2D Well Testing with Smart Plug Sensor

Abstract

An apparatus for characterising the permeability of a formation surrounding a wellbore, comprising: a drillstem test (DST) tool comprising, a packer for isolating a zone of the wellbore, a valve for controlling fluid into and out of the zone via the drill string of the tool and, a pressure gauge for detecting the pressure in the zone; wherein the apparatus further comprises an array of at least two antennas arranged on the tool above the packer such that when in use each antenna of the array aligns with a corresponding pressure sensor placed in the formation to obtain pressure measurements and therefore allow horizontal and vertical permeability to be determined.

1 . An apparatus for characterising the permeability of a formation surrounding a wellbore, comprising:
 a drillstem test (DST) tool comprising, a packer for isolating a zone of the wellbore, a valve for controlling fluid into and out of the zone via the drill string of the tool and, a pressure gauge for detecting the pressure in the zone;   wherein the apparatus further comprises an array of at least two antennas arranged on the tool above the packer such that when in use each antenna of the array aligns with a corresponding pressure sensor placed in the formation to obtain pressure measurements and therefore allow horizontal and vertical permeability to be determined.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the distance between each individual antenna of the array is determined by the placement of the sensors in the formation. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  which further comprises an interrogating tool that can scan the array of antenna to commute the information to the surface. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the array of antenna is mounted on the outside of the DST tool. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the antennas can transmit and receive information from the sensors by wireless communication and transfer power to the sensors. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the wireless communication and power transfer is based on electromagnetic coupling or acoustic transmission. 
   
   
       7 . A sensor system for characterising the permeability of a formation surrounding a wellbore in two dimensions, comprising:
 at least two sensors in the formation surrounding the wellbore; and an apparatus comprising, a DST tool comprising, a packer for isolating a zone of the wellbore, a pressure gauge for recording the pressure in the zone, and a valve for controlling fluid into and out of the zone via the drillstring of the tool, and an array of at least two antennas arranged on the tool above the packer such that each antenna of the array aligns with a corresponding pressure sensor in the formation.   
   
   
       8 . A method for characterising the permeability of a formation surrounding a wellbore, comprising:
 inserting sensors into the formation surrounding the wellbore at various depths;   inserting an apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 1 - 6  in the wellbore;   isolating a zone of the wellbore;   changing the pressure in the zone by altering flow through the valve;   measuring the pressure of the formation at the location of each sensor and transmitting the data obtained to the array of antenna;   measuring the pressure in the zone with the pressure gauge; and   determining the horizontal and vertical permeability of the formation using the pressure measurements obtained.   
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8  comprising recording the spacing between the sensors as the sensors are inserted into the formation. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 8  comprising positioning the antennas along the DST tool so that the spacing between the antennas is equal to the spacing between the sensors in the formation, before inserting the DST tool down the wellbore. 
   
   
       11 . A method according according to  claim 8  comprising scanning the array of antennas with an interrogating tool to power the sensors and transfer the information from the antennas to the tool. 
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11  comprising sending the information from the interrogating tool up-hole for surface recording and further analysis. 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 8  when transmitting the data between the sensors and antenna is done by wireless mode. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to according to  claim 8  when performed using sensor system for characterising the permeability of a formation surrounding a wellbore in two dimensions, comprising:
 at least two sensors in the formation surrounding the wellbore; and an apparatus comprising, a DST tool comprising, a packer for isolating a zone of the wellbore, a pressure gauge for recording the pressure in the zone, and a valve for controlling fluid into and out of the zone via the drillstring of the tool, and an array of at least two antennas arranged on the tool above the packer such that each antenna of the array aligns with a corresponding pressure sensor in the formation.