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US 6,216,804 B1Granted
Apparatus for recovering core samples under pressure
OwnerJames T. Aumann, Craig R. Hylandinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressure and temperature core sampler comprises a tool for recovering cores specifically enabling the evaluation of methane hydrate resources. Because methane hydrate tends to decompose under conditions of pressure decrease and/or temperature increase as the samples are retrieved to the surfaces a coring tool in accordance with the present invention provides a self-contained system for retrieving core samples at or near in situ pressure while cooling the core sample. The coring tool is preferably a wire line retrievable device that provides for nearly continuous coring during the drilling operation.
Claims74
An apparatus for retrieving core samples under pressure, comprising:
- an inner barrel having a first end and a second end and defining a pressure chamber thereinbetween;
- a remotely actuable valve connected to the inner barrel at said second end;
- a sealing member associated with said first end of said inner barrel, said inner barrel, said valve, and said sealing member defining a core sample chamber thereinbetween for maintaining a core sample at approximately in situ pressure;
- and
- a cooling system associated with said inner barrel for cooling at least a portion of the inner barrel while the core sample is at approximately in situ pressure, said cooling system comprising at least one of a plurality of thermal electric coolers, a plurality of heat pipes. and a power source for providing electric current to a plurality of cooling elements.
2 more elements
A pressure chamber for recovering a core sample at in situ pressure, comprising:
- an outer tube assembly having a distal end and a proximal end;
- an inner tube assembly having a distal end and a proximal end and disposed within and longitudinally moveable relative to said outer tube assembly;
- a ball valve assembly associated with the outer tube assembly proximate a distal end thereof, the distal end of said inner tube assembly at least partially extending through said ball valve assembly;
- a plug associated with said inner tube assembly for forming a proximal end of the pressure chamber;
- and
- a cooling system associated with said inner tube assembly for cooling at least a portion of said inner tube assembly, said cooling system comprising at least one of a plurality of thermal electric cooling elements in contact with at least a portion of said inner tube assembly and at least one heat pipe extending around at least a portion of said inner tube assembly.
3 more elements
An apparatus for retrieving core samples under pressure, comprising:
- an inner tube having a first end and a second end and defining a pressure chamber thereinbetween;
- a remotely actuable valve connected to the inner tube at said second end;
- a sealing member associated with said first end of said inner tube, said inner tube, said valve, and said sealing member defining a core sample chamber thereinbetween;
- and
- a cooling system associated with said inner tube for cooling at least a portion of the inner tube, said cooling system comprising a plurality of thermal electric coolers disposed about a portion of said inner tube.
2 more elements
An apparatus for retrieving core samples under pressure, comprising:
- an inner tube having a first end and a second end and defining a pressure chamber thereinbetween;
- a remotely actuable valve connected to the inner tube at said second end;
- a sealing member associated with said first end of said inner tube, said inner tube, said valve, and said sealing member defining a core sample chamber thereinbetween;
- and
- a cooling system associated with said inner tube for cooling at least a portion of the inner tube, said cooling system comprising a plurality of heat pipes disposed about said inner tube for extracting heat from said inner tube.
2 more elements
An apparatus for retrieving core samples under pressure, comprising:
- an inner tube having a first end and a second end and defining a pressure chamber thereinbetween;
- a remotely actuable valve connected to the inner tube at said second end;
- a sealing member associated with said first end of said inner tube, said inner tube, said valve, and said sealing member defining a core sample chamber thereinbetween;
- and
- a cooling system associated with said inner tube for cooling at least a portion of the inner tube, said cooling system comprising a power source for providing electric current to a plurality of cooling elements.
2 more elements
An apparatus for retrieving core samples under pressure, comprising:
- an inner barrel having a first end and a second end and defining a pressure chamber thereinbetween;
- a remotely actuable valve connected to the inner barrel at said second end;
- a sealing member associated with said first end of said inner barrel, said inner barrel, said valve, and said sealing member defining a core sample chamber thereinbetween;
- a core catcher associated with said inner barrel at said second end thereof for holding a core sample within the inner barrel, said core catcher selected from the group comprising a dog catcher, a basket catcher, and a spring catcher;
- and
- a cooling system associated with said inner barrel for cooling at least a portion of the inner barrel, said cooling system comprising at least one of a plurality of thermal electric coolers disposed about a portion of said inner barrel, a plurality of heat pipes disposed about said inner barrel for extracting heat, and a power source for providing electric current to a plurality of cooling elements.
3 more elements
An apparatus for retrieving core samples under pressure, comprising:
- an inner barrel system having a first end and a second end and defining a pressure chamber thereinbetween and including a core catcher, a core sample chamber, a pressure control system, and a temperature control system;
- a remotely actuable valve connected to the inner barrel system at said second end;
- a sealing member associated with said first end of said inner barrel system, said inner barrel system, said valve, and said sealing member defining a core sample chamber thereinbetween;
- an outer barrel system disposed around the inner barrel system;
- a coring bit secured to a distal end of the outer barrel system;
- an actuable sub for selectively securing said outer barrel system;
- to said inner barrel system;
- a swivel mechanism interposed between said outer tube system and said inner tube system to allow said outer tube system to rotate with the rotation of the outer barrel system and drill bit during drilling operations while the inner barrel system remains relatively stationary;
- and
- a cooling system associated with said inner barrel system for cooling at least a portion of the inner barrel system, said cooling system comprising at least one of a plurality of thermal electric coolers disposed about a portion of said inner barrel, a plurality of heat pipes disposed about said inner barrel, and a power source for providing electric current to a plurality of cooling elements.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.