[APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING INFORMATION WHILE DRILLING]
First Claim
1. An apparatus for acquiring information from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:
- a tubular body adapted for connection within a drill string disposed in the wellbore, the body being equipped with one or more protuberances along an axial portion thereof defining an expanded axial portion;
a probe carried by the body at or near a first location within the expanded axial portion of the body where the cross-sectional area of the expanded axial portion is a minimum, the probe being movable between retracted and extended positions; and
an actuator carried by the body for moving the probe between its retracted and extended positions, the extended position being for engaging the wall of the wellbore and acquiring information from the formation, and the retracted position being for protecting the probe while drilling.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method useful for acquiring information from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore contemplate the use of a tubular body adapted for connection within a drill string disposed in the wellbore. The tubular body is equipped with one or more protuberances (e.g., ribs) defining an expanded axial portion. A probe is carried by the tubular body at or near a first location within the expanded axial portion of the body where the cross-sectional area of the expanded axial portion is a minimum. The probe is movable between retracted and extended positions. In another aspect, the inventive apparatus may further include a cover releasably-secured about the probe for protecting the probe while drilling. In a further aspect, the inventive apparatus may include a shearable backup support carried by the tubular body azimuthally opposite the probe permitting release of the apparatus from the wellbore in the event of a failure. In yet another aspect, the probe is at least partially carried within a debris-clearing channel formed in a protruding portion of the tubular body to promote fee movement of the probe within the wellbore.
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Citations
87 Claims
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1. An apparatus for acquiring information from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:
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a tubular body adapted for connection within a drill string disposed in the wellbore, the body being equipped with one or more protuberances along an axial portion thereof defining an expanded axial portion;
a probe carried by the body at or near a first location within the expanded axial portion of the body where the cross-sectional area of the expanded axial portion is a minimum, the probe being movable between retracted and extended positions; and
an actuator carried by the body for moving the probe between its retracted and extended positions, the extended position being for engaging the wall of the wellbore and acquiring information from the formation, and the retracted position being for protecting the probe while drilling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for acquiring information from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:
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a tubular body adapted for connection within a drill string disposed in the wellbore;
a probe at least partially carried within a channel formed in a protruding portion of the body for movement of the probe between retracted and extended positions, the protruding portion extending radially beyond the probe such that the probe is recessed within the protuberance when the probe is retracted, the channel having a width sized for closely bounding a portion of the probe, the channel extending azimuthally from the probe through one side of the protuberance, whereby wellbore debris is free to flow along the channel away from the probe during drilling; and
an actuator carried by the body for moving the probe between its retracted and extended positions, the extended position disposing the probe radially beyond the protruded portion of the body for engaging the wall of the wellbore and acquiring information from the formation, and the retracted position being for protecting the probe while drilling. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An apparatus for acquiring information from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:
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a tubular body adapted for connection within a drill string disposed in the wellbore;
a probe carried by the body for movement of the probe between retracted and extended positions;
a cover releasably-secured about the probe for protecting the probe while drilling prior to the probe being first moved to its extended position; and
an actuator carried by the body for moving the probe between its retracted and extended positions, the movement of the probe to its extended position releasing the cover from the probe and positioning the probe in engagement with the wall of the wellbore for acquiring information from the formation, the movement of the probe to its retracted position being for protecting the probe while drilling. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. An apparatus for acquiring information from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:
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a tubular body adapted for connection within a drill string or along a wireline disposed in the wellbore;
a probe carried by the body for movement of the probe between retracted and extended positions;
a backup support carried by the body radially opposite the probe and movable between retracted and extended positions, the backup support being designed to shear at a preselected location upon encountering a predetermined shear load;
a probe actuator carried by the body for moving the probe between its retracted and extended positions, the extended position being for engaging the wall of the wellbore and acquiring information from the formation, and the retracted position being for protecting the probe while drilling; and
a backup support actuator carried by the body for moving the backup support between its retracted and extended positions, the extended position being for assisting the engagement of the probe with the wall of the wellbore, and the retracted position being for protecting the backup support while drilling. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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84. A method of acquiring information from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
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equipping a tubular body with one or more protuberances along an axial portion thereof defining an expanded axial portion, and a movable probe at or near a first location on the tubular body within the expanded axial portion where the cross-sectional area of the expanded axial portion is a minimum;
connecting the tubular body within a drill string;
disposing the drill string within the wellbore; and
selectively extending the probe such that the probe engages the wall of the wellbore for acquiring information from the formation, and retracting the probe to protect the probe while drilling.
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85. A method for acquiring information from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:
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equipping a tubular body with a protruding portion having a channel formed therein, the channel extending transversely through at least one side of the protruding portion, and a movable probe carried at least partially within the channel;
connecting the tubular body within a drill string;
disposing the drill string within the wellbore; and
selectively extending the probe such that the probe engages the wall of the wellbore for acquiring information from the formation, and retracting the probe to a recessed position within the protruded portion whereby wellbore debris is free to flow along the channel away from the probe during drilling.
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86. A method of acquiring information from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:
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equipping a tubular body with a movable probe having a releasable cover, the cover being released by extension of the probe from a retracted position;
connecting the tubular body within a drill string;
disposing the drill string within the wellbore; and
selectively extending the probe from the retracted position to release the cover and move the probe into engagement with the wall of the wellbore for acquiring information from the formation, and retracting the probe to the retracted position to protect the probe while drilling.
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87. An apparatus for acquiring information from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:
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equipping a tubular body with a movable probe, and a movable backup support positioned radially opposite the probe, the backup support being designed to shear at a preselected location upon encountering a predetermined shear load;
connecting the tubular body within a drill string;
disposing the drill string within the wellbore;
selectively extending the probe into engagement with the wall of the wellbore for acquiring information from the formation, and retracting the probe to protect the probe while drilling; and
selectively extending the backup support into engagement with the wall of the wellbore radially opposite the probe to supplement the engagement by the probe with the wellbore wall, retracting the backup support as required while drilling, and upon failure to retract the backup support applying a shear load at least as great as the predetermined shear load to the backup support to shear the backup support at the preselected location.
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Specification