Methods and Apparatus to Sample Heavy Oil from a Subteranean Formation
First Claim
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1. A method of sampling fluid from a subterranean formation, comprising:
- positioning a first tool having a heater in a borehole so that the heater is adjacent a portion of the subterranean formation;
heating with the heater the portion of the subterranean formation;
removing the first tool from the borehole;
orienting a second tool having a sampling probe in the borehole so that the sampling probe is to contact a portion of the subterranean formation heated by the heater; and
obtaining via the sampling probe a fluid sample from the portion of the subterranean formation heated by the heater.
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Abstract
A method of sampling fluid from a subterranean formation includes positioning a first tool having a heater in a borehole so that the heater is adjacent a portion of the subterranean formation: heating with the heater the portion of the subterranean formation; removing the first tool from the borehole; orienting a second tool having a sampling probe in the borehole so that the sampling probe is to contact a portion of the subterranean formation heater by the heater; and obtaining via the sampling probe a fluid sample from the portion of the subterranean formation heater by the heater.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of sampling fluid from a subterranean formation, comprising:
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positioning a first tool having a heater in a borehole so that the heater is adjacent a portion of the subterranean formation; heating with the heater the portion of the subterranean formation; removing the first tool from the borehole; orienting a second tool having a sampling probe in the borehole so that the sampling probe is to contact a portion of the subterranean formation heated by the heater; and obtaining via the sampling probe a fluid sample from the portion of the subterranean formation heated by the heater. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for heating and recovering heavy oil samples from a subterranean formation, comprising:
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a first tool including a heating module to convey heat energy to a portion of the subterranean formation, wherein the first tool includes a heating control unit to control the heat energy provided by the heating module to the portion of the subterranean formation; and a second tool including a sampling inlet and an orientation module, wherein the orientation module orients the inlet relative to the portion of the subterranean formation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A sampling tool for use in obtaining a fluid sample from a subterranean formation , comprising:
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an orientation module to determine a position of the sampling tool in a borehole associated with the subterranean formation; at least one temperature sensor to sense a temperature of a wall of the borehole to identify a previously heated portion of the subterranean formation; and a sampling probe to obtain a sample of fluid from the previously heated portion of the subterranean formation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification