Earth formation pressure measurement with penetrating probe
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring a property of a subsurface formation intersected by a wellbore, comprising:
- a tool body adapted for axial movement through the wellbore;
an actuating means carried by said tool body;
a probe propelled by said actuating means for substantially lateral or transverse movement of said probe between a retracted position within the wellbore and an extended position penetrating a wall of the wellbore such that said probe engages the formation, said probe including a tapered nose portion, a substantially cylindrical portion connected to the tapered nose portion, and a second tapered portion connected to the cylindrical portion, whereby said probe is adapted for substantially producing a seal at the wall of the wellbore as said probe is moved to the extended position and said probe having means therein for measuring the property of the formation at or near an area engaged by said probe.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for measuring a property of a subsurface formation intersected by a wellbore, which contemplate the use of a tool body adapted for movement through the wellbore. Actuating means is carried by the tool body, and a probe is propelled by the actuating means for movement of the probe between a retracted position within the wellbore and an extended position penetrating a wall of the wellbore such that the probe engages the formation. The probe is adapted for substantially producing a seal at the wall of the wellbore as the probe is moved to the extended position, and the probe has means therein for measuring the property of the formation engaged by the probe.
112 Citations
54 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for measuring a property of a subsurface formation intersected by a wellbore, comprising:
-
a tool body adapted for axial movement through the wellbore; an actuating means carried by said tool body; a probe propelled by said actuating means for substantially lateral or transverse movement of said probe between a retracted position within the wellbore and an extended position penetrating a wall of the wellbore such that said probe engages the formation, said probe including a tapered nose portion, a substantially cylindrical portion connected to the tapered nose portion, and a second tapered portion connected to the cylindrical portion, whereby said probe is adapted for substantially producing a seal at the wall of the wellbore as said probe is moved to the extended position and said probe having means therein for measuring the property of the formation at or near an area engaged by said probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. An apparatus for measuring a property of a subsurface formation intersected by a wellbore, comprising:
-
a tool body adapted for axial movement through the wellbore; an actuating means carried by said tool body; a probe propelled by said actuating means for substantially lateral or transverse movement of said probe between a retracted position within the wellbore and an extended position penetrating a wall of the wellbore in engagement with the formation, said probe including a tapered nose portion, a substantially cylindrical portion connected to the tapered nose portion, a second tapered portion connected to the cylindrical portion for substantially forming a seal at the wall of the wellbore as said probe is moved to the extended position, and a passageway therein for measuring the property of the formation. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A probe for measuring a property of a subsurface formation, comprising:
a body adapted for substantially lateral or transverse movement between a retracted position on a wellbore tool disposed in a wellbore intersecting the formation and an extended position penetrating a wall of the wellbore in engagement with the formation, said body having a tapered nose portion, a substantially cylindrical portion connected to the tapered nose portion, a second tapered portion connected to the cylindrical portion for substantially forming a seal at the wall of the wellbore when said probe is moved to the extended position, and means therein for communicating formation fluid from the formation to a measuring junction when said probe is moved to the extended position. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
-
39. A probe for measuring the pressure of a subsurface formation, comprising:
a body adapted for substantially lateral or transverse movement between a retracted position on a wellbore tool disposed in a wellbore intersecting the formation and an extended position penetrating a wall of the wellbore in engagement with the formation, said body having a tapered nose portion, a substantially cylindrical portion connected to the tapered nose portion, and a second tapered section connected to the cylindrical section for substantially producing a seal at the wall of the wellbore as said body is moved to the extended position and said body having means therein for communicating the pressure of formation fluid to a pressure measuring junction when said probe is moved to the extended position.
-
40. A method for measuring a property of a subsurface formation intersected by a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
-
moving a tool body through the wellbore to the depth of a desired formation, the tool body carrying a probe including a tapered nose portion, a substantially cylindrical portion connected to the tapered nose portion, and a second tapered portion connected to the cylindrical portion, and fluid communicating means in the probe; moving the probe from a retracted position within the wellbore to an extended position penetrating a wall of the wellbore in engagement with the formation such that the second tapered portion of the probe substantially forms a seal at the wall of the wellbore; and communicating fluid from the formation through the fluid communicating means in the probe to a sensor to measure the formation property. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
-
Specification