TRANSPORT AND ANALYSIS DEVICE FOR USE IN A BOREHOLE

• US 20110253373A1
• Filed: 04/11/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Kumar, Sunil, John, Hendrik
• Application Number:
  US13/083,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20110253373A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/306
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/00 Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor freeing objects stuck in boreholes by flushing E21B31/03
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/10 Tools specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 27/02 Dump bailers, i.e. containers for depositing substances, e.g. cement or acids
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/084 with means for conveying samples through pipe to surface

Abstract

A fluid conveyable device having an interior space receives a payload that may be transported along at least a section of a borehole. The device includes a access control member for conveying the payload between the interior and the exterior of the fluid conveyable device.

Claims

1. A method for transporting a payload in a borehole, comprising:

activating a fluid conveyable device in a wellbore to convey a payload between an interior and an exterior of the fluid conveyable device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation is in response to an estimated parameter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the estimated parameter is at least one of:

(i) a pressure, (ii) a temperature, (iii) a duration of time; and

(iv) a chemical parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation is in response to a received signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying the fluid conveyable device into the wellbore using a flowing fluid.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the fluid is a drilling fluid circulated in the wellbore.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising estimating downhole a parameter of interest relating to the collected downhole material.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving the fluid conveyable device from the wellbore using a flowing fluid.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the payload is conveyed from the interior to the exterior of the fluid conveyable device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the payload is conveyed from the exterior to the interior of the fluid conveyable device.

11. An apparatus for transporting a payload in a wellbore, comprising:

a fluid conveyable device having an interior space for receiving the payload, and a access control member for conveying the payload between the interior and the exterior of the fluid conveyable device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an activator configured to control flow of the down hole material into the device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the activator controls flow in response to at least one of an estimated:

(i) pressure, (ii) temperature, and (iii) duration of time.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the activator is responsive to an encoded signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein an outer dimension of the device is no greater than a millimeter.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the interior space is sealed.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the device includes at least one of:

(i) a sensor configured to estimate a selected parameter of interest, and (ii) an analysis tool configured to estimate a parameter of interest relating to the downhole material in the device.