APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RETRIEVAL OF DOWNHOLE SAMPLE
Disclosed is an apparatus for retrieving a downhole sample. The apparatus includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating an earth formation; a sample capsule configured to be disposed at the carrier and to contain the sample; and a discharge mechanism configured to discharge the sample capsule downhole into drilling fluid in the borehole.
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Boreholes are drilled deep into the earth for many applications such as carbon dioxide sequestration, geothermal production, and hydrocarbon exploration and production. A sample tool may be conveyed through a borehole in order to take a sample of a formation fluid. In an operation referred to as logging-while-drilling, the sample tool is disposed in a bottom hole assembly (BHA) and conveyed through the borehole by a drill string while the borehole is being drilled. During a temporary halt in drilling, the sample may be extracted from the wall of the borehole penetrating a formation containing the fluid. When the drill string and thus the BHA are removed from the borehole, the sample is retrieved from the tool and then analyzed. Unfortunately, when the drill string is being removed from the borehole, the borehole cannot be further drilled at that time leading to an inefficient use of drilling resources. In addition, analysts will have to wait a considerable amount of time to receive the sample. Hence, it would be well received in the drilling industry if the retrieval times for downhole samples could be improved.
BRIEF SUMMARYDisclosed is an apparatus for retrieving a downhole sample. The apparatus includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating an earth formation; a sample capsule configured to be disposed at the carrier and to contain the sample; and a discharge mechanism configured to discharge the sample capsule downhole into drilling fluid in the borehole.
Also disclosed is a method for retrieving a downhole sample. The method includes: conveying a carrier through a borehole penetrating an earth formation; extracting a sample from the earth formation with a sampling tool disposed at the carrier; disposing the sample in a sample capsule; and releasing the sample capsule into drilling fluid in the borehole using a capsule discharge mechanism.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
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In many cases, it is desired to analyze the retrieved sample at the ambient conditions, such as pressure and temperature, at which the sample was obtained. Hence, in one or more embodiments, the sample capsule 9 has a wall thickness sufficient to contain the sample at the pressure when the sample was extracted. To maintain the sample at the extracted temperature, the sample capsule 9 includes insulation 18. In one or more embodiments, an actuator 91 is disposed in the sample capsule 9 as illustrated in
In one or more non-limiting embodiments, the sample capsule 9 includes a sample sensor 92, as shown in
Once the sample capsule 9 enters the drilling fluid 13, it is desirable for the sample capsule 9 to be able to float in the drilling fluid 13 to insure that the capsule 9 reaches the surface of the earth 3. Depending of the dimensions and materials of the sample capsule 9, a buoyancy device 16 may be coupled to the capsule 9. In one or more embodiments, the buoyancy device 16 may be included in the insulation 18.
In order to prevent the sample capsule 9 from lodging itself on the wall of the borehole 2, the sample capsule 2 has a shape that prevents it from snagging a non-uniform surface of the borehole wall. In one or more embodiments, the sample capsule 9 has a substantially spherical shape. In one or more embodiments, the sample capsule 9 has a cylindrical shape with substantially spherical ends.
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It can be appreciated that in one or more embodiments, the controller 27 may be configured to delay the release of the sample capsule 9 or to release it at a selected time. Since the sampling may be done when drilling has been halted and the drilling mud may not be flowing, it may be desirable to release the sample capsule 9 when the drilling mud has begun flowing again in order for the flowing drilling mud to urge the capsule 9 to the surface. In one or more embodiments, the sample capsule 9 can be released when the drilling mud is not flowing with the buoyancy of the capsule 9 being able to float it to the surface.
It can be appreciated that a plurality of sample capsules 9 may be disposed in the BHA 7 in order to take multiple samples at the same depth or at various depths in the borehole 2. It can be appreciated that when multiple samples are taken using the plurality of sample capsules 9, the controller 27 may be configured to release the capsules 9 sequentially while the drilling fluid is flowing in order to prevent the capsules 9 from interfering with each other as they flow towards the surface.
In one or more embodiments, when multiple sample capsules 9 are used, the may be disposed in the conduit 22 similar to the embodiment of
It can be appreciated that the sample capsule 9 may include an information tag 32 as shown in
It can be appreciated that one or more functions of the controller 27 can be implemented by a processing system such as a computer processing system disposed at the surface of the earth. The surface processing system is configured to communicate with one or more downhole components using a telemetry system such as wired drill pipe.
It can be appreciated that the sample can be a fluid, a solid, a solid entrained in a fluid, or a fluid entrained in a solid.
