Single Packer System for Fluid Management in a Wellbore

A method, comprising:

• surrounding an inflatable bladder with an outer structural layer to create a single expandable packer;
• connecting a fluid flow system to a plurality of drains located in the outer structural layer;
• and
• positioning a drain feature at each of the drains to facilitate flow through the plurality of drains over the life of the single expandable packer.

A method, comprising:

• providing a single expandable packer with a plurality of drains having a sampling drain positioned between guard drains;
• delivering the single expandable packer downhole into a wellbore;
• expanding the single expandable packer against a surrounding wellbore wall;
• removing mud cake from a region of the wellbore prior to sampling via the single expandable packer;
• and
• operating a pumping system to draw well fluid in through the plurality of drains and to obtain a sample of fluid through the sampling drain.