Formation-sampling apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus adapted for use in a borehole and comprising: a support; a unitary tubular sampling member on said support and having an end portion adapted to penetrate a borehole surface; a resilient sealing member having a longitudinally-compressible portion with a transverse forward face and a longitudinal opening therethrough loosely receiving said end portion of said tubular member, and sealing means adapted for fluidly sealing between said tubular member and said compressible portion upon rearward displacement thereof in relation to said tubular member; first means on said support adapted for forcing said end portion of said tubular member against a borehole surface to effect at least a slight penetration thereof; and biasing means mounted on said tubular member and responsive to penetration of said end portion thereof into a borehole surface for urging said forward face of said sealing member into sealing engagement against such a borehole surface as said compressible portion thereof is compressed and slidably displaced rearwardly along said tubular member to at least partially protrude said end portion thereof in advance of said forward face.

Claim 3

The borehole apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second means include yieldable biasing means spatially arranged around said tubular member between said support and said compressible portion.

Claim 4

The borehole apparatus of claim 1 wherein said biasing means include spring means spatially arranged around said tubular member between said support and said compressible portion, and a rigid backing member transversely arranged on said tubular member between said spring means and said compressible portion and adapted for engagement therewith.

Claim 5

The borehole apparatus of claim 1 wherein said biasing means include an annular elastomeric skirt portion of said sealing member extending rearwardly from the rear of said compressible portion thereof and spatially arranged around said tubular member, a rigid backing member arranged on said tubular member between said support and said skirt portion, and means securing said backing member to said skirt portion.

Claim 6

Fluid-sampling apparatus adapted for obtaining samples of connate fluids from earth formations traversed by a borehole and comprising: a support; sample-admitting means including a tubular sampling member movably mounted on said support and having a forward end adapted to penetrate a borehole surface; packing means including a sealing member having a transverse portion with a forward surface-engaging face and a central opening therethrough slidably receiving said tubular member, and sealing means adapted for fluidly sealing said tubular member to said sealing member upon rearward displacement of said transverse portion thereof in relation to said tubular member; piston means on said support adapted for bringing said forward end of said tubular member against a borehole surface with a force adapted to effect at least a slight penetration thereof; and biasing means mounted on said tubular member and operable upon engagement of said forward end with a borehole surface for urging said surface-engaging face of said sealing member forwardly against such a surface with a lesser force as said transverse portion thereof is slidably displaced rearwardly from said forward end of said tubular member.

Claim 7

Fluid-sampling apparatus adapted for obtaining samples of connate fluids from earth formations traversed by a borehole and comprising: a support; sample-admitting means including a tubular sampling member movably mounted on said support and having a forward end adapted to penetrate a borehole surface; packing means including a sealing member having a transverse portion with a forward surface-engaging face and a central opening therethrough slidably receiving said tubular member, and sealing means adapted for fluidly sealing said tubular member to said sealing member upon rearward displacement of said transverse portion thereof in relation to said tubular member; piston means on said support adapted for bringing said forward end of said tubular member against a borehole surface with a force adapted to effect at least a slight penetration thereof; and biasing means mounted on said tubular member and operable upon engagement of said forward end with a borehole surface for urging said surface-engaging face of said sealing member forwardly against such a surface with a lesser force as said transverse portion thereof is slidably displaced rearwardly from said forward end of said tubular member.

Claim 8

Fluid-sampling apparatus adapted for obtaining samples of connate fluids from earth formations traversed by a borehole and having a layer of mudcake on the walls thereof, said fluid-sampling apparatus comprising: a support; sample-admitting means on said support and including a tubular sampling member having a forward end adapted to effect fluid communication with such formations; sample-collecting means on said support including a sample chamber and passage means adapted for conducting such samples from said tubular member to said sample chamber; packing means including a resilient sealing member having an outer portion surrounding a compressible central transverse portion with a forward wall-engaging face ad anD a longitudinal opening therethrough slidably disposed around said tubular member, sealing means coaxially arranged in said longitudinal opening and adapted for fluidly sealing said sealing member in relation to said tubular member upon rearward displacement of said central portion along said tubular p member, and biasing means mounted on said tubular member and adapted for urging said outer portion of said sealing member into sealing engagement with a borehole wall without preventing rearward displacement of said central portion in relation to said tubular member; and means on said support adapted for forcing said forward end of said tubular member against a borehole wall to effect at least a penetration of a layer of mudcake thereon as said central portion of said sealing member is displaced rearwardly along said tubular member to advance said forward end thereof ahead of said wall-engaging forward face and into fluid communication with an earth formation.

