APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMATION EVALUATION

• US 20090283266A1
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander F. Zazovsky, Christopher S. Del Campo, Raymond V. Nold III, Stephane Briquet, Steve Ervin
• Original Assignee: Alexander F. Zazovsky, Christopher S. Del Campo, Raymond V. Nold III, Stephane Briquet, Steve Ervin
• Inventors: Del Campo, Christopher S., Nold, Raymond V. III, Zazovsky, Alexander F., Briquet, Stephane, Ervin, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,793,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/264
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

Abstract

A method for acquiring a sample of a virgin fluid from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore surrounded by a layer of contaminated fluid is disclosed. The method includes abutting a first packer against a wall of the wellbore, and extending at least a portion of a second packer beyond the first packer, wherein the second packer is at least partially disposed in the first packer. An inlet to a first flowline is at least partially defined by the first packer, and an inlet to a second flowline is defined by the second packer. The method further includes drawing one of virgin fluid, contaminated fluid and combinations thereof into the first flowline; and drawing virgin fluid into the second flowline.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a probe assembly extendable from a downhole tool disposed in a wellbore penetrating a subsurface formation, wherein the probe assembly comprises;

an outer packer configured to sealingly engage a first portion of the wellbore, the outer packer having a bore therethrough;

an inner packer disposed in the bore of the outer packer and forming an annulus therebetween, the inner packer configured to sealingly engage a second portion of the wellbore within the first portion, wherein a first inlet comprising the annulus is configured to admit virgin fluid and contaminated fluid from the formation into the downhole tool, and wherein a second inlet comprising a bore extending through the inner packer is configured to admit virgin fluid from the formation into the downhole tool; and

a flow line fluid coupled to at least one of the first and second inlets, wherein the flow line comprises a filter configured to filter particles in fluid admitted by the at least one of the first and second inlets.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the probe assembly is extendable under hydraulic pressure delivered from the downhole tool.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sampling tube operatively connected to the inner packer and moveable relative to the outer packer.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a piston disposed within the sampling tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the piston comprises an axial passageway and one or more sidewall perforations configured to conduct virgin fluid admitted to the sampling tube via the second inlet.

6. A method, comprising:

abutting an outer surface of a first packer against a first portion of a wall of a wellbore penetrating a subsurface formation;

abutting an outer surface of a second packer against a second portion of the wellbore wall, wherein the outer surface of the second packer penetrates a plane defined by the outer surface of the first packer;

drawing virgin fluid and contaminated fluid from an annular portion of the wall between the first and second packers; and

drawing virgin fluid from a portion of the wall at least partially defined by the second packer;

wherein drawing fluid from the portion of the wall defined by the second packer comprises filtering the fluid.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising creating a seal against the first portion with the outer surface of the first packer.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising creating a seal against the second portion with the outer surface of the second packer.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising flowing virgin fluid into a sample chamber.

10. A method, comprising:

abutting an outer surface of a first packer against a first portion of a wall of a wellbore penetrating a subsurface formation;

abutting an outer surface of a second packer against a second portion of the wellbore wall, wherein the outer surface of the second packer penetrates a plane defined by the outer surface of the first packer;

drawing virgin fluid and contaminated fluid from an annular portion of the wall between the first and second packers; and

drawing virgin fluid from a portion of the wall at least partially defined by the second packer;

wherein drawing fluid from the annular portion of the wall comprises filtering the fluid.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising creating a seal against the first portion with the outer surface of the first packer.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising creating a seal against the second portion with the outer surface of the second packer.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising flowing virgin fluid into a sample chamber.

14. A method, comprising:

abutting a first packer against a wall of a wellbore penetrating a subsurface formation, wherein an inlet to a first flowline is at least partially defined by the first packer;

extending at least a portion of a second packer beyond the first packer, wherein the second packer is disposed in the first packer, and wherein an inlet to a second flowline is defined by the second packer;

drawing virgin fluid and contaminated fluid into the first flowline;

drawing virgin fluid into the second flowline; and

commingling the fluids of the first and second flowlines into a third flowline.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising obtaining a fluid property using a sensor in the first flowline.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising obtaining a fluid property using a sensor in the second flowline.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising obtaining a fluid property using a sensor in the third flowline.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising obtaining a fluid property using a first sensor in the second flowline and a second sensor in the third flowline.