In support of the teachings herein, various analysis components may be used, including a digital and/or an analog system. For example, the controller 27 may include the digital and/or analog system. The system may have components such as a processor, storage media, memory, input, output, communications link (wired, wireless, pulsed mud, optical or other), user interfaces, software programs, signal processors (digital or analog) and other such components (such as resistors, capacitors, inductors and others) to provide for operation and analyses of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein in any of several manners well-appreciated in the art. It is considered that these teachings may be, but need not be, implemented in conjunction with a set of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, including memory (ROMs, RAMs), optical (CD-ROMs), or magnetic (disks, hard drives), or any other type that when executed causes a computer to implement the method of the present invention. These instructions may provide for equipment operation, control, data collection and analysis and other functions deemed relevant by a system designer, owner, user or other such personnel, in addition to the functions described in this disclosure.
Further, various other components may be included and called upon for providing for aspects of the teachings herein. For example, a power supply (e.g., at least one of a generator, a remote supply and a battery), cooling component, heating component, magnet, electromagnet, sensor, electrode, transmitter, receiver, transceiver, antenna, controller, optical unit, electrical unit or electromechanical unit may be included in support of the various aspects discussed herein or in support of other functions beyond this disclosure.
The term “carrier” as used herein means any device, device component, combination of devices, media and/or member that may be used to convey, house, support or otherwise facilitate the use of another device, device component, combination of devices, media and/or member. Other exemplary non-limiting carriers include drill strings of the coiled tube type, of the jointed pipe type and any combination or portion thereof. Other carrier examples include casing pipes, wirelines, wireline sondes, slickline sondes, drop shots, bottom-hole-assemblies, drill string inserts, modules, internal housings and substrate portions thereof.
Elements of the embodiments have been introduced with either the articles “a” or “an.” The articles are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the elements listed. The conjunction “or” when used with a list of at least two terms is intended to mean any term or combination of terms. The terms “first” and “second” are used to distinguish elements and are not used to denote a particular order. The term “couple” relates to coupling a first component to a second component either directly or indirectly through an intermediate component.
It will be recognized that the various components or technologies may provide certain necessary or beneficial functionality or features. Accordingly, these functions and features as may be needed in support of the appended claims and variations thereof, are recognized as being inherently included as a part of the teachings herein and a part of the invention disclosed.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications will be appreciated to adapt a particular instrument, situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus for retrieving a downhole sample, the apparatus comprising:
- a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating an earth formation;
- a sample capsule configured to be disposed at the carrier and to contain the sample; and
- a capsule discharge mechanism configured to discharge the sample capsule downhole into drilling fluid in the borehole.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample capsule comprises insulation configured to insulate the sample.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample capsule comprises a buoyancy device configured to add buoyancy to the sample capsule in order for the sample chamber to float in the drilling fluid.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample capsule comprises a sample sensor configured to sense one or more properties of the sample.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample capsule comprises an actuator configured to actively maintain a selected environment in the sample capsule.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample capsule comprises a substantially spherical shape.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample capsule comprises a cylindrical shape with spherical ends.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample capsule comprises a material having a wall thickness sufficient to withstand a pressure at which the sample was retrieved from earth formation.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample capsule comprises a valve configured to admit and/or discharge the sample.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the valve is configured to admit the sample into the sample capsule when a pressure of the sample is greater than an interior pressure of the sample capsule.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pump configured to pump the sample into the sample capsule.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bottom hole assembly (BHA) having a sample tool configured to extract the sample from the earth formation and dispose the sample in the sample capsule.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the BHA comprises a conduit configured to guide the sample capsule out of the BHA and into the borehole.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the BHA is configured to flow a drilling fluid disposed in the borehole thorough the conduit to eject the sample capsule from the BHA.
15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the sample capsule comprises a detachable connection configured to detach the sample capsule from the sample tool.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a controller configured to actuate the detachable connection to detach the sample capsule from the sample tool.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the sample capsule comprises a plurality of sample capsules.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each sample capsule in the plurality of sample capsules is configured to be ejected sequentially by the controller.
19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample capsule comprises an information tag comprising identification.
20. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a capsule catcher disposed at the surface of the earth and configured to catch the sample capsule from drilling fluid flowing out of the borehole.
21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a drill string or coiled tubing.
22. A method for retrieving a downhole sample, the method comprising:
- conveying a carrier through a borehole penetrating an earth formation;
- extracting a sample from the earth formation with a sampling tool disposed at the carrier;
- disposing the sample in a sample capsule; and
- releasing the sample capsule into drilling fluid in the borehole using a capsule discharge mechanism.
23. The method according to claim 18, wherein releasing comprises actuating a releasable connection coupling the sample capsule to the sampling tool.
24. The method according to claim 18, further comprising retrieving the sample capsule from the borehole.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 28, 2011
Publication Date: Jan 31, 2013
Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED (Houston, TX)
Inventor: Sunil Kumar (Celle)
Application Number: 13/192,695
International Classification: E21B 49/00 (20060101); E21B 25/00 (20060101);