Schlumberger

3.3.5.5 Redundant Firing Systems

Redundant firing systems are available that allow the primary firing heads to be combined with one
another as required. Both firing heads are located at the top of the gun string, allowing the guns and
heads to be made up safely, and both heads retain their full safety features. Redundant systems are
an excellent contingency which can save valuable rig time in the unforeseen event of any problems.

3.4 Drill Stem Testing Tools – DST

3.4.1 General
A set of drill stem test tools is an array of downhole hardware used for the temporary completion of
a well. They are run as a means of providing a safe and efficient method of controlling a formation
during the gathering of essential reservoir data in the exploration, appraisal and even development
phase of a well, or to perform essential pre-conditioning or treatment services prior to permanent
completion of the well.

Many components are similar in function to those of permanent completions although the
temporary nature of the string require some additional functionalities normally not associated with
permanent completions. This can be better understood by considering that DST tools are designed
for a wide range of operating environments and multi-use, i.e., they can be redressed between runs,
while permanent completion components are designed for specific installations and long life.

3.4.2 Basic Requirements

Drillstem tests are affected by three different pressures;

• Hydrostatic Press Ph

• Formation Pressure Pf

• Cushion Pressure Pc

3.4.2.1 Packer
This provides a seal and isolates Ph from Pf much the same as for permanent completions.

3.4.2.2 Test Valve

A test valve, run above the packer, isolates Pc from Ph while running in the hole. It also helps
reduce the effects of wellbore storage which is an important element of interpretation (see section 5).
After the packer is set and the test valve opened, flow to surface occurs.

3.4.2.3 Reverse Circulation Valve

A reverse circulation valve provides a means of removing produced fluids before pulling out of the
hole. For redundancy, two reversing valves with different operating systems are normally run. In
addition, reversing valves are used to spot cushion and acid treatments.

Additional tools may also be run to enhance string efficiency, safety and versatility. Some of the
more common components are;

3.4.2.4 Slip Joint

A slip joint is an expansion/contraction compensation tool. It accommodates any changes in string
length caused by temperature and pressure during the DST. The tool is hydraulically balanced and
insensitive to applied tubing pressures. Slip joints have a stroke of 5 ft (or occasionally 2 ft), the total

Introduction to Well Testing (March 1998) 3-19

Section 3 Practical Well Testing

number of slip joints depends on well conditions e.g. for a standard test at 10,000 ft. two or three
slip joints are normal.

3.4.2.5 Hydraulic Jar

A hydraulic jar provides the means of transmitting an upwards shock to the tool string in the event
that the packer and lower assembly become stuck. The tool has a time regulated action as
transferring rapid movement in a long string is not a simple means. An upward pull activates a
regulated oil flow until the hammer section is released thus giving a rapid upward movement and
generating the relevant shock.

3.4.2.6 Safety Joint

A safety joint is actuated only if a jar cannot pull stuck tools loose. By manipulating the tool string
(usually by a combination of reciprocation and rotation), the safety joint, which is basically two
housings connected by a course thread, can be unscrewed, and the upper part of the string removed
from the well.

3.4.2.7 Safety Valve

A safety valve independent of the main test valve is often required to provide additional well control,
especially if the main downhole valve fails.

3.4.2.8 Gauge Carrier

When run with a test string, both mechanical and electronic gauges must be placed in a carrier for
support and protection. Carriers can either be of the above or below packer type.

3.4.2.9 Sampling Chamber Tool

A sampling chamber tool is used to trap a downhole sample anytime during the test without
shutting in the well.

Introduction to Well Testing (March 1998) 3-20

 Schlumberger

Upper Slips
(Retracted)
Floating
Piston
Bypass Seal
(Closed)

Gauge Ring
Rubber Antiextrusion
Elements Rings
Gauge Ring

Setting
Mandrel

Fig. 3-14 Packer.

