APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING FORMATION SAMPLES

• US 20090255672A1
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Shammai, Michael H., Simpson, Angus J.
• Application Number:
  US12/103,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20090255672A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/264
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/0815 Sampling valve actuated by tubing pressure changes

Abstract

An apparatus and method for collecting a fluid from a subterranean formation are disclosed. A fluid sample container has an elongated body. The elongated body includes an internal cavity, a first end having a first opening for receiving the downhole fluid into the internal cavity, a second end axially displaced from the first end, the second end having a second opening for expelling at least a portion of the downhole fluid from the internal cavity. Fluid collecting includes establishing fluid communication with a formation of interest and the fluid sample container receiving the downhole fluid into the internal cavity through the first opening and expelling at least a portion of the downhole fluid from the internal cavity through the second opening.

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting a downhole fluid, the apparatus comprising:

a fluid sample container having an elongated body, the elongated body including an internal cavity, a first end having a first opening for receiving the downhole fluid into the internal cavity, a second end axially displaced from the first end, the second end having a second opening for expelling at least a portion of the downhole fluid from the internal cavity.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the internal cavity is defined in part by a wall having a curvilinear cross section profile for fluid sticking, fluid resistance or a combination thereof within the internal cavity.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the wall curvilinear cross section profile approximates at least a portion of one or more of a circle and an oval.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the internal cavity is defined in part by a wall having a surface treatment that reduces fluid sticking, fluid resistance or a combination thereof.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the surface treatment is selected from one or more of a coating, a polished surface and an insert.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a flow control device that is controllable to cease downhole fluid expulsion from the second opening when a predetermined parameter is met for the downhole fluid.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure control device for controlling fluid pressure within the internal cavity.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pressure control device includes a pump for controlling pressure in the internal cavity.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pressure control device includes a member disposed within the internal cavity for controlling pressure in the internal cavity.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the member includes a piston that moves in the internal cavity to control pressure in the internal cavity.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising a check valve coupled to the pressure control device to allow fluid flow through a central opening of the pressure control device.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a fluid monitoring device for estimating a property of the downhole fluid.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the property of the downhole fluid includes a level of contamination.

14. A method for collecting a downhole fluid, the method comprising:

establishing fluid communication with a formation of interest and a fluid sample container having an elongated body, the elongated body including an internal cavity, a first end having a first opening, a second end axially displaced from the first end, the second end having a second opening;

receiving the downhole fluid into the internal cavity through the first opening; and

expelling at least a portion of the downhole fluid from the internal cavity through the second opening.

15. A method according to claim 14 further comprising reducing fluid perturbations within the internal cavity using a wall having a curvilinear cross section profile defining at least in part the internal cavity.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the wall curvilinear cross section profile approximates at least a portion of one or more of a circle and an oval.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein reducing fluid perturbations includes using a wall having a surface treatment that reduces fluid sticking, fluid resistance or a combination thereof.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the surface treatment is selected from one or more of a coating, a polished surface and an insert.

19. A method according to claim 14 further comprising ceasing the downhole fluid expulsion when a predetermined parameter is met for the downhole fluid using a flow control device that is controllable to cease downhole fluid expulsion from the second opening.

20. A method according to claim 14 further comprising controlling fluid pressure within the internal cavity using a pressure control device.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein controlling fluid pressure within the internal cavity includes using a pump as part of the pressure control device.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein controlling fluid pressure within the internal cavity includes controllably changing a volume within the internal cavity using a member disposed within the internal cavity.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the member includes a piston and controllably changing a volume within the internal cavity includes moving the piston to control pressure within the internal cavity.

24. A method according to claim 22 further comprising, flowing the downhole fluid through a check valve in the member.

25. A method according to claim 14 further comprising estimating a property of the downhole fluid using a monitoring device.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the property of the downhole fluid includes a level of contamination.