Transverse sidewall coring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016273292-A1
Application number	US-201514664347-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 20, 2015
Priority date	Mar 20, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method of gathering sample cores from a subterranean formation with coring bit assemblies, where each of the coring bit assemblies retain a sample core within. Included is a container equipped with compartments for individual storage of each coring bit assembly and coring sample, so that each sample can be stored at the pressure at which it was obtained. The coring bit assemblies can be sequentially inserted into the container after being used to collect its sample core. In this instance, scaling devices, such as o-ring seals or a coining surface, are provided in the container. Bach coring bit assembly can also be disposed in a chamber, that is selectively scaled after the coring bit assembly gathers its coring sample.

First claim

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one example of an alternate embodiment of a coring system 10 C wherein riser member 40 C is made up of a core sleeve cylinder 86 . In the illustrated example, core sleeve cylinder 86 is a substantially solid member, which can be formed from a composite, ceramic, or any type of metal, such as iron, steel, stainless steel, copper, alloys thereof, and the like. Further, a series of chambers 88 are formed transversely through core sleeve cylinder 86 at discreet, locations along the length of core sleeve cylinder 86 . Embodiments exist wherein the axis A CS of cylinder 86 intersects each of the chambers 88 1−n . Coaxially disposal within each of the chambers 88 1−n are pistons 90 1−n wherein the pistons 90 1−n are disk-like members. In the illustrated example, pistons 90 1−n couple with the closed ends of the sleeves 44 1−n of coring bit assemblies 24 1−n shown coaxially inserted within chambers 88 1−n . Seals 91 1−n circumscribe each of the pistons and provide a pressure and fluid barrier between the pistons 90 1−n and the inner surfaces of chambers 88 1−n . The pistons 90 1−n are fitted with a profile so that they may engaged by the coring bit assembly driver 26 C as shown. More specifically, coring bit assembly driver 26 C is engaging coring bit assembly 24 3 to urge it from within the core sleeve cylinder 86 and outside of housing 39 C so that a core sample (not shown) may be gathered with the coring bit assembly 24 3 . By providing the seals 91 1−n around pistons 90 1−n , a separate dedicated seal system is not required for the embodiment of FIG. 10 or the rearward opening of cavities 88 1−n . In an example, collar 92 is shown circumscribing cavity 88 n and may be used for covering and sealing a forward opening that is formed where cavity 88 n intersects with the outer surface of core sleeve cylinder 86 . Collar 92 n may include an opening 94 n that registers with the chamber 88 n so that the coring bit assembly 24 n may be deployed outside of the core sleeve cylinder 86 . After a core sample (not shown) is retrieved by coring bit assembly 24 n , the coring bit assembly 24 n can be drawn back into chamber 88 n and sleeve 92 n rotated with respect to core sleeve driver 86 and so that a solid portion of collar 92 n can cover the opening of the chamber 88 n . In this fashion, sealed spaces may be formed within each of the chambers 88 1−n with respective collars. For the sake of clarity, collars are not shown associated with cavities 88 1-4 , however, embodiments exist wherein each of the chambers 88 1-4 include a collar such as collar 92 n for creating a sealed space within those cavities 88 1-4 .
The present invention described herein, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for purposes of disclosure, numerous changes exist in the details of procedures for accomplishing the desired results. These and other similar modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and are intended to be encompassed within the spirit of the present invention disclosed herein and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for obtaining core samples from a sidewall of a wellbore comprising:
a housing; spaces in the housing; pressure barriers selectively disposed between the spaces so that a pressure in each of the spaces is maintained at a particular value; and a coring bit assembly disposed in each one of the spaces and each comprising,
a sleeve that selectively receives a one of the core samples, and
a cutting head on an end of the sleeve that selectively is projected from the housing and into cutting engagement with the sidewall.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a coring driver in the housing that selectively engages an end of the sleeve distal from the cutting head.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the coring driver is selectively movable axially within the housing.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the coring bit assemblies are arranged in a row that extends axially within the housing, and wherein the coring bit assemblies are moveable axially with respect to the coring driver.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cylindrically shaped riser member in the housing, wherein the spaces are formed in the riser member, and wherein the coring bit assemblies with core samples are selectively disposed in the spaces.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the riser member comprises a tubular with an axis that is substantially parallel with an axis of the housing, the riser member comprising,
planar barriers provided between each adjacent coring bit assembly and that span across an inner circumference of the tubular to define pressure barriers, rear openings through which a coring driver is selectively inserted, and forward openings through which coring bit assemblies project through when the cutting head is in cutting engagement with the sidewall.

7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a container in which the riser member is selectively coaxially inserted, the container comprising an inner circumference with o-ring seals strategically located thereon, so that when the riser member is inserted into the container, at least one of the o-ring seals is between adjacent rear openings and adjacent forward openings.

8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the riser member comprises a substantially solid cylindrical member having chambers transversely formed therein that are selectively pressure isolated from one another and wherein a one of the coring bit assemblies is disposed in each of the chambers.

9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a piston coaxially mounted in each of the chambers, and seals between the pistons and inner surfaces of the chambers that define a pressure barrier, wherein each of the pistons is coupled with an end of a coring bit assembly, so that when a coring bit assembly drive rotatingly and longitudinally motivates a one of the pistons, an attached coring bit assembly is urged out of the respective chamber and into coring engagement with the sidewall.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising apertures in a sidewall of the housing through which the coring bit assemblies ate inserted through, and a capping system having covers that are sealingly mounted over the apertures so that the space is pressure sealed.

11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a container, and a metal inlay disposed axially along a sidewall of the container, wherein the coring bit assemblies are disposed into the container so that the cutting heads are in sealing contact with the metal inlay, wherein the metal inlay is formed from a material having a yield strength that is less than a yield strength of a material making up the cutting heads, and wherein the spaces are formed as the cutting heads are urged into sealing contact with the metal inlay.

12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cap inserted into an open end of the sleeve to define a pressure seal for an inside of the sleeve, the cap comprising a circular base and Avails circumscribing the base that project axially away from the base and abut an inward facing surface of the cutting head.

13 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cap inserted into an open end of the sleeve to define a pressure seal for an inside of the sleev

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Morgan Christopher John
• Nieuwoudt Hermanus J

Classifications

• E21B10/02

  Core bits (characterised by wear resisting parts E21B10/48) · CPC title

• E21B49/06

  using side-wall drilling tools {pressing} or scrapers · CPC title

• E21B25/10 Primary

  Formed core retaining or severing means (E21B25/06, E21B25/08 take precedence) · CPC title