Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090159278 | Single Packer System for Use in Heavy Oil Environments - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer comprises an outer seal layer, and the at least one drain is positioned in the outer seal layer. A viscosity system also is incorporated and enables the viscosity of a surrounding fluid to be selectively lowered for sampling. | 06-25-2009 |
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 |
20090301635 | Method for Curing an Inflatable Packer - A method of curing an inflatable packing is provided that includes providing a packer assembly having an inflatable packer around a mandrel; a polyamide bandage around the inflatable packer; and a sealing layer around both the polyamide bandage and the inflatable packer to from an airtight seal about the inflatable packer, wherein the method further includes curing the assembled packer assembly. | 12-10-2009 |
20090301715 | Single Packer System For Use In A Wellbore - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer layer that expands to create a seal with a surrounding wellbore wall. The drain is located in the outer layer between its axial ends for collecting formation fluid which is routed from the drain to an axial end of the outer layer via a fluid flow passage. Mechanical fittings are mounted at the axial ends of the outer layer, and at least one of the mechanical fittings comprises one or more flow members coupled to the flow passage to direct the collected fluid from the packer. The one or more flow members are designed to move in a manner that freely allows radial expansion and contraction of the outer layer. | 12-10-2009 |
20090308604 | Single Packer System for Collecting Fluid in a Wellbore - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having a plurality of sample collectors disposed along an expandable packer element. An anti-expansion device also is deployed along the expandable packer element to limit expansion in localized regions. Limiting the expansion can provide additional space or an increased production surface that facilitates collection of samples. | 12-17-2009 |
20100051259 | Expandable Packer Construction - A technique involves a packer formed as an expandable packer with an internal expandable bladder. The expandable bladder is formed with a section that is radially enlarged relative to an axial end of the expandable bladder when the bladder is in a relaxed state. The bladder configuration enables use of a reduced expansion ratio while still allowing expansion of the packer to a desired large diameter. | 03-04-2010 |
20100071898 | Single Packer System for Fluid Management in a Wellbore - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer structural layer that expands across an expansion zone to facilitate creation of a seal with a surrounding wellbore wall. An inflatable bladder can be used within the outer structural layer to cause expansion, and a seal can be disposed for cooperation with the outer structural layer to facilitate sealing engagement with the surrounding wellbore wall. One or more drain features are used to improve the sampling process and/or to facilitate flow through the drain over the life of the single packer. | 03-25-2010 |
20100122812 | Single Packer Structure With Sensors - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer flexible skin and one or more drains coupled to the outer flexible skin. The single packer further comprises one or more sensors positioned to detect one or more specific parameters that may be related to well characteristics and/or single packer characteristics. | 05-20-2010 |
20100122821 | Packer System With Reduced Friction During Actuation - A technique involves a packer formed as an expandable packer with an internal expandable bladder. A mechanical structure is deployed around the expandable bladder, and an anti-extrusion layer is located between the internal, expandable bladder and the mechanical structure. A separate protective layer is positioned between the internal, expandable bladder and the mechanical structure to reduce friction. | 05-20-2010 |
20100122822 | Single Packer Structure for use in a Wellbore - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer flexible skin and one or more drains coupled to the outer flexible skin. A mandrel is positioned within the outer flexible skin, and an expansion mechanism is provided to control expansion of the outer flexible skin to selectively create sealing engagement with a surrounding wall. | 05-20-2010 |
20100288511 | System and Method for Enhancing Packer Operation and Longevity - A technique improves the formation of dependable seals along wellbores. A packer is constructed with a plurality of elastomeric layers and an internal mechanical layer that extend between mechanical extremities. One or more of a variety of features can be added to, or used in conjunction with, the packer to reduce wear and the potential for detrimental damage during use of the packer. | 11-18-2010 |
