Apparatus and method for formation evaluation

• US 7,793,713 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Del Campo, Christopher S., Nold, Raymond V. III, Zazovsky, Alexander F., Briquet, Stephane, Ervin, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell; David J
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDREWS, DAVID L
• Application Number:
  US12/512,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20090283266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 166/264, 166/100, 166/250.17, 166/185, 731/522.6, 731/522.4
• US Class Current: 166/100
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers

Abstract

A method for acquiring a sample of a virgin fluid from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore surrounded by a layer of contaminated fluid is disclosed. The method includes abutting a first packer against a wall of the wellbore, and extending at least a portion of a second packer beyond the first packer, wherein the second packer is at least partially disposed in the first packer. An inlet to a first flowline is at least partially defined by the first packer, and an inlet to a second flowline is defined by the second packer. The method further includes drawing one of virgin fluid, contaminated fluid and combinations thereof into the first flowline; and drawing virgin fluid into the second flowline.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a probe assembly extendable from a downhole tool disposed in a wellbore penetrating a subsurface formation, wherein the probe assembly comprises;

an outer packer configured to sealingly engage a first portion of the wellbore, the outer packer having a bore therethrough;

an inner packer disposed in the bore of the outer packer and forming an annulus therebetween, the inner packer configured to sealingly engage a second portion of the wellbore within the first portion, wherein a first inlet comprising the annulus is configured to admit virgin fluid and contaminated fluid from the formation into the downhole tool, and wherein a second inlet comprising a bore extending through the inner packer is configured to admit virgin fluid from the formation into the downhole tool;

a flow line fluid coupled to at least one of the first and second inlets, wherein the flow line comprises a filter configured to filter particles in fluid admitted by the at least one of the first and second inlets;

a sampling tube operatively connected to the inner packer and moveable relative to the outer packer; and

a piston disposed within the sampling tube, wherein the piston comprises an axial passageway and one or more sidewall perforations configured to conduct virgin fluid admitted to the sampling tube via the second inlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the probe assembly is extendable under hydraulic pressure delivered from the downhole tool.