US3577783A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tool to take multiple fluid measurements
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
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Filing: 1969-01-10
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Granted: 1971-05-04
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Expires: 1989-01-10
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of readings with respect to fluids in formations traversed by a well bore is obtained in a single traverse of the well bore by a special tool. The tool includes a piston-cylinder assembly having two pistons of differential diameter and serving as a pressure multiplier responsive to the pressure of fluid in the well bore for generating pressure in an operating fluid in a branching conduit in the tool greater than the pressure of the fluid in the well bore at the depth of the tool. Upon opening of a valve in the conduit, the operating fluid sets a shoe against the wall of the well bore and, by reaction, forces annular sealing means on the tool against the wall of the well bore to seal off an area of the wall from fluid in the well bore. After a short delay to permit the setting and sealing, a collection chamber in the tool in communication with the annular sealing means is expanded to reduce the pressure therein and facilitate collection of a fluid sample from the formation. The delay is facilitated by a choke formed in one branch of the conduit and, in one embodiment, by a check valve and a piston-cylinder assembly mounted in the same branch.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank R Whitten
- 👤 Roger Q Fields
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:18
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B49/00; E21B49/08; E21B49/10; E21B47/00; G; G01; G01V; G01V9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
347 words
In apparatus for obtaining a plurality of readings with respect to fluids in formations traversed by a well bore, said apparatus including a housing, annular sealing means mounted on said housing for sealing off an area of the wall of said well bore from fluid within said well bore, formation-fluid-receiving chamber means within said housing in communication with said sealed-off area of said wall, gauge means operatively connected to said chamber means for obtaining a reading with respect to formation fluid within said chamber means, and motive means for bringing said chamber means into cooperation with discrete samples of formation fluid collected at spaced-apart locations in said well bore, whereby a plurality of readings with respect to fluid in said formations is obtainable in a single traverse of said well bore by said apparatus, the improvement wherein said motive means comprises pressure multiplier means within said housing responsive to the pressure of said fluid within said well bore for boostiNg the pressure of an operating fluid within said housing to a pressure greater than the pressure of said well bore fluid at the depth of said apparatus, positioning means mounted on said housing and movable between a retracted position and a set position, conduit means communicating with said pressure multiplier means, said conduit means being divided into a fastaction branch communicating with said positioning means and a delayed-action branch communicating with said chamber means, and operating valve means in said conduit means which when opened permits operating fluid flow from said pressure multiplier means to said conduit means, whereby, upon opening of said operating valve means to permit operating fluid flow from said pressure multiplier means to said conduit means, said operating fluid flow is initially effective in said fast-action branch to cause setting of said positioning means, said positioning means when set forcing said annular sealing means against the wall of said well bore, and is thereafter effective in said delayed-action branch to expand said chamber means to reduce the pressure within said chamber means and facilitate collection of said formation fluid in said chamber means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
347 words
In apparatus for obtaining a plurality of readings with respect to fluids in formations traversed by a well bore, said apparatus including a housing, annular sealing means mounted on said housing for sealing off an area of the wall of said well bore from fluid within said well bore, formation-fluid-receiving chamber means within said housing in communication with said sealed-off area of said wall, gauge means operatively connected to said chamber means for obtaining a reading with respect to formation fluid within said chamber means, and motive means for bringing said chamber means into cooperation with discrete samples of formation fluid collected at spaced-apart locations in said well bore, whereby a plurality of readings with respect to fluid in said formations is obtainable in a single traverse of said well bore by said apparatus, the improvement wherein said motive means comprises pressure multiplier means within said housing responsive to the pressure of said fluid within said well bore for boostiNg the pressure of an operating fluid within said housing to a pressure greater than the pressure of said well bore fluid at the depth of said apparatus, positioning means mounted on said housing and movable between a retracted position and a set position, conduit means communicating with said pressure multiplier means, said conduit means being divided into a fastaction branch communicating with said positioning means and a delayed-action branch communicating with said chamber means, and operating valve means in said conduit means which when opened permits operating fluid flow from said pressure multiplier means to said conduit means, whereby, upon opening of said operating valve means to permit operating fluid flow from said pressure multiplier means to said conduit means, said operating fluid flow is initially effective in said fast-action branch to cause setting of said positioning means, said positioning means when set forcing said annular sealing means against the wall of said well bore, and is thereafter effective in said delayed-action branch to expand said chamber means to reduce the pressure within said chamber means and facilitate collection of said formation fluid in said chamber means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pressure multiplier means comprises a mud cylinder communicating with said fluid within said well bore, a mud piston within said mud cylinder, a high-pressure piston rigidly connected to said mud piston, said high-pressure piston being of smaller diameter than said mud piston, and a high-pressure cylinder housing said high-pressure piston, said high-pressure cylinder communicating with said conduit means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said delayed-action branch is formed with a choke to slow the flow of operating fluid therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said delayed-action branch is divided into subbranches in parallel one of said subbranches comprising a check valve preventing operating fluid flow therethrough towards said chamber means and permitting operating flow therethrough away from said chamber means and the other of said subbranches comprising a delay cylinder and a delay piston mounted in said delay cylinder, said delay piston being normally within said delay cylinder to prevent operating fluid flow therethrough towards said chamber means but being forced out of said delay cylinder sufficiently to permit operating fluid flow toward said chamber means beginning a finite time following opening of said operating valve means, whereby, during operating fluid flow in said fast-action branch causing setting of said positioning means, there is initially no operating fluid flow in said delayed-action branch between said subbranches and said chamber means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising biasing means for preventing said delay piston from being forced out of said delay cylinder until after setting of said positioning means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a dump valve means in said conduit means and a dump chamber connected to said conduit means, said dump valve means when open permitting dumping of operating fluid from said conduit means into said dump chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gauge means is a pressure gauge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gauge means is a temperature gauge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gauge means is a resistivity gauge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gauge means is a radioactivity gauge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3115775A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-03 | 1974-11-02 | 1975-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-03 | 1978-11-02 | 1979-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-03 | 1982-11-02 | 1983-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |