# US 8,739,899 B2 · Small core generation and analysis at-bit as LWD tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,899 B2 - Document ID: US8739899B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/096,452 - Filed: 2011-04-28 - Published: 2012-01-19 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-19 - Assignees: Baker Hughes Incorporated - Applicants: Sunil Kumar - Inventors: Sunil Kumar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739899B2 ## CPC - E21B 49/02: by mechanically taking samples of the soil - E21B 10/02: Core bits (characterised by wear resisting parts E21B10/48) - E21B 10/62: characterised by parts, e.g. cutting elements, which are detachable or adjustable (E21B10/64 takes precedence; for roller bits E21B10/20; for augers E21B10/44) - E21B 25/00: Apparatus for obtaining or removing undisturbed cores, e.g. core barrels or core extractors (core bits E21B10/02) - E21B 25/08: Coating, freezing, consolidating cores (E21B25/06 takes precedence); Recovering uncontaminated cores or cores at formation pressure - E21B 49/08: Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract The present disclosure is related to an apparatus for taking a sample in a wellbore during drilling operations. The apparatus may include a drill bit configured to form a core and at least one retractable cutter internal to the drill bit for taking the sample from the core. The apparatus may also include equipment for analyzing the sample, extracting fluid from the sample, testing fluid from the sample, encapsulating the sample, and/or tagging the sample. The present disclosure is also related to a method for taking a core sample without interrupting drilling operations. The method includes taking a core sample using a drill bit configured to take a core sample using internal cutters. The method may also include analyzing the sample, extracting fluid from the sample, analyzing fluid from the sample, encapsulating the sample, and/or tagging the sample. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for forming a sample in a wellbore, comprising: a drill bit configured to form a core; at least one retractable cutter internal to the drill bit and configured to cut the sample from the core; at least one sealing member pressure isolating the sample in the drill bit; and a chamber configured to receive the sample and a storage chamber for storing the sample, wherein the at least one retractable cutter is positioned adjacent to a mouth of the drill bit, and wherein the at least one sealing member isolates the sample in the chamber from the storage chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an extractor disposed adjacent to the chamber and configured to extract a fluid from the sample. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: at least one analysis module operably coupled to the extractor and configured to analyze the extracted fluid after the sample has been isolated in the chamber by the sealing element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one analysis module includes at least one of: (i) a gas chromatograph and (ii) a fluid analyzer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the extractor comprises at least one of: (i) a heater, (ii) a mechanical pulverizer, (iii) an acoustic driver, and (iv) a filter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the extractor is configured perform on the sample at least one of: (i) a compression test, (ii) a strain test, and (iii) a fracture test. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an analysis module positioned adjacent to the chamber and configured to apply a stimulus to the sample. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stimulus is at least one of: (i) pressure, (ii) heat, (iii) acoustic energy, (iv) a magnetic field, (v) electromagnetic radiation, and (vi) force. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a processor configured to modify at least one drilling parameter using data acquired by the analysis module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an encapsulater operably coupled to the chamber and configured to at least partially encapsulate at least part of the sample in an encapsulating material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the encapsulating material is at least one of: (i) a polymer, (ii) a gel, (iii) a metallic coating, and (iv) a clay. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the encapsulating material is easily distinguishable from drilling fluid and unencapsulated materials from the wellbore. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a tagging device adjacent to the chamber and configured to tag the sample. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the tagging device is configured to tag the sample using at least one of: (i) a laser marker, (ii) an ultrasonic blasting tool, (iii) a powder blasting tool, (iv) radioactive tracers, (v) magnetic particles, and (vi) a chip inserter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a pressure applicator disposed adjacent to the chamber and configured to modify pressure of the chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sample is at least one of: (i) a core sample and (ii) a cutting. ### Claim 17 A method of taking a sample in a wellbore, comprising: using a drill bit conveyed into the wellbore to form a core; using at least one retractable cutter internal to the drill bit for cutting the sample from the core, wherein the at least one retractable cutter is positioned adjacent to a mouth of the drill bit; and pressure isolating the cut sample in the drill bit in a chamber configured to receive the sample, and wherein at least one sealing member isolates the sample in the chamber from a storage chamber for storing the sample. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: estimating a value of a property of interest using a response of the sample to a stimulus, while the sample is in the wellbore. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: applying the stimulus to the sample. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising: modifying at least one drilling parameter using a response of the sample to the stimulus. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising applying the stimulus by using, at least one of: (i) pressure, (ii) heat, (iii) acoustic energy, (iv) a magnetic field, (v) electromagnetic radiation, and (vi) force. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: extracting a fluid from the sample, while the sample is in the wellbore. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising: estimating a property of interest using the extracted fluid. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, using, to extract the fluid, at least one of: (i) fluid pressure, (ii) mechanical compression, (iii) heating, (iv) acoustic waves, and (v) a filter. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, using, to estimate the property of interest, at least one of: (i) a gas chromatograph and (ii) a fluid analyzer. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: encapsulating at least part of the sample in an encapsulating material. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, using, as the encapsulating material, at least one of: (i) a polymer, (ii) a gel, (iii) a metallic coating, and (iv) a clay. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: marking the sample using a tagging device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, using, for the tagging device, at least one of: (i) a laser marker, (ii) an ultrasonic blasting tool, (iii) a powder blasting tool, (iv) radioactive tracers, (v) magnetic particles, and (vi) a chip inserter. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, further comprising: marking an encapsulating material surrounding the sample using a tagging device.