Formation Testing

The only book available for the reservoir or petroleum engineer covering formation testing―with algorithms for wireline and LWD reservoir analysis developed for transient pressure, contamination modeling, permeability, and pore pressure prediction.

Traditional well logging methods, such as resistivity, acoustic, nuclear, and NMR, provide indirect information relating to fluid and formation properties. However, the "formation tester" offered in wireline and MWD/LWD operations is different. It collects actual downhole fluid samples for surface analysis, and through pressure transient analysis, provides direct measurements for pore pressure, mobility, permeability, and anisotropy. These are vital to real-time drilling safety, geosteering, hydraulic fracturing, and economic analysis.

Methods for formation testing analysis, while commercially important and accounting for a substantial part of service company profits, are shrouded in secrecy. Many are poorly constructed, and because details are not available, industry researchers are not able to improve on them. Formation Testing explains conventional models and develops new, more powerful algorithms for early-time analysis. More importantly, it addresses a critical area in sampling related to "time required to pump clean samples," using rigorous multiphase flow techniques. All of the methods are explained in complete detail. Equations are offered for users to incorporate in their own models, but, for those needing immediate answers, convenient, easy-to-use software is available.

The lead author is a well-known petrophysicist with hands-on experience at Schlumberger, Halliburton, BP Exploration, and other companies. His work is used commercially at major oil service companies, and important extensions to his formation testing models have been supported by prestigious grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. His latest collaboration with China National Offshore Oil Corporation marks an important turning point, where advanced simulation models and hardware are evolving side-by-side, defining a new generation of formation testing logging instruments. Providing more than formulations and solutions, this book offers a close look at "behind the scenes" formation tester development, as the China National Offshore Oil Corporation opens up its research, engineering, and manufacturing facilities through a collection of never-before-seen photographs, showing how formation testing tools are developed from start to finish.

Wilson C. Chin, who earned his PhD from MIT and MSc from Caltech, heads StrataMagnetic Software, LLC in Houston, which develops mathematical modeling software for formation testing, MWD telemetry, borehole electromagnetics, well logging, reservoir engineering, and managed pressure drilling. He is the author of ten books, more than 100 papers, and over forty patents.

Yanmin Zhou received her PhD in geological resources engineering from the University of Petroleum, Beijing, and serves as Geophysics Engineer at the China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

Yongren Feng is Chief Mechanical Engineer at the China National Offshore Oil Corporation with three decades of design experience covering a dozen logging tools. With more than 100 patents, he serves as Project Leader for the 12th National Five Year Plan in formation tester development, and he was elected as one of China’s National Technology and Innovation Leaders.

Qiang Yu earned his MSc in measurement technology and instrumentation from Xi’an Shiyou University and serves as Senior Control Engineer in formation testing and field operations. He is an Associate Project Leader in the national formation testing program with the China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

Lixin Zhao earned his PhD from the University of Petroleum, Beijing, and serves as Senior Petrophysical Scientist, with three decades of logging and formation evaluation experience.