Fluid-Medium-Dependent Filter Protection for Downhole Sampling Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Downhole fluid sampling tools are contaminated by wellbore servicing fluids, which impede accurate reservoir evaluation and sampling of produced reservoir fluids.

Innovation Solution

A filter cover is used to protect the downhole fluid sampling tool, and an engineered fluid pill is introduced to isolate the sampling process, allowing for controlled reservoir evaluation by injecting a customized fluid into the formation and measuring its response.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the downhole fluid sampling tool is conveyed through the wellbore containing wellbore servicing fluid, then the tool can reach the zone of interest for sampling, but the tool becomes contaminated with wellbore servicing fluid which impedes reservoir evaluation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling accuracyVSAvoidfluid contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sampling tool is divided into separate functional sections with isolated fluid pathways. The contamination barrier separates the wellbore servicing fluid environment from the sampling chamber, allowing the tool to traverse the contaminated wellbore while maintaining a clean sampling environment. This segmentation enables the tool to reach the zone of interest without compromising sampling accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A contamination barrier acts as an intermediary element between the wellbore servicing fluid and the sampling chamber. This barrier prevents direct contact between the contaminating fluid and the sample, serving as a mediator that allows the tool to function in the contaminated environment while protecting the sampling process from contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If a filter cover is used to protect the sampling tool from contamination, then sampling accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid sample purityVSAvoidtool structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible contamination barrier or thin film membrane is used to protect the sampling tool. This thin film provides effective contamination protection while adding minimal structural complexity to the tool design. The flexible nature of the barrier allows it to conform to the tool geometry without requiring complex rigid structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The filter cover or contamination barrier is nested within the existing tool structure, integrating the protective function into the overall tool design. This nesting approach allows the filtering mechanism to be incorporated without significantly increasing the external dimensions or overall structural complexity of the sampling tool.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If an engineered fluid pill is introduced to isolate the sampling process, then contamination is minimized and evaluation accuracy is improved, but the quantity of substance required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereservoir evaluation accuracyVSAvoidfluid pill volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of introducing a large volume of engineered fluid pill to completely fill the wellbore, only a partial amount is introduced - just enough to create the necessary isolation barrier around the sampling tool. This partial action approach achieves the contamination prevention goal while minimizing the quantity of engineered fluid required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The engineered fluid pill is concentrated in the local region where it is needed - around the sampling tool in the zone of interest - rather than being distributed throughout the entire wellbore. This localized application provides effective isolation and contamination prevention while requiring minimal total quantity of the engineered fluid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This method ensures clean and accurate reservoir evaluation by minimizing contamination, enabling precise fluid sampling and improved formation testing without environmental and safety concerns.

Implementation Method 1

a filter comprising a fluid medium dependent material configured to prevent contact between the wellbore servicing fluid and the downhole fluid sampling tool

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid medium dependent material property change:

Data Source

PatentUS12416236B2Protection of a wellbore tool using fluid medium dependent material

Publication Date: 2025.09.16 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A method and system for removing a filter cover. A system and method may comprise a downhole fluid sampling tool including a tool body; a flow port disposed on the tool body; a sample chamber disposed within the tool body and fluidly coupled to the flow port; a pump disposed within the tool body. In examples, the pump is configured to pump a fluid through the flow port into the sample chamber; a filter disposed on an inlet of the flow port, wherein the filter is configured to filter the fluid entering the flow port; and a removable filter cover configured to prevent fluid contact with the filter.