated with a displacement unit of the pump assembly. Calibrating the sensor may include calibrating the sensor under operating conditions of a first environment and under operating conditions of a second environment. Under the operating conditions of the second environment, the pump can also be calibrated to determine a performance characteristics of the pump at the operating conditions of the second environment. The calibrated pump assembly is then used to draw fluid from a subterranean formation or conduct a formation test.

Abstract: A tool is to be used within a wellbore including a wall and extending into a formation with formation fluid. The tool includes a packer expandable against the wellbore wall with ports included within the packer to enable formation fluid to flow into the tool from the formation. The ports are arranged in a first port configuration optimized based upon a first predetermined formation property.

Abstract: Flowline pressure equalizer systems, methods and/or apparatuses for use on a downhole tool are provided. A pressure equalizer may be provided in communication with two flowlines. The pressure equalizer may use equalizing chambers and equalizing pistons to regulate pressure in one or both flowlines. Further, one or more flow routing modules may be interchangeable to further alter the flow scheme between the flowlines. Different plugs may house various flow routing configurations such that the plugs may be installed and/or removed in the tool string automatically or by a user.

Abstract: A method, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, for calibrating a pump assembly includes characterizing one or more pumps of the pump assembly to determine one or more performance characteristics of the one or more pumps. The method may also include calibrating a sensor associated with a displacement unit of the pump assembly. Calibrating the sensor may include calibrating the sensor under operating conditions of a first environment and under operating conditions of a second environment. Under the operating conditions of the second environment, the one or more pumps can also be to determine one or more performance characteristics of the one or more pumps at the operating conditions of the second environment.

Abstract: A method for determining a piston position in a downhole tool, having steps of providing a transducer in the downhole tool, wherein the tool has a piston used to create a vacuum for the downhole tool, providing a transducer tone burst to provide acoustic energy toward the piston, reflecting the transducer tone burst by a surface of the piston, receiving the transducer tone burst at a receiver, calculating time of flight for the transducer tone burst and determining the piston position in the downhole tool based upon the calculated time of flight of the transducer tone burst.

Abstract: Collecting temperature data at a plurality of locations along a wellbore, performing thermo-mechanical simulations of a drill string in response to mud circulation wherein the drill string comprises a tool string suspended in the wellbore from a pipe string, determining changes in length of the pipe string due to temperature changes, positionally fixing the tool string at one of the locations, and adjusting the length of the pipe string based on the determined change in length of the pipe string. Positionally fixing the tool string may comprise lowering the drill string a side entry sub of the drill string is proximate a top end of the wellbore wherein the side entry sub is configured to allow a wireline cable to enter a bore of the drill string, positioning the side entry sub above a blow-out-preventer, and closing the blow-out-preventer around the drill string below the side entry sub.

Abstract: An example method comprises collecting formation temperature data along a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, determining test operating parameter values, performing a wellbore hydraulic simulation of the response of wellbore fluid conditions to the test operating parameter values and the formation temperature data, determining whether the response of wellbore fluid conditions is indicative of one of a well control and a well stability problem, and initiating a test based on the determination whether the response of wellbore fluid conditions is indicative of one of a well control and a well stability problem.

Abstract: An apparatus disclosed herein includes a downhole tool having a body defining an interior bore and an exterior surface. The example apparatus also includes first and second fluid ports to provide respective fluid paths between the exterior surface and the interior bore. The first fluid port is to receive wellbore fluid from an annulus of a wellbore in which the downhole tool is to be disposed and the second fluid port is to receive formation fluid extracted from a subterranean formation. The formation fluid is to mix with the wellbore fluid to form an output mixture in the interior bore. The example apparatus also includes a controller to control a concentration of the formation fluid in the output mixture.

Abstract: Collecting temperature data at a plurality of locations along a wellbore, performing thermo-mechanical simulations of a drill string in response to mud circulation wherein the drill string comprises a tool string suspended in the wellbore from a pipe string, determining changes in length of the pipe string due to temperature changes, positionally fixing the tool string at one of the locations, and adjusting the length of the pipe string based on the determined change in length of the pipe string. Positionally fixing the tool string may comprise lowering the drill string a side entry sub of the drill string is proximate a top end of the wellbore wherein the side entry sub is configured to allow a wireline cable to enter a bore of the drill string, positioning the side entry sub above a blow-out-preventer, and closing the blow-out-preventer around the drill string below the side entry sub.

Abstract: A tool is to be used within a wellbore including a wall and extending into a formation with formation fluid. The tool includes a packer expandable against the wellbore wall with ports included within the packer to enable formation fluid to flow into the tool from the formation. The ports are arranged in a first port configuration optimized based upon a first predetermined formation property.

Abstract: An inlet for a single packer, having at least one sample inlet and at least one guard inlet surrounding the periphery of the at least one sample inlet, wherein the at least one sample inlet has at least one side that is parallel to another side of the at least one sample inlet and the at least one sample inlet has at least two rounded ends connecting each of the parallel sides, and the at least one guard inlet has at least one side that is parallel to another side of the at least one guard inlet and the at least one guard inlet has at least two rounded ends connecting each of the parallel side of the guard inlet.

Abstract: An example downhole tool configured for conveyance in a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation comprises a first fluid communicator configured to allow drilling fluid communication with an annulus between the downhole tool and the wellbore, a second fluid communicator configured to direct formation fluid to the annulus, and a formation testing device disposed deeper in the wellbore relative to the first fluid communicator and configured to pump formation fluid from the formation to the second fluid communicator. At least one of the first and second fluid communicators comprises a jet pump.