Method and apparatus to facilitate formation sampling
First Claim
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1. A method for extracting a sample from a subsurface formation comprising:
- conveying a downhole tool in a wellbore drilled through the subsurface formation, the downhole tool having a sample chamber, an emitter of electromagnetic energy configured to heat water in the subsurface formation, and an antenna configured to detect a signal having characteristics related to a water saturation of a portion of the formation;
determining a parameter indicative of a water saturation in the portion of the formation based on the signal detected by the antenna;
actuating the emitter to expose the portion of the formation to electromagnetic energy based on the determined parameter; and
capturing in the sample chamber a sample of formation fluid from the portion of the formation exposed to the electromagnetic energy.
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Abstract
A downhole tool for extracting a sample from a subsurface formation includes an emitter of electromagnetic energy configured to heat water in the subsurface formation. A method for extracting a sample from a subsurface formation involves conveying a downhole tool in a wellbore drilled through the subsurface formation, the downhole tool having an emitter of electromagnetic energy configured to heat water in the subsurface formation, and actuating the emitter to expose a portion of the formation to electromagnetic energy.
50 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for extracting a sample from a subsurface formation comprising:
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conveying a downhole tool in a wellbore drilled through the subsurface formation, the downhole tool having a sample chamber, an emitter of electromagnetic energy configured to heat water in the subsurface formation, and an antenna configured to detect a signal having characteristics related to a water saturation of a portion of the formation; determining a parameter indicative of a water saturation in the portion of the formation based on the signal detected by the antenna; actuating the emitter to expose the portion of the formation to electromagnetic energy based on the determined parameter; and capturing in the sample chamber a sample of formation fluid from the portion of the formation exposed to the electromagnetic energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A downhole tool for extracting a sample from a subsurface formation comprising:
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an emitter of electromagnetic energy configured to heat water in a portion of the formation; an antenna configured to detect a signal having characteristics related to a water saturation in the portion of the formation; a processor configured to determine a parameter indicative of water saturation in the portion of the formation based on the signal detected by the antenna; a controller configured to selectively actuate the emitter to expose the portion of the formation to electromagnetic energy based on the determined parameter; a fluid admitting assembly configured to draw fluid from the portion of the formation; and a fluid collecting chamber configured to receive fluid drawn from the portion of the formation through the fluid admitting assembly. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A downhole tool for extracting a sample from a subsurface formation, comprising:
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a first emitter of electromagnetic energy configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in a portion of the subsurface formation at one or more frequencies in the range from 0.3 gigahertz to 3 gigahertz; a second emitter of electromagnetic energy configured to heat hydrocarbon in the subsurface formation by emitting electromagnetic radiation in the subsurface formation at one or more frequencies of at least 40 gigahertz; an antenna configured to detect a signal having characteristics related to a water saturation in the portion of the formation, wherein the antenna comprises at least one of a dielectric antenna and a NMR antenna; a processor configured to determine a parameter indicative of water saturation in the portion of the formation based on the signal detected by the antenna; a controller configured to selectively actuate the emitter to expose the portion of the formation to electromagnetic energy based on the determined parameter; a fluid admitting assembly configured to draw fluid from the portion of the formation; and a fluid collecting chamber configured to receive fluid drawn from the portion of the formation through the fluid admitting assembly; wherein; the antenna is configured to detect a signal having characteristics related to a permittivity of a portion of the formation, and the processor is configured to determine a parameter indicative of a temperature of the portion of the formation based on the detected signal related to the permittivity; and the downhole tool is configured to be conveyed in a wellbore drilled through the subsurface formation via at least one of a wireline cable, a tubing, and a drill string.
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Specification