Claim 9

Fluid-sampling apparatus adapted for obtaining samples of connate fluids from earth formations traversed by a borehole and having a layer of mudcake on the walls thereof, said fluid-sampling apparatus comprising: a support; sample-admitting means on said support and including a tubular sampling member having a forward end adapted to effect fluid communication with such formations; sample-collecting means on said support including a sample chamber and passage means adapted for conducting such samples from said tubular member to said sample chamber; packing means including a resilient sealing member having an outer portion surrounding a compressible central transverse portion with a forward wall-engaging face ad anD a longitudinal opening therethrough slidably disposed around said tubular member, sealing means coaxially arranged in said longitudinal opening and adapted for fluidly sealing said sealing member in relation to said tubular member upon rearward displacement of said central portion along said tubular p member, and biasing means mounted on said tubular member and adapted for urging said outer portion of said sealing member into sealing engagement with a borehole wall without preventing rearward displacement of said central portion in relation to said tubular member; and means on said support adapted for forcing said forward end of said tubular member against a borehole wall to effect at least a penetration of a layer of mudcake thereon as said central portion of said sealing member is displaced rearwardly along said tubular member to advance said forward end thereof ahead of said wall-engaging forward face and into fluid communication with an earth formation.

Claim 10

The fluid-sampling apparatus of claim 6 wherein said biasing means include an annular rearwardly-directed extension from said outer portion extending coaxially around said tubular member toward said support, said rearward extension being of a resilient compressible material, and a rigid annular backing member secured to said tubular member and to said rearward extension for compressing said rearward extension for compressing said rearward extension as said forward end is urged against a borehole wall to develop sufficient biasing force for sealingly engaging said outer portion with such a borehole wall to develop sufficient biasing force for sealingly engaging said outer portion with such a borehole wall.

Claim 11

The fluid-sampling apparatus of claim 7 wherein said biasing means further include means for admitting borehole fluids to the rear surface of said central portion.

Claim 12

The fluid-sampling apparatus of claim 6 wherein said biasing means include a rigid annular backing member on the rear face of said outer portion, and spring means between said support and said backing member and adapted for compression therebetween upon rearward displacement of said central portion.

Claim 13

The fluid-sampling apparatus of claim 9 wherein said biasing means further include means for admitting borehole fluids to the rear surface of said central portion.

Claim 14

Fluid-sampling apparatus adapted for obtaining samples of connate fluids from earth formations traversed by a borehole and having a layer of mudcake on the walls thereof said comprising: a support; sample-admitting means including a tubular sampling member operatively arranged on said support for longitudinal movement between retracted and extended positions and having a forward end adapted to effect fluid communication with such formations upon extension of said tubular member; means on said support adapted for extending said tubular member to drive said forward end thereof against a borehole wall to effect at least a penetration of a layer of mudcake thereon; sample-collecting means on said support including a sample chamber and passage means adapted for conducting such samples from said tubular member to said sample chamber; and packing means including an elastomeric sealing member having an outer portion surrounding a compressible central portion with a forward wall-engaging face and a longitudinal opening therethrough slidably disposed around said tubular member, sealing means coaxially arranged in said longitudinal opening and adapted for fluidly sealing said sealing member in relation to said tubular member upon rearward displacement of said central portion along said tubular member, in relation to said tubular member upon rearward displacement of said central portion along said tubular member, and biasing means mounted on said tubular member and adapted for urging said outer portion of said sealing member into sealing engagement with a mudcake layer on a borehole wall without preventing rearward displacement of said central portion along said tubular member to advance sAid forward end thereof ahead of ahead of said wall-engaging forward face and through a mudcake layer in fluid communication with an earth formation upon extension of said tubular member.

Claim 15

Fluid-sampling apparatus adapted for obtaining samples of connate fluids from earth formations traversed by a borehole and having a layer of mudcake on the walls thereof said comprising: a support; sample-admitting means including a tubular sampling member operatively arranged on said support for longitudinal movement between retracted and extended positions and having a forward end adapted to effect fluid communication with such formations upon extension of said tubular member; means on said support adapted for extending said tubular member to drive said forward end thereof against a borehole wall to effect at least a penetration of a layer of mudcake thereon; sample-collecting means on said support including a sample chamber and passage means adapted for conducting such samples from said tubular member to said sample chamber; and packing means including an elastomeric sealing member having an outer portion surrounding a compressible central portion with a forward wall-engaging face and a longitudinal opening therethrough slidably disposed around said tubular member, sealing means coaxially arranged in said longitudinal opening and adapted for fluidly sealing said sealing member in relation to said tubular member upon rearward displacement of said central portion along said tubular member, in relation to said tubular member upon rearward displacement of said central portion along said tubular member, and biasing means mounted on said tubular member and adapted for urging said outer portion of said sealing member into sealing engagement with a mudcake layer on a borehole wall without preventing rearward displacement of said central portion along said tubular member to advance sAid forward end thereof ahead of ahead of said wall-engaging forward face and through a mudcake layer in fluid communication with an earth formation upon extension of said tubular member.

Claim 16

The fluid-sampling apparatus of claim 11 further including: valve means normally closing said forward end of said tubular member to prevent entrance of borehole fluids therein; and means operatively associated with said tubular member and said valve means for opening said valve means upon extension of said tubular member from said support.

Claim 17

The fluid-sampling apparatus of claim 11 further including: valve means normally closing said forward end of said tubular member to prevent entrance of borehole fluids therein; and means operatively associated with said tubular member and said valve means for opening said valve means only after extension of said tubular member from said support.