20100294516 | Anti-Extrusion Packer System - A technique enables control over anti-extrusion layer movement during packer inflation. A packer employs a packer nipple having an exterior which uniquely engages distinct layers of the packer. The exterior comprises a plurality of distinct retention features, and each retention feature is designed to engage a specific layer of the packer. An individual retention feature can be uniquely designed to secure an anti-extrusion layer. | 11-25-2010 |
20100319912 | FOCUSED SAMPLING OF FORMATION FLUIDS - An apparatus for obtaining a fluid at a position within a wellbore that penetrates a subterranean formation includes a body adapted to be disposed in the wellbore on a conveyance equipped with one or more expandable packers providing a sample region disposed between an upper cleanup zone and a lower cleanup zone when expanded into abutting contact with the wellbore wall; an upper cleanup port provided at the upper cleanup zone; a lower cleanup port provided at the lower cleanup zone; at least one fluid cleanup flowline in fluid connection with the upper and lower cleanup ports; a sampling inlet provided at the sampling region; and a sampling flowline in fluid connection with the sampling inlet for drawing fluid from the sampling region. | 12-23-2010 |
20110067860 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING FORMATION FLUID SAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS - A system and a methodology is utilized in a wellbore to collect samples of formation fluid. A single expandable packer is moved downhole into the wellbore for collection of a fluid sample. The single packer has a sample collection portion disposed in an intermediate location that is sealed off when the single packer is expanded against a wellbore wall. Once engaged with the wellbore wall, a formation fluid sample can be drawn into the single expandable packer for distribution to a sample collection location. | 03-24-2011 |
20110272150 | WELL FLUID SAMPLING SYSTEM FOR USE IN HEAVY OIL ENVIRONMENTS - A technique involves sampling fluids in a well environment. An expandable packer is constructed with an outer seal layer. At least one sample drain is positioned through the outer seal layer, and a heater element is deployed in the at least one sample drain. In one embodiment, the heater element is deployed proximate a radially outlying surface of the expandable packer. Additionally, a temperature sensor may be positioned proximate the at least one sample drain to monitor temperature in the environment heated by the heater element. | 11-10-2011 |
20110277999 | Single Packer System for Use In A Heavy Oil Environments - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer comprises an outer seal layer, and the at least one drain is positioned in the outer seal layer. A viscosity system also is incorporated and enables the viscosity of a surrounding fluid to be selectively lowered for sampling. | 11-17-2011 |
20110297400 | Expandable Packer Construction - A technique involves a packer formed as an expandable packer with an internal expandable bladder. The expandable bladder is formed with a section that is radially enlarged relative to an axial end of the expandable bladder when the bladder is in a relaxed state. The bladder configuration enables use of a reduced expansion ratio while still allowing expansion of the packer to a desired large diameter. | 12-08-2011 |
20130062059 | FOCUSED SAMPLING OF FORMATION FLUIDS - An apparatus for obtaining a fluid at a position within a wellbore that penetrates a subterranean formation includes a body adapted to be disposed in the wellbore on a conveyance equipped with one or more expandable packers providing a sample region disposed between an upper cleanup zone and a lower cleanup zone when expanded into abutting contact with the wellbore wall; an upper cleanup port provided at the upper cleanup zone; a lower cleanup port provided at the lower cleanup zone; at least one fluid cleanup flowline in fluid connection with the upper and lower cleanup ports; a sampling inlet provided at the sampling region; and a sampling flowline in fluid connection with the sampling inlet for drawing fluid from the sampling region. | 03-14-2013 |
20130228279 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING PACKER OPERATION AND LONGEVITY - A technique improves the formation of dependable seals along wellbores. A packer is constructed with a plurality of elastomeric layers and an internal mechanical layer that extend between mechanical extremities. One or more of a variety of features can be added to, or used in conjunction with, the packer to reduce wear and the potential for detrimental damage during use of the packer. | 09-05-2013 |
