Apparatus and method for drawing fluid into a downhole tool

A downhole tool for drawing fluid from a subterranean formation therein, the downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation, comprising:

• a housing;
• a probe body extendable from the housing, the probe body having at least one inlet extending therethrough for receiving downhole fluids;
• at least one packer positioned on an external end of the probe body, the at least one packer adapted to create a seal with the wellbore wall, the at least one packer having an inner surface and a peripheral surface, the inner surface defining an aperture therethrough in fluid communication with the at least one inlet;
• and
• a plurality of packer supports, at least one of the plurality of packer supports is an internal packer support positioned adjacent at least a portion of the inner surface of the at least one packer and at least one of the plurality of packer supports is an external packer support positioned about at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the at least one packer whereby at least a portion of the at least one packer is supported as it is pressed against the wellbore wall.

A method of drawing a fluid from a subterranean formation into a downhole tool positioned in a wellbore, the method comprising:

• extending a probe from the downhole tool, the probe having at least one packer at an end thereof, the at least one packer having an inner surface and a peripheral surface, the inner surface defining an aperture therethrough;
• sealingly engaging the at least one packer with a wall of the wellbore;
• supporting at least a portion of the inner surface of the packer and the peripheral surface of the at least one packer as the at least one packer engages the wellbore wall;
• and
• drawing the fluid into the probe through the aperture.