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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8113280 | Formation tester tool assembly A formation tester tool can include a longitudinal probe drill collar having a surface, a formation probe assembly located within the probe drill collar, the formation probe assembly including a piston reciprocal between a retracted position and an extended position... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8109334 | Sampling and evaluation of subterranean formation fluid A method of sampling a subterranean formation fluid may comprise extracting a first fluid sample from a portion of the subterranean formation, altering a temperature of the portion of the subterranean formation, and extracting a second fluid sample from the portion ... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8091635 | Apparatus and methods to remove impurities at a sensor in a downhole tool Apparatus and methods to remove impurities at a sensor in a downhole tool are disclosed. During the testing and/or sampling of formation fluid in a borehole, the downhole tool creates a transient high rate of fluid flow of the formation fluid to remove impurities at... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8056625 | Formation evaluation while drilling An apparatus comprising a fluid communication device configured to extend from a drill string and establish fluid communication with a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore in which the drill string is positioned, wherein the drill string comprises a passa... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8047286 | Formation evaluation system and method A downhole tool comprising a probe, wherein the probe comprises: a first inlet having an elongated cross-sectional shape, and a second inlet surrounding the first inlet. The downhole tool further comprises at least one pump configured to draw fluid from a subterrane... | 11/01/2011 |
| 8037935 | Acquiring and concentrating a selected portion of a sampled reservoir fluid An apparatus includes a sample compartment. The apparatus further includes an inlet port through which the sampled reservoir fluid may be introduced into the sample compartment. The apparatus further includes a concentrating object that can be placed within the samp... | 10/18/2011 |
| 8016038 | Method and apparatus to facilitate formation sampling A downhole tool for extracting a sample from a subsurface formation includes an emitter of electromagnetic energy configured to heat water in the subsurface formation. A method for extracting a sample from a subsurface formation involves conveying a downhole tool in... | 09/13/2011 |
| 7997341 | Downhole fluid filter An apparatus for testing a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising a tool having a sample flow line an inlet disposed with the tool and configured to establish fluid communication between the formation and the sample flow line to draw a fluid sam... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7967067 | Coiled tubing deployed single phase fluid sampling apparatus A coiled tubing deployed fluid sampler (50) for collecting a single phase fluid sample from a well. The fluid sampler (50) is actuated to establish fluid communication between an interior (56) and an exterior of the fluid sampler (50) suc... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7958936 | Downhole formation sampling Methods, systems, and apparatuses for downhole sampling are presented. The sampling system includes a control unit and a housing to engage a conduit. The housing at least partially encloses at least one formation sampler to collect a formation sample. The formation ... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7886821 | Apparatus and method for determining fluid properties A downhole fluid sample container includes a fluid sample container detachably coupled to a downhole sub, the fluid sample container having an internal chamber for receiving the downhole fluid. At least one semimetal (for example, silicon or germanium) window is cou... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7878244 | Apparatus and methods to perform focused sampling of reservoir fluid Apparatus and methods to perform focused sampling of reservoir fluid are described. An example method couples a sampling probe to a subterranean formation and, while the sampling probe is coupled to the subterranean formation, varies a pumping ratio of at least two ... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7878243 | Method and apparatus for sampling high viscosity formation fluids A formation fluid sampling tool is provided with a drill which drills into the formation in a manner perpendicular or oblique to the borehole wall. The tool comprises a mechanism for enhancing the mobility of the reservoir fluid, such as a heating element on the dri... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7857049 | System and method for operational management of a guarded probe for formation fluid sampling Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for real-time management of a guarded probe device down a wellbore that is being used for formation fluid sampling. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present inventi... | 12/28/2010 |
| 7845405 | Formation evaluation while drilling A sample module for a sampling while drilling tool includes a sample fluid flowline operatively connectable between a sample chamber and an inlet, for passing a downhole fluid. A primary piston divides the sample chamber into a sample volume and a buffer volume and ... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7841405 | Flexible borehole liner with diffusion barrier and method of use thereof A flexible bore hole liner, such as may be used to line or seal a hole drilled into the earth's surface, and featuring a diffusion barrier to prevent undesirable cross-contamination during, for example, sampling of subsurface fluids. The sampling liner includes a fl... | 11/30/2010 |
| 7841406 | Formation fluid sampling apparatus and methods A fluid sampling system retrieves a formation fluid sample from a formation surrounding a wellbore extending along a wellbore axis, wherein the formation has a virgin fluid and a contaminated fluid therein. The system includes a sample inlet, a first guard inlet pos... | 11/30/2010 |
| 7836951 | Methods and apparatus for collecting a downhole sample Apparatus and methods for collecting a downhole sample are provided. The method may include monitoring a flow path parameter, introducing a sealant to a borehole wall when the flow path parameter satisfies a first predetermined condition, and collecting a downhole s... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7775276 | Method and apparatus for downhole sampling An embodiment includes an apparatus that includes a sample carrier adapted to receive a sample and return it to the surface. An embodiment includes a formation tester adapted to load the sample carrier. An embodiment includes a retriever to remove the carrier from t... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7762328 | Formation testing and sampling tool including a coring device A sampling tool for retrieving one or more samples from a wellbore drilled in a subterranean formation includes a coring device retrieving a core from a wellbore wall, wellbore isolation devices that isolate an annular region proximate to the coring device; and a fl... | 07/27/2010 |
