Formation fluid sampling apparatus and methods

• US 7,654,321 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Longfield, Colin, Burgess, Keith A., Sherwood, John D., Zimmerman, Thomas H., Pop, Julian J., Zazovsky, Alexander F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell; David J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andrish; Sean D
• Application Number:
  US11/616,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20080156487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 166/100, 166/264, 175/50, 175/59, 731/521.9, 731/522.4, 731/522.6
• US Class Current: 166/264
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

Abstract

A fluid sampling system retrieves a formation fluid sample from a formation surrounding a wellbore extending along a wellbore axis, wherein the formation has a virgin fluid and a contaminated fluid therein. The system includes a sample inlet, a first guard inlet positioned adjacent to the sample inlet and spaced from the sample inlet in a first direction along the wellbore axis, and a second guard inlet positioned adjacent to the sample inlet and spaced from the sample inlet in a second, opposite direction along the wellbore axis. At least one cleanup flowline is fluidly connected to the first and second guard inlets for passing contaminated fluid, and an evaluation flowline is fluidly connected to the sample inlet for collecting virgin fluid.

Claims

1. A fluid sampling system for retrieving a formation fluid sample from a formation surrounding a wellbore extending along a wellbore axis, the formation having a virgin fluid and a contaminated fluid therein, comprising:

a sample inlet provided on a sample inlet assembly including a sample inlet extension mechanism;

a first guard inlet spaced from the sample inlet in a first direction along the wellbore axis, wherein the first guard inlet is provided on a first guard inlet assembly including a first guard inlet extension mechanism;

a second guard inlet spaced from the sample inlet in a second, opposite direction relative to the first guard inlet along the wellbore axis, wherein the second guard inlet is provided on a second guard inlet assembly including a second guard inlet extension mechanism;

at least one cleanup flowline fluidly connected to the first and second guard inlets for passing the contaminated fluid;

an evaluation flowline fluidly connected to the sample inlet for collecting the virgin fluid;

an inlet packer completely surrounding outer peripheries of the sample inlet, the first guard inlet, and the second guard inlet, wherein the inlet packer includes a first packer segment disposed between the sample inlet and the first guard inlet and a second packer segment disposed between the sample inlet and the second guard inlet;

wherein the sample inlet extension mechanism, the first guard inlet extension mechanism, and the second guard inlet extension mechanism are operable independently of one another.

2. The fluid sampling system of claim 1, in which the inlet packer has an oval-shaped outer periphery.

3. The fluid sampling system of claim 1, in which the sample inlet assembly has a diameter, and wherein the first and second guard inlet assemblies are longitudinally spaced from the sample inlet assembly by a distance substantially equal to or greater than the diameter.

4. The fluid sampling system of claim 1, in which at least one of the first and the second guard inlet assemblies has a diameter, and wherein the at least one of the first and the second guard inlet assembly is longitudinally spaced from the sample inlet assembly by a distance substantially equal to or greater than the diameter.

5. The fluid sampling system of claim 1, in which the sample inlet assembly, the first guard inlet assembly, and the second guard inlet assembly are provided on a stabilizing blade of a drilling tool.

6. The fluid sampling system of claim 1, in which the sample inlet is azimuthally offset from the first and the second guard inlets.

7. The fluid sampling system of claim 1, further comprising a third guard inlet fluidly connected to the cleanup flowline.

8. The fluid sampling system of claim 1, in which the sample inlet, the first guard inlet, and the second guard inlet are integrally provided an a single probe assembly including an inlet extension mechanism.

9. The fluid sampling system of claim 1, in which the first and second packer segments further comprise a reinforcement material.

10. The fluid sampling system of claim 1, in which the sample inlet has an oval-shaped cross-sectional profile, with a major axis perpendicular to the wellbore axis and a minor axis parallel to the wellbore axis.

11. The fluid sampling system of claim 1, in which the system is associated with a wireline tool.

12. The fluid sampling system of claim 1, in which the system is associated with a drilling tool.

13. A fluid sampling system for retrieving a formation fluid sample from a formation surrounding a wellbore extending along a wellbore axis, the formation having a virgin fluid and a contaminated fluid therein, comprising:

a sample inlet provided on a sample inlet assembly including a sample inlet extension mechanism;

a first guard inlet spaced from the sample inlet in a first direction along the wellbore axis, wherein the first guard inlet is provided on a first guard inlet assembly including a first guard inlet extension mechanism;

a second guard inlet spaced from the sample inlet in a second, opposite direction relative to the first guard inlet along the wellbore axis, wherein the second guard inlet is provided on a second guard inlet assembly including a second guard inlet extension mechanism;

at least one cleanup flowline fluidly connected to the first and second guard inlets for passing the contaminated fluid; and

an evaluation flowline fluidly connected to the sample inlet for collecting the virgin fluid;

a sample inlet packer completely surrounding an outer periphery of the sample inlet;

a first guard inlet packer completely surrounding an outer periphery of the first guard inlet; and

a second guard inlet packer completely surrounding an outer periphery of the second guard inlet;

wherein the sample inlet extension mechanism, the first guard inlet extension mechanism, and the second guard inlet extension mechanism are operable independently of one another.

