Formation tester tool
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsPing Sui, Nanjun Liu, Varun Gupta, Yu-Hsing Charles Kuo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A formation tester tool assembly includes a seal member mounted on rigid stabilizer that contacts a borehole wall separately from the seal member, so that seal exposure to a stabilization load that presses the tool against the borehole wall is limited or reduced by contact engagement of the stabilizer with the borehole wall. The stabilizer is provided by a hydraulically actuated probe piston reciprocally movable relative to a tool body on which it is mounted. The seal member is in some embodiments movable relative to the probe piston, for example being configured for hydraulic actuation to sealingly engage the borehole wall while the tool body is stabilized by action of the probe piston.
Claims20
A tool assembly comprising:
- a tool body defining a tool axis, the tool body configured to be receivable in a borehole defined by a borehole wall;
- a stabilizer mounted on the tool body, the stabilizer displaceable in a direction transverse to the tool axis;
- an actuating mechanism coupled to the stabilizer and configured to move the stabilizer between:
- a retracted position in which the stabilizer is spaced from the borehole wall, and
- a deployed position in which a contact surface of the stabilizer engages the borehole wall at a first location;
- a seal mounted on the stabilizer and configured to sealingly engage the borehole wall at a second location when the stabilizer is in the deployed position to define a sealed isolation zone isolated from borehole fluids;
- wherein the second location is spaced from the first location;
- and
- a testing mechanism within the tool body and configured for testing one or more formation properties in the isolation zone.
A method comprising:
- locating a formation tester tool having tool body in a borehole defined by a borehole wall;
- moving a stabilizer mounted on the tool body for transverse movement between a retracted position and a deployed position in which a contact surface of the stabilizer forcibly engages the borehole wall, to stabilize the tool body within the borehole;
- while the stabilizer is in the deployed condition, causing an active seal carried by the stabilizer to sealingly engage the borehole wall at a sealing surface spaced from the contact surface of the stabilizer, thereby to define a sealed isolation zone isolated from borehole fluids;
- and
- testing one or more formation properties by exposing a testing mechanism forming part of the tool to the isolation zone.
A system comprising:
- a well tool assembly receivable within a borehole defined by a borehole wall;
- and
- a formation tester tool incorporated in the well tool assembly, the formation tester tool comprising:
- a tool body defining a tool axis;
- a stabilizer mounted on the tool body, the stabilizer displaceable transversely to the tool axis;
- an actuating mechanism coupled to the stabilizer and configured to move the stabilizer between a retracted position in which the stabilizer is spaced from the borehole wall, and a deployed position in which the stabilizer engages the borehole wall at a first location;
- a seal mounted on the stabilizer and configured to sealingly engage the borehole wall at a second location when the stabilizer is in the deployed position, to define a sealed isolation zone isolated from borehole fluids, wherein the second location is spaced from the first location;
- and
- a testing mechanism configured for testing one or more formation properties in the isolation zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.