Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for pressure, volume, and temperature measurement and characterization of subsurface formations

US5473939A · kind A · utility

113Cited by
10References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 16, 1993
Grant dateDec 12, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 16, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N33/2823
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conducting in situ tests on a subsurface earth formation of interest which is traversed by a wellbore. A wireline formation testing instrument is positioned at formation depth and a sampling probe thereof is extended into fluid communication with the formation and isolated from wellbore pressure. Utilizing a hydraulically energized double-acting bi-directional piston pump and by valve controlled selection of pumping direction testing fluid such as completion fluid may be pumped into the formation through the sampling probe either from fluid reservoirs of the instrument or from the wellbore. After reversing the operating and control valving of the pump and instrument, the piston pump is utilized to extract formation fluid from the formation and pump it to sample tanks of the instrument, pump it into the wellbore or subject it to controlled pressure for real time formation testing and for formation characterization. The pumping mechanism of the formation testing instrument includes a pump-through capability for unlimited pumping of formation fluid to permit effective removal of filtrate, sand, rocks and other debris until an uncontaminated formation fluid s…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.