Formation pressure measurement while drilling utilizing a non-rotating sleeve

• US 6,230,557 B1
• Filed: 07/12/1999
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Dorel, Alain P., Ciglenec, Reinhart
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIGGINS, JOHN DAVID
• Application Number:
  US09/351,569
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 731/520.1, 731/521.7, 731/520.3, 731/522.3, 731/522.5, 731/523.6, 731/524.6, 175/50, 166/250.07, 166/250.16, 166/117.6, 166/100, 166/133
• US Class Current: 73/152.01
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

Abstract

A downhole tool and method are provided for collecting data from a subsurface formation during drilling operations. The tool includes a tubular mandrel adapted for axial connection in a drill string positioned in a wellbore penetrating the subsurface formation and a stabilizer element or sleeve positioned about the tubular mandrel for relative rotation between the stabilizer element and the tubular mandrel. A plurality of elongated ribs are connected to the stabilizer element. A means is connected to the stabilizer element for frictional engagement with a wall of the wellbore so as to prevent the stabilizer element from rotating relative to the wellbore wall. An actuator system is carried at least partially by the stabilizer element, and a probe is carried by one of the elongated ribs and adapted for movement by the actuator system between a retracted position within the one rib and an extended position engaging the wellbore wall such that the probe collects data from the formation. The method includes placing a non-rotating element of a tool positioned in a drill string in engagement with a wall of the wellbore such that the non-rotating element does not move relative to the wellbore wall. A probe carried by the non-rotating element is moved into sealed engagement with the wellbore wall to establish fluid communication between the formation and the non-rotating element, thereby enabling one or more properties of the formation fluid to be sensed.

Claims

1. A downhole tool for collecting data from a subsurface formation, comprising:

a tubular mandrel adapted for axial connection in a drill string positioned in a wellbore penetrating the subsurface formation;

a stabilizer element positioned about the tubular mandrel for relative rotation between the stabilizer element and the tubular mandrel;

a plurality of elongated ribs connected to the stabilizer element;

means connected to the stabilizer element for frictional engagement with a wall of the wellbore, such frictional engagement preventing the stabilizer element from rotating relative to the wellbore wall;

an actuator system carried at least partially by the stabilizer element; and

a probe carried by one of the elongated ribs and adapted for movement by the actuator system between a retracted position within the one rib and an extended position engaging the wellbore wall such that the probe collects data from the formation.

2. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated ribs are radially spaced apart and oriented axially along the stabilizer element.

3. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated ribs are radially spaced apart and oriented helically along the stabilizer element.

4. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the frictional engagement means includes the plurality of elongated ribs.

5. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the frictional engagement means includes a plurality of stabilizer blades, each of the blades being positioned between two of the elongated ribs.

6. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the frictional engagement means includes a spring system for urging the frictional engagement means into contact with the wellbore wall to prevent rotation of the frictional engagement means relative to the wellbore wall.

7. The downhole tool of claim 6, wherein the spring system includes a plurality of bow-spring blades each having an inherent spring stiffness.

8. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the probe includes

a resilient packer positioned in a substantially cylindrical opening in one of the ribs of the stabilizer element, the packer having a central opening therein;

a conduit having an open end positioned for fluid communication with the central opening in the packer; and

a filter valve positioned in the central opening of the packer about the open end of the conduit, the filter valve being movable between a first position closing the open end of the conduit and a second position permitting filtered formation fluid flow between the formation and the conduit.

9. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the actuator system includes

a hydraulic fluid system;

means for selectively pressurizing hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic fluid system;

an expandable vessel in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid system, the vessel being expanded with increased pressure in the hydraulic fluid and contracted with decreased pressure in the hydraulic fluid.

10. The downhole tool of claim 8, wherein the actuator system includes

a hydraulic fluid system;

means for selectively pressurizing the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic fluid system;

an expandable bellows in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid system and connected to the packer, the bellows being expanded with increased pressure in the hydraulic fluid to move the packer into sealed engagement with the wellbore wall.

11. The downhole tool of claim 10, wherein the actuator system further comprises a sequence valve that operates upon sensing a predetermined pressure in the hydraulic fluid resulting from maximum expansion of the bellows to move the filter valve to the second position whereby fluid in the formation can flow into the open end of the conduit.

12. The downhole tool of claim 8, further comprising a sensor placed in fluid communication with the conduit for measuring a property of the formation fluid.

13. The downhole tool of claim 12, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor adapted for sensing the pressure of the formation fluid.

14. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the downhole tool is a non-rotating stabilizer.

15. A downhole tool for collecting data from a subsurface formation, comprising:

a tubular mandrel adapted for axial connection in a drill string positioned in a wellbore penetrating the subsurface formation;

a stabilizer element positioned about the tubular mandrel for relative rotation between the stabilizer element and the tubular mandrel;

a plurality of elongated ribs connected to the stabilizer element for frictional engagement with a wall of the wellbore, such frictional engagement preventing the stabilizer element from rotating relative to the wellbore wall;

an actuator system carried at least partially by the stabilizer element; and

a probe carried by one of the elongated ribs and adapted for movement by the actuator system between a retracted position within the one rib and an extended position engaging the wellbore wall such that the probe collects data from the formation.

16. A downhole tool for collecting data from a subsurface formation, comprising:

a tubular mandrel adapted for axial connection in a drill string positioned in a wellbore penetrating the subsurface formation;

a stabilizer element positioned about the tubular mandrel for relative rotation between the stabilizer element and the tubular mandrel;

a plurality of elongated ribs connected to the stabilizer element, the ribs being radially spaced apart from one another;

a plurality of stabilizer blades connected to the stabilizer element for frictional engagement with a wall of the wellbore, such frictional engagement preventing the stabilizer element from rotating relative to the wellbore wall;

an actuator system carried at least partially by the stabilizer element; and

a probe carried by one of the elongated ribs and adapted for movement by the actuator system between a retracted position within the one rib and an extended position engaging the wellbore wall such that the probe collects data from the formation.

17. The downhole tool of claim 16, wherein each of the stabilizer blades is positioned between two of the elongated ribs.

18. The downhole tool of claim 16, wherein each of the stabilizer blades includes a bow spring having an inherent spring stiffness to urge the stabilizer blade into frictional engagement with the wellbore wall.

19. A method for measuring a property of fluid present in a subsurface formation, comprising:

positioning a drill string in a wellbore penetrating the subsurface formation;

placing a non-rotating element of a tool positioned in the drill string in engagement with a wall of the wellbore such that the non-rotating element does not move relative to the wellbore wall; and

moving a probe carried by the non-rotating element into sealed engagement with the wellbore wall to establish fluid communication between the formation and the non-rotating element.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising introducing fluid from the formation to a sensor carried by the downhole tool for sensing a property of the formation.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor adapted for sensing formation fluid pressure.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the probe is adapted for movement by an actuator system between a retracted position within the non-rotating element and an extended position engaging, the wellbore wall such that the probe collects data from the formation.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the probe includes

a resilient packer positioned in a substantially cylindrical opening in the non-rotating element, the packer having a central opening therein;

a conduit having an open end positioned for fluid communication with the central opening in the packer; and

a filter valve positioned in the central opening of the packer about the open end of the conduit, the filter valve being movable between a first position closing the open end of the conduit and a second position permitted filtered formation fluid flow between the formation and the conduit.