Formation coring apparatus and methods

• US 8,550,184 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Buchanan, Steven E., Pop, Julian J., Sonne, Carsten, Erol, Gokhan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAYRE, JAMES G
• Application Number:
  US12/775,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20100282516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 175/58, 175/20, 175/77, 175/78, 175/38, 175/40, 175/99
• US Class Current: 175/58
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/002 by visual inspection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0025 generating an image of the borehole wall using down-hole measurements, e.g. acoustic or electric
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/06 using side-wall drilling tools pressing or scrapers

Abstract

Methods comprising: lowering a downhole tool into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, wherein the downhole tool comprises a coring tool and a measurement tool; performing a measurement regarding the formation using the measurement tool; determining a section of interest within the formation relative to an axis of the coring tool based on the measurement; orienting a coring bit of the coring tool relative to the section of interest; and extending the oriented coring bit into the formation.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a downhole tool configured for conveyance within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, wherein the downhole tool comprises a coring tool comprising;

a sidewall coring assembly having a coring bit;

an extension system configured to extend the coring bit from the sidewall coring assembly at a plurality of angles with respect to an axis of the downhole tool; and

a rotation system configured to rotate the sidewall coring assembly to each of the plurality of angles, wherein the rotation system comprises;

a hydraulic piston movable to rotate the coring bit to each of the plurality of angles; and

a flow control valve operable to regulate fluid flow to the hydraulic piston based on a detected position of the hydraulic piston.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coring bit is configured to extend at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to an axis of the sidewall coring assembly to capture a core sample.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the extension system comprises an extension piston and an extension link arm collectively configured to extend and retract the coring bit from the sidewall coring assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotation system comprises a rotation link arm configured to rotate the sidewall coring assembly with respect to an axis of the sidewall coring assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotation system comprises a position sensor to determine a rotational position of the coring bit with respect to the axis of the downhole tool.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotation system comprises:

a position sensor to detect a position of the hydraulic piston; and

a controller configured to determine an angular position of the coring bit based on the detected position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotation system comprises

a handling piston extendable to obstruct movement of the coring bit past a selected angle of the plurality of angles.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotation system comprises:

a position sensor to detect a position of the hydraulic piston; and

a controller configured to move the hydraulic piston based on the detected position to maintain the coring bit at a selected angle of the plurality of angles during rotation of the coring bit.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a downhole tool configured for conveyance within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, wherein the downhole tool comprises a coring tool comprising;

a sidewall coring assembly having a coring bit;

an extension system configured to extend the coring bit from the sidewall coring assembly at a plurality of angles with respect to an axis of the downhole tool; and

a rotation system configured to rotate the sidewall coring assembly to each of the plurality of angles, wherein the rotation system comprises;

a piston movable to rotate the coring bit to each of the plurality of angles;

a position sensor to detect a position of the piston; and

a controller configured to determine an angular position of the coring bit based on the detected position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the coring bit is configured to extend at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to an axis of the sidewall coring assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the extension system comprises an extension piston moveable to extend the coring bit from the sidewall coring assembly.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a downhole tool configured for conveyance within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, wherein the downhole tool comprises a coring tool comprising;

a sidewall coring assembly having a coring bit;

an extension system configured to extend the coring bit from the sidewall coring assembly at a plurality of angles with respect to an axis of the downhole tool; and

a rotation system configured to rotate the sidewall coring assembly to each of the plurality of angles, wherein the rotation system comprises;

a piston movable to rotate the coring bit to each of the plurality of angles;

a position sensor to detect a position of the piston; and

a controller configured to move the piston based on the detected position to maintain the coring bit at a selected angle of the plurality of angles during rotation of the coring bit.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the coring bit is configured to extend at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to an axis of the sidewall coring assembly to capture a core sample.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the extension system comprises:

an extension piston moveable to insert the coring bit into the subterranean formation; and

a pressure gauge configured to indicate an amount of pressure applied to the extension piston.