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US 10,378,347 B2Granted
Sidewall core detection
OwnerJames Masseyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coring tool including a coring bit operable to obtain a core sample of a subterranean formation from a sidewall of a wellbore extending into the subterranean formation. The coring tool also includes a storage tube, an actuator operable to move the core from the coring bit into the storage tube, and a sensor operable to generate information related to presence of the core within the storage tube.
Claims16
An apparatus, comprising:
- a coring tool, comprising:
- a coring bit operable to obtain a core sample of a subterranean formation from a sidewall of a wellbore extending into the subterranean formation;
- a storage tube;
- an actuator operable to move the core from the coring bit into the storage tube;
- and
- a sensor operable to generate information related to presence of the core within the storage tube;
- wherein the sensor is disposed substantially adjacent an outer perimeter of the storage tube, proximate an end of the storage tube through which the actuator moves the core, and wherein the sensor is at least one of:
- an ultrasonic sensor;
- a resistivity sensor;
- a sonic sensor comprising a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the storage tube interposes the transmitter and the receiver;
- and
- a gamma ray sensor comprising a source and a detector, wherein the storage tube interposes the source and the detector.
9 more elements
A method, comprising:
- conveying a coring tool within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, wherein the coring tool comprises:
- a coring bit;
- a storage tube;
- an actuator;
- and
- a sensor;
- operating the coring tool to obtain, with the coring bit, a sample core of the subterranean formation from a sidewall of the wellbore;
- operating the actuator by applying a force on the core throughout a distance extending between a first core position and a second core position to move the core from the coring bit to the storage tube while generating information with the sensor, wherein the sensor is a first sensor operable to generate information related to the force and the coring tool further comprises a second sensor operable to generate information related to location of the core between the first and second core positions;
- and
- via operation of a processing device, determining the presence of the core within the storage tube based on the force information generated by the first sensor and the location information generated by the second sensor.
7 more elements
A method, comprising:
- conveying a coring tool within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, wherein the coring tool comprises a coring bit, a storage tube, an actuator, a force sensor, and a location sensor;
- operating the coring tool to obtain, with the coring bit, a sample core of the subterranean formation from a sidewall of the wellbore;
- operating the actuator to move the core from the coring bit to the storage tube while:
- the force sensor generates force information related to a force applied to the core by the actuator;
- and
- the location sensor generates location information related to a location of the core relative to the storage tube;
- and
- via operation of a processing device:
- generating a force-versus-location profile utilizing the force information and the location information;
- and
- determining the presence of the core within the storage tube based on the force-versus-location profile.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.