Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

David Welshans

Kristopher V Sherrill

Gregory N Gilbert

John Ransford Hardin, Jr

James E Stone

Mark Anton Proett

Mark Anthony Sitka

Jean Michel Beique

James M Fogal

Clive D Menezes

Laban M Marsh

Preston N Weintraub

Glenn C Gray

Pedro R Segura

Tony T Vu

James H Dudley

Svetozar Dimitrov Simeonov

John R Hardin

Malcolm Douglas McGregor

William Edward Hendricks

Wilson Chung-Ling Chin

William E Hendricks

Malcolm D Mcgregor

Jean M Beique

A method and apparatus according to which a sample bottle drill collar section is assembled. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a drill collar that includes an outer surface; a pocket accessible through an aperture in the outer surface, the pocket defining a first side wall and a second side wall; a bottle assembly disposed within the pocket, the bottle assembly comprising a sample bottle having an axial length; one or more clamps coupled to the outer surface and abutting or overlapping the bottle assembly, the one or more clamps at least partially retaining the bottle assembly in the pocket; and one or more spacers disposed within the pocket, the one or more spacers abutting the bottle assembly and at least one of the first and second side walls of the pocket.

Systems and methods of a sample bottle assembly

A sample bottle assembly. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are apparatuses including a first drill collar that includes: a first outer surface; a pocket accessible through an aperture in the first outer surface; a bottle assembly disposed within the pocket; a first end-clamp coupled within a first recess disposed at an upper end of the pocket to at least partially retain the bottle assembly in the pocket; and a second end-clamp coupled within a second recess disposed at the lower end of the pocket to at least partially retain the bottle assembly in the pocket. The bottle assembly further includes: a sample bottle having an axial length; and a sleeve comprising a bore, the sample bottle received within the bore, and the sleeve has an axial length substantially the same as the sample bottle.

This application relates to various methods and apparatus for rapidly obtaining accurate formation property data from a drilled earthen borehole. Quickly obtaining accurate formation property data, including formation fluid pressure, is vital to beneficially describing the various formations being intersected. For example, methods are disclosed for collecting numerous property values with a minimum of downhole tools, correcting and calibrating downhole measurements and sensors, and developing complete formation predictors and models by acquiring a diverse set of direct formation measurements, such as formation fluid pressure and temperature. Also disclosed are various methods of using of accurately and quickly obtained formation property data.

Methods and apparatus for measuring formation properties

An embodiment of the apparatus includes a first drill collar section having an outer surface, an MWD tool for interaction with an earth formation coupled to the first drill collar section, the MWD tool including a first fluid line and a first electrical conduit, a second drill collar section, and an interconnect assembly coupling the second drill collar section to the first drill collar section, the interconnect assembly comprising a fluid line connection coupled to the first fluid line and an electrical connection coupled to the first electrical conduit. Another embodiment of the apparatus includes a probe, an interconnect assembly adapted for fluid communication and electrical communication, and a sample bottle drill collar section including at least one removable sample bottle in fluid communication with the probe. Another embodiment of the apparatus includes a flush pump mounted in the power collar section and coupled to the probe. An additional embodiment includes a fluid ID sensor disposed in a flow line between the flush pump and the probe.

Measurement while drilling tool with interconnect assembly

An apparatus including a drill collar having an outer surface, an assembly for interaction with an earth formation coupled to the drill collar, the assembly including a first member to extend beyond the drill collar outer surface and a second member to extend beyond the first member and toward the earth formation to receive formation fluids. An apparatus including an MWD tool having an outer surface, a formation testing assembly coupled to the MWD tool, the formation testing assembly recessed beneath the outer surface in a first position and including a piston to extend beyond the outer surface to a second position and an inner sampling member to extend beyond the piston to a third position.

MWD formation tester

A method of determining the supercharge pressure in a formation intersected by a borehole having a wall, the method comprising disposing a formation pressure test tool into the borehole having a probe for isolating a portion of the borehole. The method further comprises extending the probe into sealing contact with the borehole wall. The method further comprises performing at least one drawdown test with the formation pressure test tool. The method further comprises modeling the supercharge pressure of the formation using the dynamic properties of the mudcake. The method further comprises determining the supercharge pressure of the formation using the supercharge pressure model. The formation pressure test tool may be conveyed into the borehole using wireline technology or on a drill string. Using the supercharge pressure, the drawdown test may be optimized, the characteristics of the drilling fluid altered, or the measurements of other sensors adjusted.

Methods for measuring a formation supercharge pressure

A method of testing a downhole formation using a formation tester on a drill string. The formation tester is disposed downhole on a drill string and a formation test is performed by forming a seal between a formation probe assembly and the formation. A drawdown piston then creates a volume within a cylinder to draw formation fluid into the volume through the probe assembly. The pressure of the fluid within the cylinder is monitored. The formation test procedure may then be adjusted. The test procedure may be adjusted to account for the bubble point pressure of the fluid being monitored. The pressure may monitored to verify a proper seal is formed or is being maintained. The test procedure may also be performed by maintaining a substantially constant drawdown rate using a hydraulic threshold or a variable restrictor.

Methods for using a formation tester

A formation testing tool is described herein, including a formation probe assembly having an extendable sampling probe surrounded by a cylindrical sleeve. The sleeve is configured to engage a metal skirt having an elastomeric seal pad coupled thereto. The skirt and seal are configured to be field replaceable. The elastomeric pad has a non-planar outer surface which engages a borehole wall in preparation for formation testing. The seal pad may be donut-shaped, having an aperture through the middle of the seal pad. The seal pad and its surface may include numerous different embodiments, including having a curved profile. The seal pad may also include numerous different embodiments of means for coupling the seal pad to the metal skirt. The formation testing tool also includes formation probe assembly anti-rotation means, a deviated non-circular flowbore, and at least one closed hydraulic fluid chamber for balancing fluid pressures.

Growing community of inventors

Damon, TX, United States of America

David Welshans