Probe isolation seal pad
First Claim
1. A seal pad comprising:
- a base plate;
an expandable material engaged with the base plate, the expandable material comprising an outer surface, a portion of the outer surface being suitable for sealing against a borehole wall and a portion of the outer surface being expanded during the sealing against the borehole wall; and
a retainer suitable for controlling the expansion of the expandable material, the retainer engaging at least a portion of the outer surface of the expandable material when sealed against the borehole wall.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A seal pad comprising a base plate and an expandable material engaged with the base plate. The expandable material comprises an outer surface where a portion of the outer surface is used to form a seal against a borehole wall. A portion of the outer surface of the expandable material is expanded during the sealing against the borehole wall. The seal pad also comprises a retainer for controlling the expansion of the expandable material. The retainer controls the expansion of the expandable material by engaging at least a portion of the outer surface of the expandable material. Thus when the seal is formed by expanding the expandable material, at least a portion of the expandable material is contained by the retainer.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A seal pad comprising:
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a base plate;
an expandable material engaged with the base plate, the expandable material comprising an outer surface, a portion of the outer surface being suitable for sealing against a borehole wall and a portion of the outer surface being expanded during the sealing against the borehole wall; and
a retainer suitable for controlling the expansion of the expandable material, the retainer engaging at least a portion of the outer surface of the expandable material when sealed against the borehole wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of forming a seal against a borehole wall comprising:
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sealingly engaging a portion of an expandable material outer surface against the borehole wall, the expandable material engaging a base plate and at least a portion of the expandable material expanding during engagement of the borehole wall; and
controlling the expansion of the expandable material with a retainer engaging at least a portion of the outer surface of the expandable material when sealed against the borehole wall. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A formation tester comprising:
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a body;
an extendable test probe assembly comprising;
a seal pad comprising;
a base plate;
an expandable material engaged with the base plate, the expandable material comprising an outer surface, a portion of the outer surface being suitable for sealing against a formation borehole wall and a portion of the outer surface being expanded during the sealing against the borehole wall; and
a retainer suitable for controlling the expansion of the expandable material, the retainer engaging at least a portion of the outer surface of the expandable material when sealed against the borehole wall; and
a bore through the base plate and seal pad; and
a cylinder comprising a flow path in fluid communication with the formation through the seal pad bore;
a fluid sample collection reservoir in fluid communication with the test probe cylinder flow path; and
a fluid transfer device suitable for transferring formation fluid through the test probe cylinder flow path and into the fluid sample collection chamber. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for collecting a formation fluid sample comprising:
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inserting a formation tester into a borehole, the formation tester comprising a body;
extending an extendable test probe assembly from the body into sealing contact with the borehole wall, the test probe assembly forming the seal with a portion of an expandable material outer surface, the expandable material engaging a base plate and at least a portion of the expandable material expanding during engagement of the borehole wall;
controlling the expansion of the expandable material with a retainer engaging at least a portion of the outer surface of the expandable material when sealed against the borehole wall;
collecting a formation fluid sample through a test probe assembly cylinder in fluid contact with the formation through a bore in the seal pad, the test probe assembly cylinder comprising a flow path;
transferring the formation fluid sample with a fluid transfer device from the test probe assembly cylinder to a fluid sample collection chamber. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification