Metal pad for downhole formation testing
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorAbbas Arian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for isolator pad assemblies used in formation testing equipment. The pad comprises a primarily metallic pad member and a retractable resilient sealing member. The resilient sealing member is maintained in a retracted, protected position until extended to seal against the wellbore. When extended the metallic pad pushes into the mudcake until a raised ring of material on the surface of the pad contacts the formation. Once the pad is in place, the resilient sealing member, which is molded to an extending metal sleeve, is extended and contacts the mudcake to form a primary seal. With the primary and secondary seals energized, a fluid sample can be collected from the formation without contamination from wellbore fluids.
Claims16
An isolator probe assembly comprising:
- an inner sleeve having a first end
- a resilient ring disposed on the first end of said inner sleeve;
- and
- a metallic pad having a shaped portion and adapted to receive said inner sleeve, wherein said inner sleeve is moveable between a first position and second position.
A formation tester comprising:
- a body;
- a metal pad member having a shaped portion and a penetration therethrough;
- a raised lip disposed on the shaped portion of said metal pad;
- a sleeve member disposed within said penetration and moveable between a first position and a second position;
- and
- a resilient sealing member disposed on said sleeve member, wherein in the first position said resilient member is recessed within said metal pad and in the second position said resilient member extends beyond the curved side of said metal pad.
A method for sealing an extendable probe assembly against a wellbore wall having a mudcake, the method comprising:
- extending a metal pad to compress the mudcake;
- extending an inner sleeve through the pad;
- and
- compressing a resilient ring disposed on said inner sleeve against the mudcake.
A method for collecting a fluid sample from a formation through a wellbore lined with a mudcake, the method comprising:
- disposing a formation tester into the wellbore;
- extending a probe assembly to form a primary seal and a secondary seal that prevent wellbore fluids from entering the formation tester;
- and
- drawing a sample of fluid from the formation, through the probe assembly, and into the formation tester.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.