Coiled tubing deployed single phase fluid sampling apparatus and method for use of same

A system for collecting a single phase fluid sample from a well extending below a surface of the earth, the system comprising:

• a coiled tubing string having a tubing bore, the coiled tubing string comprising a continuous pipe string deployed from a coiled tubing reel;
• a housing connected to the coiled tubing string, the housing including an opening and a longitudinally extending passageway disposed centrally within the housing that includes a charging chamber, a metering fluid chamber and a sample fluid chamber;
• an actuator disposed within the housing, the actuator operable to establish fluid communication between the sample fluid chamber and an exterior of the housing through the opening;
• a first one-way valve disposed within the passageway that defines a first end of the sample fluid chamber;
• a first floating piston disposed within the passageway that defines a second end of the sample fluid chamber and a first end of the metering fluid chamber;
• a second floating piston disposed within the passageway that defines a second end of the metering fluid chamber and a first end of the charging chamber;
• a second one-way valve disposed within the passageway that defines a second end of the charging chamber;
• a pressure source located above the surface of the earth that is selectively in fluid communication with the charging chamber through the tubing bore and the second one-way valve;
• and
• a restrictor disposed within the passageway between the first and second floating pistons.

A method of collecting a single phase fluid sample from a subterranean well, the method comprising:

• running a fluid sampler into the well on a coiled tubing string;
• actuating the fluid sampler to establish fluid communication between a sample chamber and an exterior of the fluid sampler to obtain a fluid sample;
• passing the fluid sample through a first one-way valve;
• expanding the sample fluid chamber by shifting a first floating piston responsive to fluid sample pressure;
• controlling an expansion rate of the sample fluid chamber by restricting flow of a metering fluid in a metering fluid chamber;
• contracting a charging chamber by shifting a second floating piston toward a second one-way valve responsive to metering fluid pressure;
• communicating fluid pressure through the second one-way valve and shifting the second floating piston to expand the charging chamber by increasing the fluid pressure in the coiled tubing string;
• shifting the first floating piston to contract the sample fluid chamber responsive to metering fluid pressure;
• and
• pressurizing the fluid sample in the sample fluid chamber.