METHODS AND APPARATUS TO SAMPLE HEAVY OIL FROM A SUBTERANEAN FORMATION

• US 20100186948A1
• Filed: 04/05/2010
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony R.H. Goodwin, Carsten Sonne, Peter S. Hegeman
• Original Assignee: Anthony R.H. Goodwin, Carsten Sonne, Peter S. Hegeman
• Inventors: Sonne, Carsten, Hegeman, Peter S., Goodwin, Anthony R.H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,453,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/162
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/24 using heat, e.g. steam injection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

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 heated by the heater; and obtaining via the sampling probe a fluid sample from the portion of the subterranean formation heated by the heater.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a downhole tool configured for conveyance within a borehole extending into a subterranean formation, wherein the downhole tool comprises;

a sampling tool;

an orientation module configured to determine a position of the sampling tool within the borehole; and

a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a wall of the borehole to identify a previously heated portion of the subterranean formation;

wherein the sampling tool is configured to obtain a sample of fluid by interfacing with the previously heated portion of the subterranean formation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the orientation module is configured to determine the position by determining an orientation of the sampling tool in the borehole.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one temperature sensor comprises a plurality of extendable arms coupled to the sampling tool, and wherein each of the arms has a temperature sensing element at one end of the arm.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a tool positioning module configured to change an orientation of the sampling tool within the borehole.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the tool positioning module comprises a plurality of extendable arms configured to move the sampling tool.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sampling tool is configured to be deployed in the borehole via a wireline, a drill string, or coiled tubing.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a downhole apparatus, comprising;

a first tool comprising a heating module and a heating control unit, wherein the heating module is configured to convey heat energy to a portion of the subterranean formation, and wherein the heating control unit is configured to control the heat energy provided by the heating module to the portion of the subterranean formation; and

a second tool comprising a sampling inlet, an orientation module, and at least one of a packer and a probe, wherein the orientation module is configured to orient the sampling inlet relative to the portion of the subterranean formation, and wherein the at least one of a packer and a probe is configured to isolate at least a section of a portion of the borehole.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first tool further comprises a heat reflector adjacent to the heating module and configured to reflect at least some of the heat energy provided by the heating module toward a wall of the borehole.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second tool further comprises a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a wall of the borehole to identify the portion of the subterranean formation.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first and second tools are each configured to be deployed in the borehole via a single wireline, a single drill string, or a single coiled tubing string.