Downhole probe tool
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsBander S. Al-Malki, Faisal M. Sarwi, Ismail Adebiyi
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Abstract
A downhole fluid sampling system includes a tool body to attach to a tubing string, and multiple probe pads having a curved shape and disposed circumferentially about a section of the tool body in a helical gear pattern about a central longitudinal axis of the tool body. Each probe pad includes probes on an external surface of the respective probe pad, and each probe can contact and engage a wall of a wellbore and receive a flow of formation fluid from the wall of the wellbore. An outer surface of the tool body includes multiple channels disposed circumferentially about the section of the tool body and between the probe pads. The channels direct fluid flow along the tool body.
Claims20
A downhole fluid sampling system, comprising:
- a tool body configured to attach to a tubing string;
- a plurality of probe pads each having a curved shape and disposed circumferentially about a section of the tool body in a helical gear pattern about a central longitudinal axis of the tool body, each probe pad of the plurality of probe pads comprising multiple probes on an external surface of the respective probe pad, and each probe of the multiple probes is configured to contact and engage a wall of a wellbore and receive a flow of formation fluid from the wall of the wellbore, wherein the plurality of probe pads are connected to the tool body with probe arms, the plurality of probe pads configured to radially extend away from the tool body from a first, retracted position to a second, radially extended position, wherein each probe pad is extendible in order to engage the multiple probes of each respective probe pad with the wall of the wellbore;
- and
- a plurality of channels in an outer surface of the tool body and disposed circumferentially about the section of the tool body between the probe pads of the plurality of probe pads, the plurality of channels configured to direct fluid flow along the tool body.
A method for sampling fluid downhole in a wellbore, the method comprising:
- disposing a downhole fluid sampling system in a wellbore, the downhole fluid sampling system comprising a tool body configured to attached to a tubing string;
- radially extending a plurality of probe pads from the tool body from a first, retracted position to a second, radially extended position;
- engaging, in response to the radially extending of the plurality of probe pads, a formation wall of the wellbore with multiple probes on a radially external surface of the plurality of probe pads, each probe pad of the plurality of probe pads having a curved shape and comprising multiple probes, wherein each probe pad of the plurality of probe pads is extendible in order to engage the multiple probes of each respective probe pad with the wall of the wellbore, and the plurality of probe pads disposed circumferentially about a section of the tool body in a helical gear pattern about a central longitudinal axis of the tool body;
- receiving, through the multiple probes, a fluid sample from the formation wall;
- and
- guiding wellbore fluid across the tool body with a plurality of channels in an outer surface of the tool body, the plurality of channels disposed circumferentially about the section of the tool body between the probe pads of the plurality of probe pads.
A downhole fluid sampling system, comprising:
- a tool body configured to attach to a tubing string;
- a central channel extending within and longitudinally along the tool body;
- one or more bypass ports extending within and longitudinally along the tool body, the one or more bypass ports being fluidly separate from the central channel, the one or more bypass ports comprising one or more lateral port openings in an outer surface of the tool body;
- and
- a plurality of probe pads each having a curved shape and disposed circumferentially about a section of the tool body in a helical gear pattern about a central longitudinal axis of the tool body, each probe pad of the plurality of probe pads comprising multiple probes on an external surface of the respective probe pad, and each probe of the multiple probes is configured to contact and engage a wall of a wellbore and receive a flow of formation fluid from the wall of the wellbore, wherein the plurality of probe pads are connected to the tool body with probe arms, the plurality of probe pads configured to radially extend away from the tool body from a first, retracted position to a second, radially extended position, and each probe pad is extendible in order to engage the multiple probes of each respective probe pad with the wall of the wellbore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.