System and method related to a sampling packer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9371730-B2
Application number	US-201113880613-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2011
Priority date	Oct 21, 2010
Publication date	Jun 21, 2016
Grant date	Jun 21, 2016

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for collecting fluid from a specific region of a wellbore, comprising:
a packer comprising:
an outer bladder expandable in a wellbore across an expansion zone to contact and fluidly separate a first portion of the wellbore from a second portion of the wellbore, wherein the outer bladder having a plurality of drains for receiving formation fluid into the packer, and wherein the plurality of drains comprises a first drain and a second drain both spaced around a circumference of the packer;
an inflatable bladder disposed within the outer bladder; and
a plate positioned along the circumference between the first drain and the second drain of the plurality of drains to limit sealing in the circumferential space between the first drain and the second drain.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of drains comprise a third drain positioned at a different axial and radial position from the first drain and the second drain, the third drain positioned closer to an end of the packer than the first drain and the second drain.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plate extends over the first drain if the single packer is in a contracted state and exposes the first drains if the single packer is in an expanded state.

4. The system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the plate has a length defined by a first end opposite a second end, the first end adjacent the first drain and the second end adjacent the second drain, and further wherein the first drain moves away from the first end as the packer expands to expose the first drain.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plate prevents any fluid seal between the first drain and the second drain.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plate has a substantially similar shape as the circumferential space between the first drain and the second drain.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a filter positioned over the first drain or the second drain to limit debris or other matter having a predetermined size from passing through the filter.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the filter is a mesh screen attached to the outer layer of the packer.

9. The system as recited in claim 7 further comprising a scraper to move debris or the other matter away from the filter.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the scraper is a member attached to the plate and bent toward the filter such that movement across the filter moves debris away from the filter.

11. A method, comprising:
providing a single expandable packer having an outer bladder;
positioning a plurality of sample drains in the outer bladder; and
connecting the plurality of sample drains to a plurality of flowlines capable of transporting formation fluid from the plurality of sample drains to a collection location; and
positioning a spring between a first flowline and a second flowline of the plurality of flowlines, the spring applying a force to retract the packer as the packer deflates or contracts.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the spring is a tension spring.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising a plurality of springs, at least one spring of each of the plurality of springs positioned between each of the plurality of flowlines to apply a force to retract the packer as the packer deflates or contracts.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the plurality of drains comprises a first plurality of drains at a first axial distance from an end of the packer and a second plurality of drains at a second axial distance from an end of the packer, the first distance greater than the second distance.

15. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising positioning a plate between a circumferential space between a first drain and a second drain of the plurality of drains, wherein the plate prevents sealing between the first drain and the second drain.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the plate extends over the first drain if the single packer is in a contracted position and exposes the first drain to fluid from a wellbore if the single packer is in an expanded position.

17. A packer for use in a wellbore comprising:
an outer bladder expandable in a wellbore across an expansion zone to contact and fluidly separate a first portion of the wellbore from a second portion of the wellbore, wherein the outer bladder having a plurality of drains for receiving formation fluid into the packer;
an inflatable bladder disposed within the outer bladder;
a filter positioned on at least one of the plurality of drains, the filter having openings limiting size of debris that passes through the filter; and
a scraper to move debris or the other matter away from the filter.

18. The packer as recited in claim 17 wherein the plurality of drains are interchangeable or replaceable without replacing or changing the outer bladder.

19. The packer as recited in claim 17 further comprising flowlines connected to the plurality of drains, wherein the flowlines are interchangeable or replaceable without replacing or changing the outer bladder.

20. The packer as recited in claim 17 wherein the filter is a wire mesh filter secured to the outer bladder.

Assignees

• Corre Pierre-Yves
• Metayer Stephane
• Pessin Jean-Louis
• Cody Kathiravane Tingat
• Zazovsky Alexander F
• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Corre Pierre-Yves
• Metayer Stephane
• Pessin Jean-Louis
• Cody Kathiravane Tingat
• Zazovsky Alexander F

Classifications

• E21B49/10 Primary

  using side-wall fluid samplers or testers · CPC title

• E21B43/08

  Screens or liners {(expandable screens or liners E21B43/108)} · CPC title

• E21B33/127

  with inflatable sleeve (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/124

  Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space · CPC title

• E21B49/08

  Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells · CPC title