# US 2014/0196532 A1 · Apparatus and Method for Obtaining Formation Fluid Samples Utilizing a Sample Clean-up Device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196532 A1 - Document ID: US20140196532A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/739,811 - Filed: 2013-01-11 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: Baker Hughes Incorporated - Inventors: Wade Bullock; James T. Cernosek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196532A1 ## CPC - E21B 49/08: Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells - E21B 49/10: using side-wall fluid samplers or testers - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract In one aspect, a method of obtaining a fluid from a formation is disclosed that in one embodiment may include: pumping fluid received by a first probe from the formation into the wellbore; pumping fluid received by a second probe from the formation into the wellbore; determining when the fluid received by one of the first and second probes is clean; and pumping the fluid received by the first probe into a sample chamber while collecting the formation fluid received by the second probe from the formation into a storage chamber having an internal pressure less than the pressure of the formation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of obtaining a sample of a fluid from a formation surrounding a wellbore, comprising: pumping a fluid received by a first probe from the formation into a sample chamber; and collecting fluid received by a second probe from the formation into a storage chamber having an internal pressure less than the pressure of the formation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein collecting the fluid received by the second probe from the formation into a storage chamber comprises collecting such fluid without using a pump. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling a rate of flow of the fluid from the second probe into the storage chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein controlling the rate of flow of the fluid comprises receiving the fluid from the second probe into the storage chamber against a selected pressure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein receiving the fluid from the second probe into the storage chamber against a selected pressure comprises using a compressed gas to apply the selected pressure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein controlling the rate of flow of the fluid from the second probe comprises controlling a valve to control the flow of the fluid from the second probe into the storage chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining when the fluid received by one of the first and second probes is clean comprises using an optical device to determine contamination in the fluid received by one of the first and second probes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising expelling the fluid from the storage chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further comprising using at least two pumps for expelling the fluid from the storage chamber and a common fluid line for discharging the extracted fluid into the wellbore. ### Claim 10 A method of obtaining a sample of a fluid from a formation surrounding a wellbore, comprising: conveying a tool into the wellbore that includes a first probe surrounded by a second probe, a first pump, and a second pump; pumping fluid from the formation received via the first probe by the first pump into the wellbore; pumping fluid from the formation received via the second probe by the second pump into the wellbore; determining when the fluid received via one of the first probe and the second probe meets a contamination level threshold; and pumping the fluid received via the first probe into a first chamber using the first pump and collecting the fluid received via the second probe into a second chamber without using the second pump. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein collecting the fluid received via the second probe into a second chamber comprising maintain a pressure differential between the formation and the second chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising: expelling the fluid collected in the second chamber downhole; and reusing the second chamber downhole for collecting fluid from the formation. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for obtaining fluid from a formation, comprising: a first probe and a second probe; a first pump configured to extract the fluid from the formation via the first probe and a second pump for extracting the fluid from the formation via the second probe; and a storage device configured to collect the fluid extracted via the second probe due to pressure differential between the formation pressure and the pressure in the storage chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein pressure in the first probe is greater or equal to the pressure in the second probe. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a first flow control device configured to direct the fluid extracted via the first probe into the wellbore and a sample chamber; and a second flow control device configured to direct the fluid extracted via the second probe into the wellbore and the storage device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the pressure differential is sufficiently low to enable collection of the fluid from the second probe into the storage device above a bubble point of the collected fluid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the storage device comprises a storage chamber configured to collect the fluid from the second probe and a force application device configured to cause the collection of the fluid under pressure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the storage chamber includes a piston and wherein the force application device includes a chamber with a pressurized gas that exerts pressure on the piston. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a fluid line in fluid communication with the first pump, the second pump and the storage device that enables the first pump and the second pump to expel the fluid from the storage device into the wellbore. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a fluid analysis device in fluid communication with the fluid extracted via one of the first and second probes configured to determine when the extracted fluid is clean. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a controller configured to: control the first flow control device to direct the fluid extracted via the first probe into the wellbore: and simultaneously control the second flow control device to direct the fluid extracted via the second probe into the wellbore. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to: control the first flow control device to direct the fluid extracted via the first probe into the sample chamber upon a determination that the fluid extracted via the first probe meets a selected criterion; and control the second flow control device to allow the fluid extracted via the second probe to flow to the storage chamber. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first probe and the second probe are concentric. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a controller configured to control the rate of flow of the fluid into the sample chamber and the storage chamber. ### Claim 25 An apparatus for obtaining fluid from a formation, comprising: a first probe and a second probe; a pump configured to extract the fluid from the formation via the first probe; and a storage device configured to receive the fluid from the second probe due to a pressure differential between the formation and the storage device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the storage device includes a chamber for receiving the fluid from the second probe and a force application device configured to cause the chamber to receive the fluid from the second probe under pressure. ### Claim 27 An apparatus for obtaining fluid from a formation, comprising: a probe adapted to be placed against the formation for receiving the fluid from the formation; a first chamber; a pump configured to pump fluid from the formation received by the probe into the first chamber; and a second chamber collecting fluid from the probe due to a pressure differential between pressure of the formation and pressure in the second chamber. ### Claim 28 A method of obtaining fluid from a formation, comprising: activating a pump to withdraw the fluid from the formation surrounding a wellbore using a pump; pumping the fluid withdrawn into the wellbore; deactivating the pump and collecting the fluid from the formation into a clean-up unit; and activating the pump to pump the formation fluid into a sample chamber.