US 9,284,838 B2 · Apparatus and method for obtaining formation fluid samples utilizing independently controlled devices on a common hydraulic line

Abstract

In one aspect, an apparatus for use in a wellbore formed in a formation is disclosed that in one embodiment includes a device for supplying a hydraulic fluid under pressure to a common hydraulic line, a first pump in hydraulic communication with the common hydraulic line via a first variable fluid control device, a second pump in hydraulic communication with the common hydraulic line via a second variable fluid control device, and at least one controller that controls flow of the hydraulic fluid from the first variable flow control device to the first pump and the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the second variable flow control device to the second pump to independently control the operation of the first pump and the second pump. In another aspect, the first pump is coupled to a first probe for extracting fluid from the formation and the second pump is coupled to a second probe for extracting the fluid from the formation.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for use in a wellbore formed in a formation, comprising:

a device in the wellbore for supplying a hydraulic fluid to a common hydraulic line;
a first flow control device for controlling a supply of the hydraulic fluid from the common hydraulic line to a first pump;
a second flow control device for controlling a supply of the hydraulic fluid from the common hydraulic line to a second pump;
at least one controller that controls flow of the hydraulic fluid from the first flow control device to the first pump and controls a flow of the hydraulic fluid from the second flow control device to the second pump to independently control operation of the first pump and the second pump;
and
wherein the first pump operates at a first speed and the second pump operates at a second speed and wherein the second pump is turned off as a piston of the first pump reaches a selected position of the first pump.

3 more elements

A system for obtaining a sample from a formation, comprising:

a tool conveyable in a wellbore formed in the formation, the tool including:
a first probe for obtaining fluid from the formation;
a second probe for obtaining fluid from the formation;
a device for supplying a hydraulic fluid to a common hydraulic line;
a first pump for extracting the fluid from the formation via the first probe;
a first flow control device for controlling a supply of the hydraulic fluid from the common hydraulic line to the first pump;
a second pump for extracting the fluid from the formation via the second probe;
a second flow control device for controlling a supply of the hydraulic fluid from the common hydraulic line to the second pump;
a fluid evaluation device for determining level of contamination in the fluid extracted via one of the first probe and the second probe;
and
at least one controller that controls flow of the hydraulic fluid from the first flow control device to the first pump and controls a flow of the hydraulic fluid from the second flow control device to the second pump to independently control operation of the first pump and the second pump.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for obtaining formation fluid samples utilizing independently controlled devices on a common hydraulic line

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for obtaining formation fluid samples utilizing independently controlled devices on a common hydraulic line

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20