Method and apparatus for subsurface fluid sampling

A downhole tool useful for extracting virgin fluid from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore surrounded by contaminated fluid, the downhole tool comprising:

• a probe positionable in fluid communication with the formation, the probe having a wall therein defining a first channel and a second channel, the wall adjustably positionable within the probe whereby the flow of virgin fluid into the first channel is optimized;
• and
• a first flow line in fluid communication with the first channel;
• a second flow line in fluid communication with the second channel;
• and
• at least one pump for drawing the fluids from the formation into the flow lines.

A method of sampling virgin fluid from a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore surrounded by contaminated fluid, the subterranean formation having virgin fluid therein, the method comprising:

• Positioning a downhole tool in the wellbore adjacent the subterranean formation, the downhole tool having a probe adapted to draw fluid therein;
• Positioning the probe in fluid communication with the formation, the probe having a wall therein defining a first channel and a second channel;
• Drawing at least a portion of the virgin fluid through the first channel and into the downhole tool;
• Selectively adjusting the wall within the probe whereby the flow of virgin fluid into the downhole tool is optimized.

A method of sampling virgin fluid from a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore surrounded by contaminated fluid, the subterranean formation having virgin fluid therein, the method comprising:

• Positioning a downhole tool in the wellbore adjacent the subterranean formation, the downhole tool having a probe adapted to draw fluid therein;
• Positioning the probe in fluid communication with the formation, the probe having a wall therein defining a first channel and a second channel;
• Drawing at least a portion of the virgin fluid into the first channel in the probe;
• Selectively adjusting the flow of fluid into the channels whereby the flow of virgin fluid into the probe is optimized.

A downhole tool useful for extracting virgin fluid from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore surrounded by contaminated fluid, the downhole tool comprising:

• a probe positionable in fluid communication with the formation and adapted to flow the fluids from the formation into the downhole tool, the probe having a wall therein defining a first channel and a second channel;
• a contamination monitor adapted to measure fluid parameters in at least one of the channels;
• and
• a controller adapted to receive data from the contamination monitor and send command signals in response thereto whereby the wall is selectively adjusted within the probe to optimize the flow of the virgin fluid through the first channel and into the downhole tool.

A downhole tool useful for extracting virgin fluid from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore surrounded by contaminated fluid, the downhole tool comprising:

• a probe positionable in fluid communication with the formation and adapted to flow the fluids from the formation into the downhole tool, the probe having a wall therein defining a first channel and a second channel;
• a first flow line in fluid communication with the first channel;
• a second flow line in fluid communication with the second channel;
• at least one pump for drawing the fluids from the formation;
• a contamination monitor adapted to measure fluid parameters in at least one of the channels;
• and
• a controller adapted to receive data from the contamination monitor and send command signals in response thereto whereby the pump is selectively activated to draw fluid into the flow lines to optimize the flow of the virgin fluid through the first channel and into the downhole tool.

A method of sampling virgin fluid from a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore surrounded by contaminated fluid, the subterranean formation having virgin fluid therein, the method comprising:

• Positioning a probe in fluid communication with the formation, the probe carried by a downhole tool and having a wall therein defining a first channel and a second channel;
• Flowing the fluids through the probe and into the downhole tool;
• Monitoring fluid parameters of the fluid passing through the probe;
• Selectively adjusting the flow of fluids into the probe in response to the fluid parameters whereby the flow of virgin fluid through the first channel and into the downhole tool is optimized.

A downhole tool useful for extracting fluid from a subsurface formation penetrated by a wellbore surrounded by a layer of contaminated fluid, the subsurface formation having virgin fluid therein beyond the layer of contaminated fluid, the downhole tool comprising:

• at least two packers carried by the downhole tool, the packers capable of sealingly engaging the sidewall of the wellbore whereby an isolated portion of the wellbore therebetween is fluidly isolated from a remainder of the wellbore;
• a plurality of intakes positioned along the downhole tool between the packers, the intakes capable of drawing fluid into the downhole tool;
• and
• at least two walls radially extendable from the downhole tool and movable therealong whereby the virgin fluid flowing into the isolated portion of the wellbore is selectively drawn into the plurality of intakes positioned between the walls.