MWD formation tester

An apparatus comprising:

• an MWD tool having an outer surface;
• a formation testing assembly coupled to said MWD tool, said formation testing assembly recessed beneath said outer surface in a first position and including:
• a piston to extend beyond said outer surface to a second position;
• and
• an inner sampling member to extend from and beyond said piston to a third position to receive formation fluids.

A system for drilling a borehole and testing an earth formation comprising:

• a drill string having a drill bit and a bottom hole assembly;
• an MWD tool coupled to said bottom hole assembly;
• a formation testing assembly coupled to said MWD tool comprising:
• a first member having a seal pad with an outer surface, said first member to extend said seal pad into engagement with an earth formation;
• and
• a second member to extend from said first member and beyond said seal pad outer surface to receive formation fluids.

A method of engaging an earth formation for testing comprising:

• disposing a formation testing assembly on a drill string, said formation testing assembly having a first extendable member and a second extendable member;
• drilling a bore hole in an earth formation;
• extending said first extendable member beyond an outer surface of the drill string;
• further extending said second extendable member from said first extendable member to a position beyond said first extendable member;
• and
• receiving fluids from the earth formation through said second extendable member.