Wireline Formation Testers James J.

Smolen

Consultant
Missouri City, Texas, U.S.A.

INTRODUCTION

Formation testers are a class of wireline tools used to

measure the downhole pressure of formations. Stationary
measurements of formation pressure in an open hole are
made at any number of depths during a single trip into the > >
hole. These pressure measurements are useful in determining
the following: (1) variations in pressure among various
formations, (2) gradients of fluid pressure within a formation
1
that can indicate fluid content, (3) gas-oil or water-oil

f
contacts, and (4) local permeability. Comparison with initial
reservoir pressures in development wells may indicate zonal
pressure depletion. Formation testers are also used to retrieve
samples containing fluids.

OPERATION OF THE TOOLS > >

When the tool is being moved downhole, the formation
(a) (b)
tester is in its retracted configuration. When a depth is
selected for a pressure measurement, the formation tester is
activated and hydraulically set or pressed against the
formation. These conditions are shown schematically in Figure 1. Wireline formation tester, (a) Retracted configuration
Figure 1. (tool closed), (b) Set configuration (tool set).
Two modes of measurement exist: (1) a pretest measure-
ment in which formation pressures are examined and (2) a
fluid sample measurement in which formation fluids are
physically withdrawn and retrieved to the surface for
examination. The sequence of tool movements required to PACKER
measure formation pressure begins when the formation tester
is activated at a selected depth. The sampling system shown
T-«-FILIbK PRObt
in Figure 2 illustrates how this measurement is made. Prior to
activating the tool, the pressure gauge measures hydrostatic
mud column pressure. Upon activation, the equalizing valve FLOW _^
is shut and the packer and probe are pushed against the LINE PRESSURE
formation. The tool is now set. Within a few seconds, the >^6AGE
pistons of the pretest chambers begin to withdraw, causing
fluid from the formation to flow into the tool through the =3)
packer and probe assembly. The pretests are done
sequentially with a small volume (typically 10 cc) of fluid / d ~ P CHAMBER # 1
drawn into chamber #1 over about 15 sec, followed by a EQUALIZING
similar volume flowing into chamber #2 at a higher flow rate. VALVE q_[|CHAMBER* 2
Upon completion of the pretests, a sample can be taken or the (to mud
column) PRETEST
tool can be retracted. During retraction, the equalizing valve CHAMBER
is opened and the pretest pistons expel the fluid taken in. The
tool is now ready for the next test depth. Different vendors
may use variations of this design that incorporate a single /
pretest chamber of fixed or variable volume. SEAL VALVE U 1J SEAL VALVE
(to lower £9 yf (to upper
sample chamber) sample chamber)
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT

During the pretest sequence, pressure is monitored with

the tool sampling system. The schematic drawing in Figure 3 Figure 2. Dual pretest formation tester sampling system. (From
shows the pressure typically recorded during the pretest Smolen and Litsey, 1979.)

FLOW RATE
°1|
t=0 n <2
PRESSURE
HYDROSTATIC
PRESSURE
^ t
VV AP,
* AP2
f "\FORMATION
TOOL COLLAPSED TOOL PRETEST 1 PRETEST 2 SHUT IN PRESSURE
MUD COLUMN SETTING ACTIVE ACTIVE APPROACHING FORMATION
PRESSURE
Figure 3. Pressure recording by a dual pretest formation tester.
(From Smolen and Litsey, 1979.)
sequence. In this figure, time is shown as increasing to the
right and pressure and flow rate are increasing upward.
Initially, and when the tool is being set, the equalizing valve is
open and the recorded pressure is hydrostatic mud column
pressure. During the drawdown associated with the first
pretest, the pressure is observed to drop, stabilize, and further
decrease during the second pretest.
When the second pretest is completed, the flow stops and
the pressure builds up to formation pressure. Figure 3
illustrates the flow rates associated with the first and second
pretests. Actual formation pressure can be taken when the
pressure becomes stable or can be estimated from the
character of the buildup if it has not yet stabilized when the
tool is retracted.
Figure 4 is a typical log recorded by a formation tester that
has a single pretest chamber. In the left log track, the solid
curve represents the pressure detected by the gauge within
the tool sampling system. Time is increasing downward
along the log. The hydrostatic mud column, drawdown, and
formation pressures are clearly detectable. The sudden
increase at about 105 sec corresponds to the tool retraction
and opening of the equalizing valve. On the right are four
narrow tracks displaying the thousands, hundreds, tens, and
units digit of the measured pressure. For example, after 80
sec, the formation pressure is 3927 psi. It is obvious on the
units track that the pressure is increasing and actual
formation pressure has not yet been reached.
FORMATION PERMEABILITY
Formation permeability has a significant effect on the
drawdown response during a pretest. The pretest pressure
recordings shown in Figure 5 illustrate typical records for
sandstones at 0.1,1,10, and 100 md (millidarcys). While these
figures are qualitative, quantitative techniques exist for
estimating permeability using both the pressure drawdown
and buildup characteristics of the pretest or sample test.
Wireline Formation Testers 155
^SHUT-IN
*" '
PRESSURE
PRESSURE
Figure 4. Typical log record of a single pretest formation tester
showing both analog and digital log presentations. (From
Western Atlas International, 1987; courtesy of Atlas Wireline
Services Division of Western Atlas International, Inc.)
PRESSURE APPLICATIONS
Although formation testers can take samples, they are
often run solely for the pressure information available from
the pretest. Figure 6 shows how such pretest data can be
useful. In this figure, the well is shown penetrating a
reservoir that has gas, oil, and water intervals. The formation
tester is set at numerous depth intervals across this reservoir.
The formation pressure recorded by the tool is indicated by an
"x," while the hydrostatic mud column pressure is indicated
by an "o." The degree of overbalance (that is, the difference
between the mud and formation pressures) is clearly visible
from the schematic. The fluid gradients are also detectable,
and the gas column is readily distinguished from the oil,
which is also distinguishable from the water. The location of
the gas-oil and water-oil contacts can also be determined
from the formation pressure profile.
After a reservoir has been produced, some pressure
decline can be expected. Formation testers are frequently run
in development or in-fill wells. When compared to initial
reservoir pressures, pressure profiles in these wells often
show that certain zones may have produced more than
neighboring zones, thereby indicating the presence of
permeability barriers.
Pressures in zones of injection have also been monitored
using the Formation tester. Such a case is shown in Figure 7.
In this example, 22 wells were drilled some years after water
flooding was begun in a reservoir. Formation tester pressure
data from these 22 wells were used to plot a contour map of
the formation pressure. This map clearly shows high pressure
ridges associated with the banks of injection wells and
troughs associated with the producing wells.
156 PART 4—WIRELINE METHODS

1
1
T DEPTH

2u. • ABOUT
1
iuuma
s*
PRESS
HYOROS

o
a
- •
—
~ 1

'
it . — . -1- 1 1-
-4 -
_. . .._. ABOUT 1 md
.... — x-Formotion Pressure
c o-Hydrostatic Pressure
— — - _._.
... ..
^ — •

/
~~y
^—y
Figure 6. Pretest pressure response measurements across a
reservoir. (Courtesy of Schlumberger Well Services, 1981.)
inijii
IHMII

- - ABOUT .1 md
-- _ J
_ a1 FLUID SAMPLING

Based on the ability of the fluid to freely fill the pretest

chamber, a larger sample of formation fluid can be taken for
_.. -_... — analysis on the surface. The larger samples can range from 1
: to 10 gal or more. Due to mud filtrate invasion, a large
\ .i I ... fraction (if not all) of the retrieved fluid may be mud filtrate.
Proper analysis of the sample involves discriminating the
... j . £ . filtrate from the native formation fluids.
- •• i
- -
1! Measurements of water resistivity, API gravity, gas to oil
_ _. — . — — ratio, and water chemistry can be performed at the wellsite
- TIGHT |
with prior planning with the vendor. Formation fluid
.....
;
r
.. ,e samples can also be maintained at formation pressures and
shipped to laboratories for detailed analysis. However,
—- ... shipment of pressurized samples may require use of special
— — ----
- vessels approved by the Department of Transportation, and
—
— _ prior arrangements should be made with the involved
-
vendors.

Figure 5. Pretest pressure response to formation permeability as

measured by a dual pretest tool. (From Smolen and Litsey, 1979.)
 Wireline Formation Testers 157

' ' ' ' •//'/.' .'\ v

f INJECTION WELL WELL NUMBER
• PRODUCING WELL
22
WELL TESTED WITH AVERAGE MEASURED
FORMATION TESTER 2184- PRESSURE

Figure 7. Pressure contour map in zone of water injection. (From Western Atlas International, 1987; courtesy of Atlas Wireline Services
Division of Western Atlas International, Inc.)