Downhole probe assembly

US7603897B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Gregory N. Gilbert · Sugar Land, US
• Mark A. Sitka · Richmond, US
• Malcolm Douglas McGregor · Spring, US
• Glenn C. Gray · Austin, US
• John Hardin · Houston, US
• Christopher A. Maranuk · Houston, US
• James Edward Stone · Greer, US
• Kristopher V. Sherrill · Humble, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 20, 2005
• Grant date: Oct 20, 2009
• Expiry date: Mar 25, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N1/10
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A downhole, extendable apparatus and methods of use are described and claimed herein. In one embodiment, the extendable apparatus includes a piston that extends toward a borehole wall, the piston having an inner sampling member that is also extendable. The sampling member may be further extended to engage the borehole wall and penetrate the formation. The sampling member may also include a screen and an inner scraper or wiper that frictionally engages the screen and reciprocates to remove debris from the screen. The piston may comprise a seal pad having an internal cavity for receiving a volume of fluid. In another embodiment, the extendable apparatus comprises multiple, concentric pistons for extending the sampling member further toward the borehole wall than is possible with a single piston. The extendable apparatus may also include a retraction contact switch and position indicator.