Downhole segregation for wireline formation fluid sampling

A method for sampling fluid from a subterranean formation that is intersected by a wellbore, the method comprising:

• isolating a section of the wellbore with a fluid tester, the fluid tester including an inlet, wherein isolating the section of the wellbore with the fluid tester includes providing a space between the inlet of the fluid tester and the subterranean formation;
• pumping a fluid mixture from the subterranean formation into the wellbore and into the inlet of the fluid tester, wherein during the pumping the fluid mixture enters the space and at least partially separates within the space into at least two phases, the at least two phases including a hydrocarbon-based phase and a water-based phase;
• when the hydrocarbon-based and water-based phases enter the inlet of the fluid tester, pumping a sample of at least a portion of the hydrocarbon-based phase with a first pump from the fluid tester inlet to a sample chamber and using a second pump to pump a remainder of fluid from the fluid tester inlet into the wellbore, wherein the second pump exhibits a higher pump rate than a pump rate of the first pump;
• and
• testing a hydrocarbon content of the sample;
• running the pumps at a different rate sufficient to minimize the water phase, wherein said difference in rate is at least 2, and thereby removing primarily hydrocarbon phase.