Pressurized reservoir core sample transfer tool system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11773675-B2
Application number	US-202016944542-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2020
Priority date	Aug 1, 2019
Publication date	Oct 3, 2023
Grant date	Oct 3, 2023

Abstract

A system for transferring at least one subterranean core sample under pressure can include a retrieval vessel that collects and houses the at least one subterranean core sample at a sampling pressure at which the at least one subterranean core is collected. The system can also include a linear actuator that couples to the retrieval vessel through a valve in the open position at a first time, where the linear actuator facilitates removal of at least one pressure barrier from the retrieval vessel through the valve at the first time while maintaining the sampling pressure of the at least one subterranean sample. The system can further include a testing vessel that couples to the linear actuator through the valve in the open position at a second time, and a hydraulic device that facilitates pressurizing the testing vessel to the sampling pressure at the second time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for transferring at least one subterranean core sample under pressure, the system comprising:
a retrieval vessel that collects and houses the at least one subterranean core sample at a sampling pressure at which the at least one subterranean core sample is collected;
a valve having an open position and a closed position;
a linear actuator that couples to the retrieval vessel through the valve when the valve is in the open position at a first time, wherein the linear actuator facilitates removal of at least one pressure barrier from the retrieval vessel through the valve at the first time while maintaining the sampling pressure of the at least one subterranean sample;
a testing vessel that couples to the linear actuator through the valve when the valve is in the open position at a second time; and
a hydraulic device that facilitates pressurizing the testing vessel to the sampling pressure at the second time,
wherein the testing vessel and the retrieval vessel are coupled to each other through the valve at a third time, wherein the at least one subterranean core sample is transferred from the retrieval vessel through the valve to the testing vessel at the third time at the sampling pressure when the valve is in the open position,
wherein the linear actuator installs a pressure barrier in the testing vessel, and
wherein the at least one subterranean core sample, once transferred to the testing vessel, is tested at a fourth time while in the testing vessel at the sampling pressure.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the testing vessel comprises measurement zone, wherein the measurement zone comprises at least one of a group consisting of a non-metallic material and a non-magnetic material.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the testing vessel, the retrieval vessel, and the valve are oriented at the third time so that the retrieval vessel is disposed above the testing vessel to allow gravity to move the at least one subterranean core sample from the retrieval vessel to the testing vessel.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heating device that applies heat to the retrieval vessel during the third time.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vibrating device that vibrates the retrieval vessel during the third time.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an adapter flange that is coupled to the retrieval vessel before the first time.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a piston removal tool of the linear actuator that removes a piston of the retrieval vessel during the first time.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a hydraulic device that controls a pressure within the retrieval vessel, the linear actuator, and the testing vessel during the first time, the second time, and the third time.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a core spacer assembly that is disposed between the retrieval vessel and the testing vessel after transferring the at least one subterranean core sample from the retrieval vessel to the testing vessel.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a testing vessel plug that is used to seal the at least one subterranean core sample within the testing vessel at the sample pressure after the third time.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve is a ball valve.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an extractor tool that removes a plug of the retrieval vessel during the first time.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the extractor tool further removes a spring of the retrieval vessel during the first time.

Assignees

• Chevron Usa Inc

Inventors

• Montoya James Daniel
• Boudreaux Jonathon Crain
• Rodriguez Patrick
• Brinkley Cole Thomas

Classifications

• E21B25/08 Primary

  Coating, freezing, consolidating cores (E21B25/06 takes precedence); Recovering uncontaminated cores or cores at formation pressure · CPC title

• E21B25/005

  Above ground means for handling the core, e.g. for extracting the core from the core barrel · CPC title

• E21B49/088

  combined with sampling · CPC title

• E21B49/0875

  determining specific fluid parameters · CPC title

• G01N1/08

  involving an extracting tool, e.g. core bit · CPC title