Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080296017 | Methods and Apparatus to Sample Heavy Oil from a Subteranean Formation - A method of sampling fluid from a subterranean formation includes positioning a first tool having a heater in a borehole so that the heater is adjacent a portion of the subterranean formation: heating with the heater the portion of the subterranean formation; removing the first tool from the borehole; orienting a second tool having a sampling probe in the borehole so that the sampling probe is to contact a portion of the subterranean formation heater by the heater; and obtaining via the sampling probe a fluid sample from the portion of the subterranean formation heater by the heater. | 12-04-2008 |
20090091320 | Methods and Apparatus for Monitoring a Property of a Formation Fluid - Methods and apparatus for the characterization of formation fluids are disclosed. A downhole tool disposed in a borehole penetrating a subterranean formation obtains a NMR measurement, effects a change in a characteristic of the formation fluid, and obtains another NMR measurement subsequent to the change. Alternatively, the downhole tool effects a radial gradient of a characteristic of the formation and obtains NMR measurements at two or more selected radial distances from the wellbore wall. A parameter representative of the subterranean formation or the formation fluid is further determined from the NMR measurements. | 04-09-2009 |
20090200016 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FACILITATE FORMATION SAMPLING - A downhole tool for extracting a sample from a subsurface formation includes an emitter of electromagnetic energy configured to heat water in the subsurface formation. A method for extracting a sample from a subsurface formation involves conveying a downhole tool in a wellbore drilled through the subsurface formation, the downhole tool having an emitter of electromagnetic energy configured to heat water in the subsurface formation, and actuating the emitter to expose a portion of the formation to electromagnetic energy. | 08-13-2009 |
20090211752 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING FORMATION FLUIDS - A method of retrieving a formation fluid from a formation adjacent a borehole wall includes estimating at least one of a permeability of the formation and a viscosity of the formation fluid. A first tool is selected based on the estimation, the first tool being selected from one of a heating and sampling tool, an injection and sampling tool, and a coring tool. An attempt to retrieve a formation fluid sample from the formation is then made with the first tool, and a formation fluid sample is retrieved from the formation. A second retrieval process may then be initiated, in which the second retrieval process includes increasing the mobility of the formation fluid. | 08-27-2009 |
20090211756 | FORMATION TESTER WITH LOW FLOWLINE VOLUME - A downhole tool for use in a well may comprise a vessel having a piston or a valve disposed therein and defining first and second volumes wherein the first volume is configured to receive formation fluid from an inlet port, and an actuator configured to extract formation fluid, the actuator being fluidly isolated from a fluid flow path extending between the inlet port and the first volume. The downhole tool may also comprise a flow-line configured to deliver formation fluid to the vessel, and an actuator configured to register an end of the flow-line with the inlet of the vessel. | 08-27-2009 |
20100006284 | DOWNHOLE CHARACTERIZATION OF FORMATION FLUID AS A FUNCTION OF TEMPERATURE - A fluid analysis tool, and related method, comprising means for selectively varying a temperature of fluid received in a tool from a subterranean formation, means for measuring a temperature and a thermophysical property of the fluid received in the tool, and means for determining a relationship between the measured temperature and the measured thermophysical property of the fluid received in the tool. | 01-14-2010 |
20100186948 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO SAMPLE HEAVY OIL FROM A SUBTERANEAN FORMATION - A method of sampling fluid from a subterranean formation includes positioning a first tool having a heater in a borehole so that the heater is adjacent a portion of the subterranean formation; heating with the heater the portion of the subterranean formation; removing the first tool from the borehole; orienting a second tool having a sampling probe in the borehole so that the sampling probe is to contact a portion of the subterranean formation heated by the heater; and obtaining via the sampling probe a fluid sample from the portion of the subterranean formation heated by the heater. | 07-29-2010 |
20100223989 | OBTAINING AND EVALUATING DOWNHOLE SAMPLES WITH A CORING TOOL - Samples of hydrocarbon are obtained with a coring tool. An analysis of some thermal or electrical properties of the core samples may be performed downhole. The core samples may also be preserved in containers sealed and/or refrigerated prior to being brought uphole for analysis. The hydrocarbon trapped in the pore space of the core samples may be extracted from the core samples downhole. The extracted hydrocarbon may be preserved in chambers and/or analyzed downhole. | 09-09-2010 |
20100229623 | DOWNHOLE DETERMINATION OF ASPHALTENE CONTENT - A system and method for determining the asphaltene content of a downhole oil sample are provided. In one example, the method includes obtaining a hydrocarbon sample from a hydrocarbon formation of a reservoir at a given depth using a downhole tool. A liquid phase of the hydrocarbon sample is isolated within the downhole tool and the liquid phase is subjected to downhole analysis within the downhole tool to create a chromatography sample. The downhole analysis is based at least partially on size exclusion chromatography. A first property of the chromatography sample is measured to obtain a measured value, and a second property of the chromatography sample is estimated based on the measured value and known calibration curves. | 09-16-2010 |
20100263862 | FORMATION FLUID EVALUATION - In-situ formation fluid evaluation methods and apparatus configured to measure a first resonance frequency of a first fluid using a first densimeter downhole, wherein a first density of the first fluid is known; measure a second resonance frequency of a second fluid using a second densimeter downhole, wherein the second fluid is a formation fluid received by the second densimeter downhole, and wherein a second density of the second fluid is unknown; and determine the second density of the second fluid using the first and second resonance frequencies and the known first density. | 10-21-2010 |
20120007617 | DOWNHOLE CORROSION MONITORING - Apparatus and methods for measuring an effect of corrosion with a corrosion sensor. The apparatus includes at least a portion of a metal material configured to be disposed within a borehole and exposed to a fluid. The apparatus includes a sensor configured to measure an effect of corrosion of the at least portion of the metal material within the fluid. | 01-12-2012 |
20140090893 | Obtaining And Evaluating Downhole Samples With A Coring Tool - Samples of hydrocarbon are obtained with a coring tool. An analysis of some thermal or electrical properties of the core samples may be performed downhole. The core samples may also be preserved in containers sealed and/or refrigerated prior to being brought uphole for analysis. The hydrocarbon trapped in the pore space of the core samples may be extracted from the core samples downhole. The extracted hydrocarbon may be preserved in chambers and/or analyzed downhole. | 04-03-2014 |
20140157877 | Downhole Determination Of Asphaltene Content - A system and method for determining the asphaltene content of a downhole oil sample are provided. In one example, the method includes obtaining a hydrocarbon sample from a hydrocarbon formation of a reservoir at a given depth using a downhole tool. A liquid phase of the hydrocarbon sample is isolated within the downhole tool and the liquid phase is subjected to downhole analysis within the downhole tool to create a chromatography sample. The downhole analysis is based at least partially on size exclusion chromatography. A first property of the chromatography sample is measured to obtain a measured value, and a second property of the chromatography sample is estimated based on the measured value and known calibration curves. | 06-12-2014 |