Downhole diagnostic apparatus

Abstract

A downhole apparatus for use in a wellbore. The apparatus has a housing that defines a central flow passage and a plurality of ports that extend through a wall of the apparatus and intersect the central flow passage. A tracer material is positioned in at least one of the ports and once positioned in at least one of the ports, the tracer material is exposed to the exterior of the housing and to fluid in the wellbore.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A downhole apparatus for use in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:
 a housing defining a central flow passage and a plurality of ports through a wall thereof intersecting the central flow passage; and   a tracer material positioned in at least one of the ports, the tracer material being exposed to the exterior of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tracer material releases a detectable tracer element as a targeted fluid flows from the subterranean formation to the wellbore and contacts the tracer material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the ports have tracer materials therein. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a first portion of the tracer materials release a detectable tracer element as a first targeted fluid flows from the subterranean formation and contacts the tracer materials, and a second portion of the tracer materials release detectable tracer elements when a second targeted fluid flows from the subterranean formation and contacts the second portion of the tracer materials. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising cement disposed between an exterior surface of the housing and the wellbore. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a plug positioned on an interior section of the ports that carry tracer material, the tracer material being positioned in an exterior section of the ports. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plug isolates the tracer material from the central flow passage of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plug is threadable into the ports. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a sliding sleeve moveable from a closed position in which the sleeve covers the ports, and an open position in which the ports are covered. 
     
     
         10 . A downhole system for use in a wellbore intersecting a plurality of zones comprising:
 a tubing string positioned in the wellbore;   a plurality of treatment tools connected in the tubing string wherein at least some of the zones have a treatment tool associated therewith, each of the treatment tools comprising
 a housing defining a central flow passage therethrough and a plurality of ports intersecting the central flow passage; 
 a sliding sleeve moveable from a closed position in which flow through the ports is blocked to an open position in which flow through the ports is permitted; 
 tracer material disposed in a plurality of recesses in the housing, wherein the tracer material will release detectable tracer elements upon contact with a targeted fluid, and wherein the targeted fluid and tracer elements will flow into the central flow passage through the ports when the treatment tool is in the open position. 
   
     
     
         11 . The downhole system of  claim 10 , wherein each treatment tool comprises at least two distinct tracer materials, and wherein the first and second tracer materials release detectable tracer elements when contacted by first and second targeted fluids respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of treatment tools comprise at least first and second tracer materials for reacting with first and second targeted fluids from the zone associated therewith, and wherein the signatures of the tracer materials associated with each zone are distinct from the signatures of the tracer materials in treatment tools associated with any other zone. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole tool of  claim 10 , wherein a plug is inserted in a portion of the ports to fill an inner portion thereof, the recesses comprising the exterior portion of the ports in which the plugs are inserted. 
     
     
         14 . A downhole tool for use in a wellbore comprising:
 a treatment tool connected in a tubing in the well and associated with a zone intersected by the wellbore, the treatment tool comprising:
 a housing defining a plurality of ports through a wall thereof and a central flow passage; and 
 a sliding sleeve disposed in the housing and moveable from a closed position which covers the ports to an open position in which the ports are uncovered, 
   wherein the treatment tool releases a detectable tracer element into the central flow passage upon contact with a targeted fluid from a zone intersected by the wellbore, and wherein the detectable tracer element provides information about the targeted fluid flowing from the zone.   
     
     
         15 . The downhole tool of  claim 14 , wherein the treatment tool selectively releases different detectable tracer elements based upon the type of fluid produced from the zone. 
     
     
         16 . The downhole tool of  claim 14  wherein the wellbore intersects a plurality of zones, each zone having a treatment tool associated therewith and wherein the detectable tracer elements released by the treatment tools provide information about the targeted fluid and the zone from which the fluid was produced. 
     
     
         17 . The downhole tool of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a tracer material positioned in at least a portion of the ports in the treatment tool, wherein the tracer material releases the detectable tracer element upon contact with the targeted fluid. 
 
     
     
         18 . The downhole tool of  claim 16 , comprising first and second tracer materials, the first and second tracer materials being positioned in at least a portion of the ports, wherein the first tracer material releases detectable tracer elements upon contact with a first targeted fluid, and the second tracer material releases a detectable tracer element upon contact with a second targeted fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The downhole tool of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second detectable tracer elements of each treatment tool have a unique signature relative to the first and second detectable tracer elements of any other treatment tool. 
     
     
         20 . The downhole treatment tool of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 plugs positioned in at least a portion of the ports, wherein the plugs have a tracer material positioned therein and wherein the tracer material releases the detectable tracer element upon contact with the targeted fluid.