Downhole Sampling Tool With Swivel for Drill Pipe Rotation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Collecting formation fluid samples from a rock formation while minimizing the risk of differential sticking, which occurs when the drill string is stationary for prolonged periods, leading to operational inefficiencies and additional costs.

Innovation Solution

A downhole sampling tool that allows the drill pipe to rotate while maintaining the tool body stationary, equipped with a swivel and powered by a battery, receiving operational signals from the mud circulation system to control sampling operations, thereby minimizing surface contact and preventing sticking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the drill string is kept stationary for prolonged periods to operate the sampling tool, then the sampling operation can be performed, but differential sticking occurs along the surface areas of contact between the drill string and the rock formation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling operationVSAvoiddifferential sticking

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the Dynamics principle by enabling the drill string to rotate during the sampling operation rather than remaining stationary. The sampling tool is designed to function while the drill string rotates, transforming the static condition into a dynamic one. This rotation prevents the drill string from becoming stuck against the wellbore wall by continuously changing the contact points, thus eliminating differential sticking while maintaining sampling capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the drill string is kept stationary to operate the sampling tool, then samples can be collected, but additional costs are incurred associated with freeing the drill string from a stuck position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling operationVSAvoidtime to free drill string

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sampling tool is designed to operate during rotation of the drill string, eliminating the need to stop and preventing the need to free the drill string from stuck positions. This dynamic operation mode continues the drilling/sampling process without interruption, avoiding the time loss and additional costs associated with freeing stuck drill strings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the drill string is kept stationary to operate the sampling tool, then samples can be collected, but mud particle accumulation occurs around the drill string within the wellbore

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling operationVSAvoidmud particle accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By maintaining rotation of the drill string during sampling operations, the patent prevents mud particles from settling and accumulating around the drill string. The continuous motion keeps the drilling fluid in circulation, preventing particle deposition that would occur during stationary periods, thus eliminating this harmful effect while maintaining sampling functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11339652B1Sampling formation fluid in oil and gas applications

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

A method of sampling a fluid from a rock formation includes deploying a downhole sampling tool to a target zone within a wellbore of the rock formation, with the downhole sampling tool being coupled to a downhole end of a drill pipe. The method further includes rotating the drill pipe within the wellbore while maintaining a body of the downhole sampling tool in a stationary angular position and while collecting samples of the fluid from the rock formation at the downhole sampling tool.