Coring tools exhibiting reduced rotational eccentricity and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9567813-B2
Application number	US-201414328318-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2014
Priority date	Jul 18, 2013
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

Coring tools configured to procure core samples of earth formations may include a coring bit comprising a cutting structure configured to cut a core sample and an outer barrel connected to the coring bit. The outer barrel may be configured to apply axial and rotational force to the coring bit. An inner barrel may be located within the outer barrel and may be configured to receive a core sample within the inner barrel. A sponge material may line an inner surface of the inner barrel and may be configured to absorb a fluid from the core sample. A stabilizer may be connected to the outer barrel. At least one blade of the stabilizer may be rotatable with respect to the outer barrel and may be configured to remain at least substantially rotationally stationary relative to the earth formation during coring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coring tool configured to procure a core sample of an earth formation, comprising:
a coring bit comprising a cutting structure configured to cut a core sample;
an outer barrel connected to the coring bit, the outer barrel configured to apply axial and rotational force to the coring bit;
an inner barrel located within the outer barrel, the inner barrel being configured to receive the core sample within the inner barrel;
a sponge material lining an inner surface of the inner barrel, the sponge material being configured to absorb a fluid from the core sample; and
a stabilizer connected to the outer barrel, at least one blade of the stabilizer being rotatable with respect to the outer barrel and configured to remain at least substantially rotationally stationary relative to the earth formation during coring.

2. The coring tool of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the stabilizer is about 0.125 inch or less smaller than an outer diameter of the coring bit at an outer gage of the cutting structure.

3. The coring tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one blade of the stabilizer extends at least substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the coring tool.

4. The coring tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one blade of the stabilizer is extensible to reduce the distance between the surface of the at least one blade and a wall of a borehole.

5. The coring tool of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer is integrated into the outer barrel of the coring tool, such that the stabilizer is located within a longitudinal extent of the outer barrel of the coring tool.

6. The coring tool of claim 5 , wherein the stabilizer is located in a lower half of the coring tool.

7. The coring tool of claim 6 , wherein the stabilizer is located in a lower third of the coring tool.

8. The coring tool of claim 5 , wherein the stabilizer is located in an upper half of the coring tool.

9. The coring tool of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer forms part of a distinct sub attached to the coring tool, such that the stabilizer is located above a longitudinal extent of the coring tool.

10. The coring tool of claim 9 , wherein a distance between the stabilizer and an upper extent of the coring tool is less than 30 feet.

11. The coring tool of claim 10 , wherein the distance between the stabilizer and the upper extent of the coring tool is less than 10 feet.

12. The coring tool of claim 1 , further comprising another stabilizer connected to the outer barrel, wherein a distance between the stabilizer and the another stabilizer is about 50 feet or less.

13. The coring tool of claim 12 , wherein the distance between the stabilizer and the another stabilizer is about 30 feet or less.

14. The coring tool of claim 12 , wherein the at least one blade of the another stabilizer is rotatable with respect to the outer barrel.

15. A method of procuring a core sample of an earth formation utilizing a coring tool, comprising:
positioning a coring bit connected to an outer barrel within a borehole, the coring bit comprising a cutting structure configured to cut a core sample, the outer barrel configured to apply axial and rotational force to the coring bit;
rotating the outer barrel and coring bit under load to advance the coring bit into an underlying earth formation and form the core sample;
receiving at least a portion of the core sample within an inner barrel located within the outer barrel as the inner barrel remains at least substantially rotationally stationary relative to the earth formation, the inner barrel including a sponge material lining an inner surface of the inner barrel, the sponge material being configured to absorb a fluid from the core sample; and
stabilizing the coring tool utilizing a stabilizer connected to the outer barrel as at least one blade of the stabilizer remains at least substantially rotationally stationary relative to the earth formation during coring.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein stabilizing the coring tool utilizing the stabilizer comprises stabilizing the coring tool utilizing the stabilizer, an outer diameter of the stabilizer being about 0.125 inch or less smaller than an outer diameter of the coring bit at the outer gage of the cutting structure.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising flowing drilling fluid between blades of the stabilizer, the blades extending at least substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the coring tool.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising selectively, radially extending the at least one blade of the stabilizer to reduce a distance between the at least one blade and a wall of the borehole.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein stabilizing the coring tool utilizing the stabilizer comprises stabilizing the coring tool utilizing the stabilizer integrated into the outer barrel of the coring tool, such that the stabilizer is located within a longitudinal extent of the outer barrel of the coring tool.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein stabilizing the coring tool utilizing the stabilizer comprises stabilizing the coring tool utilizing the stabilizer forming part of a distinct sub attached to the coring tool, such that the stabilizer is located above a longitudinal extent of the coring tool.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Fulda Christian
• Uhlenberg Thomas
• Wesemeier Christoph

Classifications

• E21B10/02

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

• E21B25/08

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

• E21B25/10

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

• E21B17/1014 Primary

  Flexible or expansible centering means, e.g. with pistons pressing against the wall of the well (E21B17/1042 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B17/1021 Primary

  with articulated arms or arcuate springs · CPC title