Formation fluid sampling apparatus and methods
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
26 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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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:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A downhole tool connected to a drill string positioned in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation along a wellbore axis, the tool comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification