Apparatus and methods for sponge coring

A sponge liner for use in a sponge core barrel assembly, the sponge core barrel assembly including an inner barrel assembly formed of a first material and having a bore extending therethrough, the sponge liner comprising:

• a tubular sleeve having a longitudinal axis, formed of a second material and having an outer cylindrical surface sized and configured to be slidably disposed in the bore of the inner barrel assembly and an inner cylindrical surface, the outer cylindrical surface and the inner cylindrical surface being on opposite sides of a wall having a thickness, the tubular sleeve further including at least one groove formed in the inner cylindrical surface and extending into the thickness of the wall, the at least one groove having a cross-sectional shape;
• and
• an annular sponge layer formed of a material adapted to absorb at least one specified reservoir fluid, the annular sponge layer including an interior cavity and an outer cylindrical surface secured to the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular sleeve, the annular sponge layer extending into the at least one groove;
• and
• a shaped contour extending in nonperpendicular relationship to the longitudinal axis of the tubular sleeve on at least one end of the sponge liner, the shaped contour configured to mate with a correspondingly shaped contour on an end of a second, adjacent sponge liner, wherein the shaped contour on the sponge liner and the correspondingly shaped contour on the second sponge liner are cooperatively configured to provide an interlocking end-to-end connection between the sponge liner and the second sponge liner.

A sponge liner for use in a sponge core barrel assembly, the sponge core barrel assembly including an inner barrel assembly formed of a first material and having a bore extending therethrough, the sponge liner comprising:

• a tubular sleeve having a longitudinal axis, formed of a second material and having an outer cylindrical surface sized and configured to be slidably disposed in the bore of the inner barrel assembly and an inner cylindrical surface, the outer cylindrical surface and the inner cylindrical surface being on opposite sides of a wall having a thickness, the tubular sleeve further including at least one groove formed in the inner cylindrical surface and extending into the thickness of the wall, the at least one groove having a cross-sectional shape;
• an annular sponge layer formed of a material adapted to absorb at least one specified reservoir fluid, the annular sponge layer including an interior cavity and an outer cylindrical surface secured to the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular sleeve, the annular sponge layer extending into the at least one groove;
• and
• a longitudinally extending layer of webbing material disposed in the annular sponge layer.

A sponge liner for use in a sponge core barrel assembly, the sponge core barrel assembly including an inner barrel assembly having a bore extending therethrough, the sponge liner comprising:

• a longitudinally extending tubular sleeve having an inner cylindrical surface and an outer cylindrical surface sized and configured to be slidably disposed in the bore of the inner barrel assembly;
• an annular sponge layer formed of a material adapted to absorb at least one specified reservoir fluid, the annular sponge layer including an interior cavity and an outer cylindrical surface secured to the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular sleeve;
• and
• a longitudinally extending layer of webbing material disposed in the annular sponge layer about at least a portion of a circumference of the annular sponge layer.

An integrated sponge barrel for use in a sponge core barrel apparatus, comprising, prior to disposition of a core sample therein:

• at least one longitudinally extending inner tube section having an inner cylindrical surface;
• and
• an annular sponge layer constructed of a material adapted to absorb at least one specified reservoir fluid, the annular sponge layer including an interior cavity and an outer cylindrical surface secured to the inner cylindrical surface of the at least one inner tube section;
• and
• at least one groove formed in the inner cylindrical surface and extending into a thickness of a wall of at least one inner tube section, the at least one groove having a cross-sectional shape, configured in a helix or extending circumferentially along the inner cylindrical surface of the at least one inner tube section, the annular sponge layer extending into the at least one groove about the inner cylindrical surface of the at least one inner tube section;
• wherein the at least one longitudinally extending inner tube section is sized and configured for direct disposition in an outer barrel assembly without a surrounding inner barrel.

An integrated sponge barrel for use in a sponge core barrel apparatus, comprising, prior to disposition of a core sample therein:

• at least one longitudinally extending inner tube section having an inner cylindrical surface;
• and
• an annular sponge layer constructed of a material adapted to absorb at least one specified reservoir fluid, the annular sponge layer including an interior cavity and an outer cylindrical surface secured to the inner cylindrical surface of the at least one inner tube section;
• and
• a longitudinally extending layer of webbing material disposed in the annular sponge layer;
• wherein the at least one longitudinally extending inner tube section is sized and configured for direct disposition in an outer barrel assembly without a surrounding inner barrel.