Downhole Probe Sealing Pad for Direct Formation Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current downhole formation testing and sampling tools face limitations in accurately estimating reservoir producibility due to small exposure volumes and long cleanup times, and they often fail to obtain fluid samples directly from the formation.
Innovation Solution
A downhole formation testing and sampling apparatus with a radially contracted running configuration that expands to establish a large hydraulic connection using a setting assembly and actuation module, coupled with probes having sealing pads for direct fluid communication and collection, allowing for efficient sampling and testing of formation fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If straddle packers are used to isolate a section of the wellbore, then the flow rate is significantly improved, but the volume of fluid between the packers results in long clean up time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful fluid volume by positioning the probe tip directly against the formation wall, eliminating the need to clean up large volumes of fluid that would otherwise accumulate in the space between packers. The seal is formed at the formation interface rather than in the wellbore, removing the problematic fluid volume from the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe acts as an intermediary device that creates a direct hydraulic connection between the formation and the sampling system, bypassing the need for packer isolation and the associated fluid volume management issues. This intermediary approach allows direct sampling without the harmful side effects of packer-based isolation.
2Device complexity
If probe-type devices with small contact area are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but valuable information may be missed due to small exposure volume
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a point-contact probe to a distributed array of multiple probes positioned at different locations and angles. This dimensional expansion from 0D point contact to 3D spatial distribution increases the exposure volume and improves sampling representativeness while maintaining relative simplicity of individual probe elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sampling system is segmented into multiple independent probes rather than using a single large complex device. Each probe is simple in design but the collective array provides comprehensive coverage of the formation, dividing the sampling function across multiple simple elements rather than one complex element.
3Productivity
If straddle packers are used to isolate a section of the wellbore, then the flow rate is significantly improved, but samples are not obtained directly from the formation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the probe tip from the wellbore environment and positions it directly against the formation wall, eliminating the intermediate fluid volume between packers. This direct contact ensures that samples are obtained directly from the formation rather than from the mixed fluid volume in the wellbore section.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe is designed with local sealing capability at the formation interface, creating a focused sampling zone directly at the formation wall. This localized sealing and sampling approach ensures high measurement precision by obtaining samples directly from the formation at the point of contact, rather than from a distributed volume of fluid between packers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus provides an accurate estimate of reservoir producibility with a large exposure volume, reduces cleanup time, and enables direct fluid sampling from the formation, improving permeability and isotropy estimation in heterogeneous matrices.
Implementation Method 1
An actuation module operably associated with the setting assembly and operable to apply an axial compressive force to the setting assembly to shift the setting assembly from the running configuration to the deployed configuration
Implementation Method 2
The probe has a sealing pad with an outer surface operable to seal a region along a surface of the formation to establish a hydraulic connection therewith
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole formation testing and sampling apparatus. The apparatus includes a setting assembly and an actuation module that is operable to apply an axial compressive force to the setting assembly shifting the setting assembly from a radially contracted running configuration to a radially expanded deployed configuration. A plurality of probes is coupled to the setting assembly. Each probe has a sealing pad with an outer surface operable to seal a region along a surface of the formation to establish the hydraulic connection therewith when the setting assembly is operated from the running configuration to the deployed configuration. Each sealing pad has at least one opening establishing fluid communication between the formation and the interior of the apparatus. In addition, each sealing pad has at least one recess operable to establish fluid flow from the formation to the at least one opening.