Elongated Probe for Downhole Tool

• US 20110162836A1
• Filed: 07/07/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Church, Nathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,584,748 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

An apparatus comprising a tool body configured to be conveyed within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, an inflatable packer coupled to the tool body, and a probe assembly coupled to the tool body and comprising an inner sealing element and an outer sealing element, wherein at least one of the inner sealing element and the outer sealing element comprises an elongated shape, and wherein at least a portion of the probe assembly is disposed on the inflatable packer.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a tool body configured to be conveyed within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation;

an inflatable packer coupled to the tool body; and

a probe assembly coupled to the tool body and comprising an inner sealing element and an outer sealing element, wherein at least one of the inner sealing element and the outer sealing element comprises an elongated shape, and wherein at least a portion of the probe assembly is disposed on the inflatable packer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner sealing element is disposed on an inner support attached to the inflatable packer, and wherein the outer sealing element is disposed directly on the inflatable packer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a sample flow inlet configured to receive fluid from within the inner sealing element; and

a guard flow inlet configured to receive fluid from between the inner sealing element and the outer sealing element.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the sample flow inlet comprises a piston having a filter disposed adjacent to the piston.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a first flow line fluidly coupled to the sample flow inlet; and

a second flow line fluidly coupled to the guard flow inlet.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tool body is coupled to a downhole tool configured for conveyance within the wellbore via a wireline.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tool body is coupled to a downhole tool configured for conveyance within the wellbore via a drill string.

8. A method, comprising:

conveying a downhole tool within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, wherein the downhole tool comprises;

an inflatable packer coupled to a tool body; and

a probe assembly coupled to the tool body and comprising an inner sealing element and an outer sealing element, wherein at least one of the inner sealing element and the outer sealing element comprises an elongated shape, wherein the inner sealing element at least partially defines a sample inlet, wherein the inner and outer sealing elements collectively at least partially define a guard inlet, and wherein at least a portion of the probe assembly is disposed on the inflatable packer;

establishing fluid communication between a sidewall of the wellbore and the inner and outer sealing elements of the probe assembly by inflating the inflatable packer; and

drawing formation fluid from the formation into downhole tool through the guard and sample inlets.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the inner sealing element is disposed on an inner support attached to the inflatable packer, and wherein the outer sealing element is disposed directly on the inflatable packer.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the sample inlet comprises a piston having a filter disposed adjacent to the piston, and wherein the method further comprises actuating the piston to clear the filter.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein conveying the downhole tool within the wellbore comprises conveying the downhole tool via a wireline.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein conveying the downhole tool within the wellbore comprises conveying the downhole tool via a drill string.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a tool body configured to be conveyed within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation; and

a probe assembly coupled to the tool body and comprising an inner sealing element and an outer sealing element, wherein the outer sealing element has a length of about 10 in (25.4 cm) and a width of about 5 in (12.7 cm), and wherein the inner sealing element has a length of about 8.1 in (20.6 cm) and a width of about 2.8 in (7.1 cm).

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a guard flow path defined between the inner and outer sealing elements has a length of about 8.8 in (22.4 cm) and a width of about 3.6 in (9.2 cm).

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein a sample flow path defined by the inner sealing element has a length of about 6.8 in (17.3 cm) and a width of about 1.6 in (4.0 cm).

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the sample flow path and the guard flow path collectively have an area of about 19.8 in² (127.7 cm²).

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the sample flow path has an area of about 10.7 in² (69.0 cm²).

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the probe assembly has a production rate ratio of about 1 to 2.1 between the sample flow path and the guard flow path.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an inflatable packer coupled to the tool body, wherein the inner sealing element is disposed on an inner support attached to the inflatable packer, and wherein the outer sealing element is disposed directly on the inflatable packer.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the tool body is coupled to a downhole tool configured for conveyance within the wellbore via one of a wireline and a drill string.