20130306309 | Single Packer System For Fluid Management In A Wellbore - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer structural layer that expands across an expansion zone to facilitate creation of a seal with a surrounding wellbore wall. An inflatable bladder can be used within the outer structural layer to cause expansion, and a seal can be disposed for cooperation with the outer structural layer to facilitate sealing engagement with the surrounding wellbore wall. One or more drain features are used to improve the sampling process and/or to facilitate flow through the drain over the life of the single packer. | 11-21-2013 |
20130341016 | Sampling Assembly With Outer Layer Of Rings - A sampling assembly has an inner expandable packer, and an outer layer formed by rings may be disposed about and/or may be positioned on the outer surface of the inner expandable packer member. Drains may be positioned between the rings and may be located under ports positioned between the rings. Flowlines may be connected to the drains, may be positioned in the rings and may extend through the rings. For each of the ports, a plate may be positioned between the port and the laterally adjacent port. The flowlines may be connected to a downstream component, such as a fluid analysis module, a fluid containment module and/or the like. | 12-26-2013 |
20140020890 | Sampling Assembly For A Single Packer - A sampling assembly of a single packer assembly may have more guard drains than sampling drains. The single packer assembly having the sampling assembly may be deployed in a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation, and the single packer assembly may be deployed on a wireline cable or another deployment or conveyance. The number and the area of the sampling drains, the number and the area of the guard drains, and the positions of the sampling drains and the guard drains may be designed so that the guard drains which are operational may provide a fluid intake rate exceeding a predetermined threshold if one of the guard drains is congested and/or blocked. | 01-23-2014 |
20140096979 | PACKER ASSEMBLY WITH ENHANCED SEALING LAYER SHAPE - A packer assembly with an enhanced sealing layer is provided. The packer assembly may have an outer bladder with drains. The packer assembly may further have an inflatable inner packer disposed inside the outer bladder such that inflation of the inner packer causes the outer bladder to expand. End pieces may be coupled to the inner bladder and the outer bladder, and flowlines may be in fluid communication with the drains and the end pieces. A piston ring may reinforce the packer assembly. The piston ring may have three or more passive pistons which expand with the packer assembly during testing. | 04-10-2014 |
20140144625 | SYSTEM AND METHOD RELATED TO A SAMPLING PACKER - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer. The single packer comprises an outer bladder with drains positioned in the outer bladder to obtain formation fluid samples. Features also may be incorporated into the single packer to limit sealing in the circumferential spaces between the drains and to provide a larger sampling surface than provided simply via the drain surface area. | 05-29-2014 |
20140151039 | Expandable Filtering System For Single Packer Systems - An arrangement having a body with at least one drain provided in the body is disclosed. The drain is configured to receive fluid when the body is expanded from a first unexpanded condition to a second expanded condition. At least one flowline is connectable to the drain. A screen is positioned over the drain and is configurable to expand from the first unexpanded condition to the second expanded condition. | 06-05-2014 |
20140157883 | DUAL FLOWLINE TESTING TOOL WITH PRESSURE SELF-EQUALIZER - Flowline pressure equalizer systems, methods and/or apparatuses for use on a downhole tool are provided. A pressure equalizer may be provided in communication with two flowlines. The pressure equalizer may use equalizing chambers and equalizing pistons to regulate pressure in one or both flowlines. Further, one or more flow routing modules may be interchangeable to further alter the flow scheme between the flowlines. Different plugs may house various flow routing configurations such that the plugs may be installed and/or removed in the tool string automatically or by a user. | 06-12-2014 |
20140209302 | Packer And Packer Outer Layer - A packer is disclosed comprising a body with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end are configured to establish a connection with downhole equipment and wherein at least one of the first end and the second end is configured to establish a fluid flow between the downhole equipment, at least one guard drain, at least one sample drain, at least one guard drain flow line, at least one sample drain flow line configured to transport fluid flow from and to the at least one sample drain and one of the first end and the second end of the body, two swivel connections and a sealing element. | 07-31-2014 |