Apparatus and method for characterizing a reservoir
First Claim
1. An apparatus for characterizing a subsurface formation, comprising:
- a tool body adapted for conveyance within a borehole penetrating the subsurface formation;
a probe assembly carried by the tool body for sealing off a region of the borehole wall;
an actuator for moving the probe assembly between a retracted position for conveyance of the tool body and a deployed position for sealing off a region of the borehole wall; and
a perforator extending through the probe assembly for penetrating a portion of the sealed-off region of the borehole wall.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for characterizing a subsurface formation is provided. The apparatus includes a tool body, a probe assembly carried by the tool body for sealing off a region of the borehole wall, an actuator for moving the probe assembly between a retracted position for conveyance of the tool body and a deployed position for sealing off a region of the borehole wall and a perforator extending through the probe assembly for penetrating a portion of the sealed-off region of the borehole wall. The tool may be provided with first and second drilling shafts with bits for penetrating various surfaces. The method involves sealing off a region of a wall of an open borehole penetrating the formation, creating a perforation through a portion of the sealed-off region of the borehole wall and testing the formation.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for characterizing a subsurface formation, comprising:
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a tool body adapted for conveyance within a borehole penetrating the subsurface formation;
a probe assembly carried by the tool body for sealing off a region of the borehole wall;
an actuator for moving the probe assembly between a retracted position for conveyance of the tool body and a deployed position for sealing off a region of the borehole wall; and
a perforator extending through the probe assembly for penetrating a portion of the sealed-off region of the borehole wall. - 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. A method for characterizing a subsurface formation, comprising the steps of:
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sealing off a region of a wall of an open borehole penetrating the formation;
creating a perforation through a portion of the sealed-off region of the borehole wall, the perforation extending beyond a damaged zone about the borehole; and
testing the formation. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for perforating a cased borehole penetrating a subsurface formation, comprising:
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a tool body adapted for conveyance within the cased borehole;
a first drilling shaft having a first drill bit connected to an end thereof for perforating a portion of the casing lining the borehole wall;
a second drilling shaft having a second drill bit connected to an end thereof for extending through the perforation in the casing and perforating a portion of the borehole wall;
a drilling motor assembly for applying torque and translatory force to the first and second drilling shafts; and
a coupling assembly for selectively coupling the drilling motor assembly to one of the first drilling shaft, the second drilling shaft, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for perforating a cased borehole and penetrating a subsurface formation, comprising the steps of:
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perforating a portion of the casing lining the borehole wall using a drilling motor assembly and a first drilling shaft having a first drill bit connected to an end thereof;
extending a second drilling shaft through the perforation in the casing using the drilling motor assembly, the second drilling shaft having a second drill bit connected to an end thereof for penetrating the formation; and
perforating a portion of the borehole wall using the drilling motor assembly and the second drilling shaft with the second drill bit;
the first and second drilling shafts being selectively coupled to the drilling motor assembly to execute the perforating and extending steps.
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Specification