Introduction to Well Testing (March 1998) 3-21

Section 3 Practical Well Testing

Ball Seal
Ball Valve

Ball Valve
Operator

Bias Area
Hydrostatic
Ports
Operator
Mandrel

Nitrogen

Compensating Reference
Piston Pressure

Pressure
Reference
Ports
Rupture Rupture
Discs Discs

Closed Open

Fig. 3-15 Test Valve.

Introduction to Well Testing (March 1998) 3-22

 Schlumberger

Slots/Dog

Index
Section

Piston
Mandrel

Spring

Reverse
Reverse Circulation
Ports Through Ports

Seal
Mandrel

Closed Cycling Open

(Mandrel Pumped
Down)

Fig. 3-16 Reverse Circulation Valve.

Introduction to Well Testing (March 1998) 3-23

Section 3 Practical Well Testing

Top Sub

Stroke
2 ft
or
5 ft

Spline

Internal Pressure
Chamber

V-Packing Seals

Annulus Pressure
Chamber

Fig. 3-17 Slip Joint.

Introduction to Well Testing (March 1998) 3-24

 Schlumberger

Time-
regulating
nut
Anvil

Shock
Oil

Hammer

Brass valve
Rapid oil
transfer

Metering
section

Jars Closed Jars Tripped

Fig. 3-18 Hydraulic Jar.

Introduction to Well Testing (March 1998) 3-25

Section 3 Practical Well Testing

Shock
Absorber

Gauge

Buffer
Tube

Fig. 3-19 Gauge Carrier.

Introduction to Well Testing (March 1998) 3-26

 Schlumberger

Drain Valve

Floating Piston
Sample
Chamber
Oil Chamber

Sample
Mandrel

Lock

Flow Restrictor

Atmospheric
Chamber

Operator
Mandrel

Rupture Disc

Before Sampling After Sampling

Fig. 3-20 Sampling Chamber Tool.

3.4.3 Types of Drill Stem Tests

As with permanent completion components there are a variety of different drill stem test tools
designed for a range of operating conditions and to perform different functionalities. There are
however two main categories of drill stem tests;

• Open Hole Drill Stem Tests

• Cased Hole Drill Stem Tests

3.4.3.1 Open Hole Drill Stem Testing

If hydrocarbons are detected in either cores or cuttings during drilling or indicated by the logs, an
open hole DST provides a rapid, economical means to quickly assess the production potential of the
formation. However the technique requires the hole to be in very good condition and highly
consolidated as the packer elements actually seal on the rock face. The open hole sections also limit
the application of pressure on the annulus, therefore special strings are designed which are operated
by pipe reciprocation and/or rotation. The Multiflow Evaluator System (MFE) is a self contained
open hole drill stem test string.

Introduction to Well Testing (March 1998) 3-27

Section 3 Practical Well Testing

If drilling is not halted to allow testing when a potential hydrocarbon bearing zone is encountered, an
alternative test method is to wait until the well is drilled to total depth and then use straddle packers
to isolate the zone of interest. The introduction of inflatable packers allows the effective isolation and
testing of individual zones pinpointed using wireline logs.

Open hole drill stem tests gather important early information, but reservoir testing requires more
data over a longer period. The extent of reservoir investigated increases with test duration. A key
factor governing the duration of an openhole test is wellbore stability. At some point the well may
cave in on top of the packer and the string may get permanently stuck downhole, calling for an
expensive sidetrack. These hazards of wellbore stability have been eliminated by testing after the
casing has been set and in many sectors particularly offshore, cased hole testing has replaced
traditional open hole drill stem testing.

3.4.3.2 Cased Hole Drill Stem Testing

As offshore drilling increased, floating rigs became common, increasing the potential for vessel
heave to accidentally cycle traditional weight set tools and even un-set the packer. In addition, deeper
more deviated wells make reciprocal tools more difficult to operate and control and thus jeopardise
the safety of the operation. A pressure controlled system was designed specifically for these
applications, eliminating the need for pipe manipulation after the packer has been set, and eventually
becoming the new standard in drill stem test operations.

Introduction to Well Testing (March 1998) 3-28

 Schlumberger

Drillpipe or tubing Drillpipe or Tubing

Drill Collars
Drill collars

Pump-Out Reverse Tool

Pump-out reverse tool

Drill Collars (1 Stand)

Drill collars (1 stand)

Break-Off Plug
Break-off plug Reverse Tool
reverse tool
Drill Collars (1 Stand)
Drill collars (1 stand)
Bar Catcher

Bar catcher
Multi-Flow
Evaluator (MFE)

,,
Multiflow evaluator valve
Pressure Recorder
(Inside Reading)
Openhole bypass

,,
TR Hydraulic Jars

Pressure recorder
(inside reading)
Rotary Pump

TR hydraulic jars
Multi-Stage
Relief Valve
Safety joint
Safety Joint

Safety seal Upper Inflate

Packer

Openhole packer Blank Spacer Pipe

(conventional or bobtail) or Drill Collars

Lower Inflate
Perforated anchor Packer

@@@
€€€
ÀÀÀ
,,,
QQQ
¢¢¢
Pressure recorder Deflate Drag
(outside reading) Spring Tool

@@@
€€€
ÀÀÀ
,,,
QQQ
¢¢¢
Drill collar(s) Pressure Recorder
(Inflate Pressure)

Bullnose
Ported bullnose

Fig. 3-21 Typical MFE Openhole String. Fig. 3-22 Typical MFE Inflate Openhole String.

Introduction to Well Testing (March 1998) 3-29

Section 3 Practical Well Testing

The Pressure Controlled Test System (PCT) is a self contained cased hole drill stem test string.

The main test valve and other key tools are operated by specific signatures of annulus and/or tubing
pressure, which is why a thorough understanding of the different pressures and potential
differentials is important in the design of the cased hole DST string. In the specific case of the PCT,
the valve opens when pressure above a certain threshold - usually 1500 psi - is applied on the
annulus, and closes when this pressure is bled off. It uses the same annular pressure threshold
regardless of depth, hydrostatic pressure and temperature (provided the design specifications of the
tool are not exceeded). To do this, a chamber in the tool is pre-charged at the surface with nitrogen.
A compensating piston ensures that the nitrogen acquires hydrostatic pressure as the tool is run in
the hole (see Figure 3-15). The pre-charge is ‘locked’ when the packer is set.

Most pressure controlled systems provided today are termed fullbore which means that a minimum
internal diameter of 21/4" is maintained throughout the string from top to bottom, which is essential
for running wireline tools or coiled tubing inside the string to access the producing zone and hence
enhance the flexibility of the test program. Services such as through tubing perforating, wireline or
slickline conveyed sampling, pressure/temperature and production logging can readily be
programmed into the test sequence either as main parts of the program or contingency measures.
The flexibility of this type of system allows it to be run with most specialised systems;
• Permanent production packers or cement retainers.
• TCP systems.
• Surface Pressure Read Out Systems.
The system is specifically useful in horizontal well applications, and offers almost unlimited testing,
treating and stimulation operations in this technically demanding arena.

Introduction to Well Testing (March 1998) 3-30

 Schlumberger

Drillpipe or tubing

Slip joint (open)

Slip joint (half open)

Slip joint (closed)

Drill collars

Pump-out reverse tool

Drill collars (1 stand)

Break-off plug reverse tool

Drill collars (1 stand)

Bar-catcher

Overpressure Safety Valve

and Sampler (OSVS)

PCT Pressure-Controlled Tester

Hydrostatic Reference Tool (HRT)

Pressure recorder (inside reading)

TR hydraulic jars

Safety joint

PosiTest cased hole packer

Perforated/slotted tailpipe or tubing

Pressure recorder (outside reading)

Ported bullnose

Fig. 3-23 Typical Fullbore PCT String.

Introduction to Well Testing (March 1998) 3-31