Formation testing apparatus and method

• US 7,155,967 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2002
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Houston, Glenn, Jeffries, Robert, Rylander, Erik, Haddad, Sammy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LARKIN, DANIEL SEAN
• Application Number:
  US10/191,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 731/523.9, 73/645.6, 731/522.3, 731/522.4, 731/522.5, 738/632.1, 738/632.3, 738/655, 73/310.7, 166/100, 166/105.1, 166/250.01, 166/254.2, 166/265, 166/64, 175/63, 175/234, 175/4, 175/78
• US Class Current: 73/152.39
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/02 by mechanically taking samples of the soil
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for testing formations surrounding an earth borehole. The method includes the following steps: providing a tool movable through the borehole; providing a flow line in the tool; establishing fluid communication between the formations and the flow line of the tool; and providing a sand trap in communication with the flow line of the tool for trapping sand flowing with fluid from the formations.

Claims

1. Apparatus for testing formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising:

a tool movable through the borehole, said tool having a flow line running therethrough;

means, in said tool, for establishing fluid communication between the formations and the flow line in said tool; and

a predetermined plurality of sample bottles operatively connected to the flow line, at least one of the plurality of sample bottles being replaced with a sand trap for separating sand from the fluid from the formations traveling in said flow line whereby a sample of sand is collected.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said sand trap comprises a receptacle containing a screen.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 2, wherein said screen is operative to cause precipitation of sand in the formation fluid and also to filter sand from the formation fluid.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 3, wherein said tool includes a pump in said flow line, and wherein said sand trap is located so that sand-containing fluid from the formation reaches said sand trap before reaching said pump.

5. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said tool includes a pump in said flow line, and wherein said sand trap is located so that sand-containing fluid from the formation reaches said sand trap before reacting said pump.

6. Apparatus as defined by claim 1, further comprising a second sand trap in said tool for trapping sand in the fluid from the formations traveling in said flow line.

7. Apparatus as defined by claim 6 further comprising a valve located in the flow line adjacent each of said sand traps for controlling fluid flow through said sand trap.

8. Apparatus as defined by claim 7 wherein said valve is operative to cause a bypass of said adjacent sand trap by the fluid flowing through the flow line.

9. A method for obtaining a sample of solid materials from formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising the steps of:

providing a tool that is movable through the borehole, the tool comprising a predetermined plurality of sample bottles, at least one of the plurality of sample bottles being replaced with a sand trap;

setting the tool at a desired depth level;

establishing fluid communication between the formations and the tool;

passing fluid from the formations through the sand trap;

trapping a sample of sand from the fluid passing through the sand trap; and

bringing the tool to the surface and recovering the sand from the sand trap.

10. The method as defined by claim 9, further comprising the step of analyzing the sand recovered from the sand trap.

11. The method as defined by claim 10, wherein said sand trap is operative to cause precipitation of sand and also filtering of sand.

12. The method as defined by claim 9, further comprising the step of analyzing said sand to determine the particle size distribution thereof.

13. The method as defined by claim 9, wherein said sand trap is operative to cause precipitation of sand and also filtering of sand.

14. The method as defined by claim 9 further comprising die step of moving the tool to a different depth location and repeating said steps for setting the tool, establishing fluid communication and trapping sand at the different depth location.

15. A method for testing formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising the steps of:

providing a tool movable through the borehole;

providing a flow line in the tool;

establishing fluid communication between the formations and the flow line of the tool; and

providing a predetermined plurality of sample bottles in communication with the flow line of said tool, at least one of the plurality of sample bottles being replaced with a sand trap for trapping sand from the fluid from the formations passing therethrough whereby a sample of sand is collected.

16. The method as defined by claim 15, further comprising bringing the tool to the earth'"'"'s surface, and recovering the sand from the sand trap.

17. The method as defined by claim 16, further comprising analyzing said sand to determine properties thereof.

18. The method as defined by claim 17, wherein said sand trap is operative to cause precipitation of sand and also filtering of sand.

19. The method as defined by claim 16, further comprising the step of analyzing said recovered sand to determine the particle size distribution thereof.

20. The method as defined by claim 15, wherein said sand trap is operative to cause precipitation of sand and also filtering of sand.

21. The method as defined by claim 15, wherein said step of providing a sand trap comprises providing a plurality of sand traps.

22. The method as defined by claim 15, further comprising determining the pressure in said tool when sand starts to flow with the formation fluid.