14. A fluid sampling system for retrieving a formation fluid sample from a formation surrounding a wellbore extending along a wellbore axis, the formation having a virgin fluid and a contaminated fluid therein, comprising:

a sample inlet provided on a sample inlet assembly including a sample inlet extension mechanism;

a first guard inlet spaced from the sample inlet in a first direction along the wellbore axis, wherein the first guard inlet is provided on a first guard inlet assembly including a first guard inlet extension mechanism;

a second guard inlet spaced from the sample inlet in a second, opposite direction relative to the first guard inlet along the wellbore axis, wherein the second guard inlet is provided on a second guard inlet assembly including a second guard inlet extension mechanism;

at least one cleanup flowline fluidly connected to the first and the second guard inlets for passing the contaminated fluid;

an evaluation flowline fluidly connected to the sample inlet for collecting the virgin fluid; and

an inlet packer completely surrounding outer peripheries of the sample inlet, the first guard inlet, and the second guard inlet;

in which an exterior face of the inlet packer includes a guard channel; and

wherein the sample inlet extension mechanism, the first guard inlet extension mechanism, and the second guard inlet extension mechanism are operable independently of one another.

15. A probe assembly for use with a fluid sampling system to retrieve a formation fluid sample from a formation surrounding a wellbore extending along a wellbore axis, the formation having a virgin fluid and a contaminated fluid therein, comprising:

an inlet extension mechanism;

a sample inlet coupled to the inlet extension mechanism;

a first guard inlet coupled to the inlet extension mechanism, the first guard inlet being positioned adjacent to the sample inlet and spaced from the sample inlet in a first direction parallel to the wellbore axis;

a second guard inlet coupled to the inlet extension mechanism, the second guard inlet being positioned adjacent to the sample inlet and spaced from the sample inlet in a second, opposite direction relative to the first guard inlet parallel to the wellbore axis; and

an inlet packer completely surrounding outer peripheries of the sample inlet, the first guard inlet, and the second guard inlet;

in which an exterior face of the inlet packer includes a guard channel, and in which the guard channel includes a guard ring section completely surrounding an outer periphery of the first guard inlet and at least a first wing section connected to and extending away from the guard ring section.

16. The probe assembly of claim 15, in which the guard channel further includes a second wing section connecting to and extending away from the guard ring section.

17. The probe assembly of claim 15, further including a second guard channel having a second guard ring section completely surrounding an outer periphery of the second guard inlet and at least a second wing section connected to and extending away from the guard ring section.

18. The probe assembly of claim 15, in which the guard channel is defined by a channel insert coupled to the inlet packer.

19. The probe assembly of claim 18, in which the channel insert is mechanically coupled to the inlet packer.

20. The probe assembly of claim 15, in which the sample inlet, the first guard inlet, and the second guard inlet are pivotably coupled to the inlet extension mechanism.

21. A downhole tool connected to a drill string positioned in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation along a wellbore axis, the tool comprising:

a drilling collar having at least one stabilizing blade defining a blade axis;

an inlet extension mechanism housed within the stabilizing blade; and

a probe assembly pivotably coupled to the inlet extension mechanism, the probe assembly comprising;

a sample inlet having a mouth portion with a first profile dimension in a direction parallel to the blade axis and a second profile dimension in a direction perpendicular to the blade axis, in which the first profile dimension is greater than the second profile dimension;

an inner packer completely surrounding an outer periphery of the sample inlet;

a guard inlet extending completely around an outer periphery of the inner packer; and

an outer packer completely surrounding an outer periphery of the guard inlet.

22. The downhole tool of claim 21, in which the mouth portion has a generally oval shape cross-sectional profile, with the first profile dimension comprising a major axis and the second profile dimension comprising a minor axis.

23. The downhole tool of claim 21, in which the second profile dimension is less than approximately 3.5 inches.

24. A probe assembly for use with a fluid sampling system to retrieve a formation fluid sample from a formation surrounding a wellbore extending along a wellbore axis, the formation having a virgin fluid and a contaminated fluid therein, comprising:

an inlet extension mechanism;

a sample inlet coupled to the inlet extension mechanism;

a first guard inlet coupled to the inlet extension mechanism, the first guard inlet being positioned adjacent to the sample inlet and spaced from the sample inlet in a first direction parallel to the wellbore axis;

a second guard inlet coupled to the inlet extension mechanism, the second guard inlet being positioned adjacent to the sample inlet and spaced from the sample inlet in a second, opposite direction relative to the first guard inlet parallel to the wellbore axis; and

an inlet packer completely surrounding outer peripheries of the sample inlet, the first guard inlet, and the second guard inlet;

wherein an exterior face of the inlet packer includes a guard channel comprising;

a central ring section completely surrounding the outer periphery of the sample inlet;

a first guard ring section completely surrounding the outer periphery of the first guard inlet;

a second guard ring section completely surrounding an outer periphery of the second guard inlet;

a first link section extending between the central ring section and the first guard ring section; and

a second link section extending between the central ring section and the second guard ring section.

25. The probe assembly of claim 24, in which the guard channel is defined by a channel insert coupled to the inlet packer.

26. The probe assembly of claim 25, in which the channel insert is mechanically coupled to the inlet packer.