MWD formation tester
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Accused Products
Abstract
A formation testing tool is described herein, including a formation probe assembly having an extendable sampling probe surrounded by a cylindrical sleeve. The sleeve is configured to engage a metal skirt having an elastomeric seal pad coupled thereto. The skirt and seal are configured to be field replaceable. The elastomeric pad has a non-planar outer surface which engages a borehole wall in preparation for formation testing. The seal pad may be donut-shaped, having an aperture through the middle of the seal pad. The seal pad and its surface may include numerous different embodiments, including having a curved profile. The seal pad may also include numerous different embodiments of means for coupling the seal pad to the metal skirt. The formation testing tool also includes formation probe assembly anti-rotation means, a deviated non-circular flowbore, and at least one closed hydraulic fluid chamber for balancing fluid pressures.
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Citations
185 Claims
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1-44. -44. (canceled)
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45. A formation testing tool comprising:
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a longitudinal body having a surface;
an extendable sample device coupled to the body, the extendable sample device having a terminal end surface and configured to be recessed beneath the body surface in a first position and to extend beyond the body surface and toward a borehole wall surface in a second position; and
an inner member reciprocally disposed within the extendable sample device and configured to be recessed beneath the extendable sample device end surface in a first position and to extend beyond the sample device end surface and toward the borehole wall surface in a second position. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A formation testing tool comprising:
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a longitudinal body having a surface;
an extendable sample device coupled to the body, the extendable sample device configured to be recessed beneath the surface of the body in a first position and to extend beyond the surface in a second position; and
an elastomeric pad coupled to the extendable sample device, the pad having a base surface and an outer surface, wherein the base surface is detachably coupled to the sample device and the outer surface is nonplanar. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
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71. The formation testing tool of 70 wherein the skirt pad surface is bonded to the pad base surface and the skirt extension comprises a threaded segment for threadingly engaging a threaded portion of the central bore of the piston extending portion.
- 72. The formation testing tool of 70 wherein the skirt pad surface comprises an outer rim configured to receive a tool.
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92. A formation testing tool comprising:
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a longitudinal body having a surface;
an extendable sample device coupled to the body, the extendable sample device configured to be recessed beneath the surface of the body in a first position and to extend beyond the surface in a second position; and
a stabilizer disposed about the body near the extendable sample device, the stabilizer configured to react a force created by the extendable sample device when the sample device is in the second position and engaged with a surface beyond the body surface. - View Dependent Claims (93)
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94. A formation testing tool comprising:
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a longitudinal body having a surface;
an extendable sample device coupled to the body, the extendable sample device configured to be recessed beneath the surface of the body in a first position and to extend beyond the surface in a second position; and
a centralizer disposed about the body near the extendable sample device, the centralizer configured to react a force created by the extendable sample device when the sample device is in the second position and engaged with a surface beyond the body surface. - View Dependent Claims (95)
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96. A formation testing tool comprising:
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a longitudinal body having a surface and a longitudinal axis;
an extendable sample device coupled to the body, the extendable sample device configured to be recessed beneath the surface of the body in a first position and to extend beyond the surface in a second position; and
a flowbore wherein the flowbore is deviated from a longitudinal axis of the body. - View Dependent Claims (97)
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98. A formation probe assembly comprising:
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a sampling member having a first end;
an inner sleeve having a receiving end and configured to receive the sampling member;
an outer housing having a receiving end and configured to receive the inner sleeve;
wherein the inner sleeve receiving end is configured to be recessed within the outer housing receiving end in a first position and to extend beyond the outer housing receiving end in a second position; and
wherein the sampling member first end is configured to be recessed within the inner sleeve receiving end in a first position and to extend beyond the outer housing receiving end in a second position. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116)
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117. A formation probe assembly comprising:
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a stem having a base portion and a tubular extension extending from the base portion;
a sleeve frictionally engaged with the stem base portion;
a piston slidingly retained within the sleeve, the piston having a base portion, an extending portion, and a central bore;
a snorkel having base portion, a snorkel extension, and a central passageway; and
wherein the snorkel base portion is reciprocally disposed within the piston and the central passageway is configured to receive the tubular extension of the stem. - View Dependent Claims (118, 119, 120, 121, 122)
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123. A formation tester assembly comprising:
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a longitudinal, cylindrical housing having a surface;
