Delayed opening fluid sampler
AssigneeHalliburton Company
InventorGary D. Zunkel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A delayed opening fluid sampling tool comprises a body having three chambers and a port defined therein. The tool also comprises a metering device which is disposed in the body between two of the chambers, one of which chambers is for holding a metering fluid and the other of which is for receiving fluid which is transferred through the metering device. The tool further comprises a valve which is disposed in the body between the port and the remaining chamber, which remaining chamber is for receiving a well fluid sample. The valve is moved relative to the body in response to pressure acting on the valve through the port. Only after a predetermined time delay after the pressure begins moving the valve is the valve positioned to communicate the port with the sample-receiving chamber.
Claims20
A fluid sampling tool, comprising:
- a body having a first chamber, a second chamber, a third chamber and a port defined therein;
- means, disposed in said body between said second and third chambers, for impeding fluid flow from said second chamber to said third chamber;
- and
- valve means, disposed in said body between said port and said first chamber for being moved relative to said body in response to pressure acting on said valve means through said port, for communicating said port with said first chamber only after a predetermined time delay after said pressure begins moving said valve means.
A downhole well fluid sampling apparatus for use in a well, said apparatus comprising:
- elongated means for defining a sample chamber for receiving a fluid sample from the well, a metering fluid reservoir chamber for receiving a metering fluid, a metering fluid receptacle chamber for receiving a transfer of metering fluid from said metering fluid reservoir chamber and a port for providing an opening in said apparatus through which pressure and fluid from the well can pass;
- metering means, disposed in said elongated means, for metering fluid flow from said metering fluid reservoir chamber to said metering fluid receptacle chamber;
- and
- valve means, disposed in said elongated means and movable through at least a portion of said metering fluid reservoir chamber in response to pressure from the well communicated through said port, for pushing at least a portion of the metering fluid from said metering fluid reservoir chamber, through said metering means, into said metering fluid receptacle chamber so that during a first time from the time said valve means starts to move and push metering fluid said valve means seals said port from said sample chamber for preventing well fluid from entering said sample chamber, and thereafter during a second time said valve means communicates said port with said sample chamber for allowing a sample of well fluid to be received in said sample chamber, and thereafter during a third time said valve means seals said port from said sample chamber for holding the sample of well fluid in said sample chamber.
A downhole well fluid sampling apparatus for use in a well, said apparatus comprising:
- an elongated body having a sample chamber, a liquid chamber, an air chamber and a port;
- a metering member retained in said body between said liquid chamber and said air chamber;
- and
- a valve member disposed in said body adjacent said port, said valve member including:
- a head portion having a first diameter, said head portion disposed for movement in said liquid chamber;
- a neck portion extending from said head portion and having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter;
- a shoulder portion extending from said neck portion and having a third diameter smaller than said first diameter but larger than said second diameter;
- an intermediate portion extending from said shoulder portion;
- an end portion extending from said intermediate portion and having a passageway extending therethrough and into said intermediate portion;
- first seal means for providing a seal between said head portion and said body;
- second seal means for providing a seal between said shoulder portion and said body;
- third seal means for providing a first seal between said end portion and said body;
- and
- fourth seal means, spaced from said third seal means, for providing a second seal between said end portion and said body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.