| 7757760 | System and method for real-time management of formation fluid sampling with a guarded probe Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for real-time management of formation fluid sampling down a wellbore using a guarded probe. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present invention provide for managemen... | 07/20/2010 |
| 7753120 | Pore fluid sampling system with diffusion barrier and method of use thereof A sampling system and method for use in pipes or in boreholes beneath the earth's surface, including the use of flexible borehole liners, the liners provided with a diffusion barrier to prevent contamination of fluid samples obtained by the system and method. There ... | 07/13/2010 |
| 7717172 | Methods and apparatus to sample heavy oil from a subteranean formation A method of sampling fluid from a subterranean formation includes positioning a first tool having a heater in a borehole so that the heater is adjacent a portion of the subterranean formation; heating with the heater the portion of the subterranean formation; removi... | 05/18/2010 |
| 7703517 | Downhole sampling tool and method for using same Methods and apparatuses for sampling fluid from a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore are provided. The subterranean formation has clean formation fluid therein, and the wellbore has a contaminated fluid therein extending into an invaded zone about the w... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7703516 | Stimulating oilfields using different scale-inhibitors Oilfields are stimulated by injecting an inflow stream of a fluid into an oil producing well linked to the oilfield, displacing the oil and recovering an outflow stream of fluid comprising the oil, wherein at least two streams are injected into at least two producti... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7677307 | Apparatus and methods to remove impurities at a sensor in a downhole tool Apparatus and methods to remove impurities at a sensor in a downhole tool are disclosed. During the testing and/or sampling of formation fluid in a borehole, the downhole tool creates a transient high rate of fluid flow of the formation fluid to remove impurities at... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7665519 | System and method for downhole sampling or sensing of clean samples of component fluids of a multi-fluid mixture Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for downhole sampling or sensing of clean samples of component fluids of a multi-fluid mixture. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present invention provide for, amongs... | 02/23/2010 |
| 7654321 | Formation fluid sampling apparatus and methods A fluid sampling system retrieves a formation fluid sample from a formation surrounding a wellbore extending along a wellbore axis, wherein the formation has a virgin fluid and a contaminated fluid therein. The system includes a sample inlet, a first guard inlet pos... | 02/02/2010 |
| 7650937 | Formation testing and sampling apparatus and methods Systems and methods for downhole formation testing based on the use of one or more elongated sealing pads capable of sealing off and collecting or injecting fluids from elongated portions along the surface of a borehole. The modified sealing pads increase the flow a... | 01/26/2010 |
| 7621325 | Dual piston, single phase sampling mechanism and procedure A method and apparatus for maintaining the single phase integrity of a deep well formation sample that is removed to the surface comprises a vacuum jacket insulated single working cylinder divided by two free pistons into three variable volume chambers. The intermed... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7556097 | Docking receiver of a zone isolation assembly for a subsurface well A docking receiver (48) for a subsurface well (12) having a fluid inlet structure (29), a riser pipe (30) and a docking apparatus (50) includes an upper section (372A) and a lower section (374A). The upper section ( | 07/07/2009 |
| 7549473 | Liquid removal system and method A method and system capable of economically removing a liquid from a liquid reservoir, such as oil from an oil reservoir, by withdrawing limited quantities of the liquid in discrete steps. The system includes a dipping unit sized to be received in a passage to the r... | 06/23/2009 |
| 7497256 | Method and apparatus for collecting fluid samples downhole In one embodiment an apparatus is disclosed that includes a tool in a wellbore. A probe is extendable from the tool to contact a wall of a formation surrounding the wellbore. A tube substantially surrounds the probe wherein the tube is extendable into the formation ... | 03/03/2009 |
| 7493954 | Systems and methods for installation, design and operation of groundwater monitoring systems in boreholes Systems and methods for installation and operation of a groundwater monitoring system in a borehole of any angle using a coaxial gas displacement pump with a unique O-ring assembly that serves as a two-position valve for groundwater purging and sampling and also as ... | 02/24/2009 |
| 7484563 | Formation evaluation system and method A method of evaluating a fluid from a subterranean formation drawn into a downhole tool positioned in a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation is provided. The method involves drawing fluid from a formation into an evaluation flowline, drawing fluid from a ... | 02/03/2009 |
| 7469746 | Downhole sampling tool and method for using same Methods and apparatuses for sampling fluid from a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore are provided. The subterranean formation has clean formation fluid therein, and the wellbore has a contaminated fluid therein extending into an invaded zone about the w... | 12/30/2008 |
| 7464755 | Methods and systems for sampling heavy oil reservoirs Methods and systems and are described for isolating or manipulating a sample of a heavy oil composition from a hydrocarbon reservoir. One method embodiment of the invention comprises circulating a heated fluid in a first region of a reservoir where a heavy oil compo... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7438128 | Identifying zones of origin of annular gas pressure A method for identifying annular gas sources in a wellbore is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a set of parameters, wherein the set of parameters corresponds to depths in the wellbore. In addition, the method comprises analyzing annular g... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7438135 | Method of suspending, completing and working over a well Methods are provided in which reliance is placed on a first and second barrier respectively positioned in a well 10 to provide well control during well suspension, completion and/or workover operations. Each of the barriers is below the depth of the lowermost... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7428925 | Wellbore formation evaluation system and method A formation evaluation tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is provided. The formation evaluation tool includes a cooling system adapted to pass a cooling fluid near electronics in the formation evaluation tool whereby heat is dissipa... | 09/30/2008 |