a longitudinal, cylindrical mandrel disposed within the housing;
an annular space between the housing and the mandrel;
a formation probe assembly supported by the housing and the mandrel and reciprocal between a retracted position and an extended position; and
a hydraulic fluid reservoir extending above and below the formation probe assembly, wherein the fluid in the reservoir substantially occupies the annular space. - View Dependent Claims (124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143)
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144. A method of extending a formation testing apparatus comprising:
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disposing an extendable sample device on a drill string;
drilling a borehole;
extending the sample device from a first position beneath an outer surface of the drillstring to a second position beyond the drillstring outer surface; and
extending an inner member of the sample device from a first position beneath the terminal end surface of the sample device to a second position beyond the sample device end surface. - View Dependent Claims (145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151)
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152. A method of testing a subterranean formation comprising:
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disposing a formation probe assembly on a drill string, the formation probe assembly comprising;
a sampling member having a first end;
an inner sleeve having a receiving end and configured to receive the sampling member;
an outer housing having a receiving end and configured to receive the inner sleeve;
wherein the inner sleeve receiving end is configured to be recessed within the outer housing receiving end in a first position and to extend beyond the outer housing receiving end in a second position; and
wherein the sampling member first end is configured to be recessed within the inner sleeve receiving end in a first position and to extend beyond the outer housing receiving end in a second position;
drilling a borehole using a bit on the drill string;
stopping drilling; and
testing the formation. - View Dependent Claims (153, 154)
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155. A method of testing a subterranean formation comprising:
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disposing a formation probe assembly on a drill string;
drilling a borehole using a bit on the drill string;
providing a stabilizer supported by the drill string near the formation probe assembly;
stopping drilling;
centering the formation probe assembly in substantially a center of a borehole; and
testing the formation. - View Dependent Claims (156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161)
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162. A method of testing a subterranean formation comprising:
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disposing a formation probe assembly on a drill string;
drilling a borehole using a bit on the drill string;
providing a centralizer supported by the drill string near the formation probe assembly;
stopping drilling;
centering the formation probe assembly in substantially a center of a borehole; and
testing the formation.
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163. A method of testing a subterranean formation comprising:
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disposing a formation testing tool on a drill string;
drilling a borehole using a bit on the drill string;
transmitting a command from a surface of the borehole;
stopping drilling;
receiving the command in the formation testing tool;
initiating a formation test sequence;
pressurizing a hydraulic control circuit;
actuating a formation probe assembly while drilling is stopped;
extending a probe of the formation probe assembly;
creating a seal between the probe and the formation; and
receiving formation fluids. - View Dependent Claims (164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 175)
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171. A method of testing a subterranean formation comprising:
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disposing a formation testing tool on a drill string;
drilling a borehole using a bit on the drill string;
measuring a first fluid pressure while drilling;
stopping drilling;
extending a probe of a formation probe assembly;
creating a seal between a probe and the formation;
receiving formation fluids; and
measuring a second fluid pressure.
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172. A method of testing a subterranean formation comprising:
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disposing a formation testing tool on a drill string;
drilling a borehole using a bit on the drill string;
pumping drilling fluids down the drill string and up the borehole during drilling;
stopping drilling;
continuing pumping when drilling is stopped;
extending a probe of a formation probe assembly;
creating a seal between a probe and the formation;
testing the formation fluids;
circulating the drilling fluids around the probe while testing; and
using mud pulse telemetry to transmit data within the drilling fluid column. - View Dependent Claims (173, 174, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182)
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183. A method of testing a subterranean formation comprising:
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disposing a formation probe assembly having a seal pad on the drill string;
drilling a deviated, oversize borehole using a bottom hole assembly on a drill string;
stopping drilling;
orienting the formation probe assembly toward a low side of the borehole;
forcing the seal pad against a wall of the low side of the borehole using the bottom hole assembly weight;
creating a seal between the seal pad and the borehole wall; and
testing the formation.
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184. A method of testing a subterranean formation comprising:
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disposing a formation probe assembly having a seal pad on the drill string;
drilling a deviated, oversize borehole using a bottom hole assembly on a drill string;
stopping drilling;
orienting the formation probe assembly toward a high side of the borehole;
extending the seal pad against a wall of the high side of the borehole;
creating a seal between the seal pad and the borehole wall; and
testing the formation. - View Dependent Claims (185)
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Specification