Mini Core Drilling Samples for High Resolution Formation Evaluation on Drilling Cuttings Samples

Abstract

An apparatus and method for mini core in drilling samples accumulated in the cups by sample catcher. It allows the explorations to obtain high resolution formation evaluation on drilling cuttings samples. The mini core apparatus includes a narrow tubular with a piston or cap. The thin wall tubular is rotated and/or vibrated and pressed in to the cup with wet sample of drilling cuttings. The piston or cap is placed after the desired depth of sample is reached and the vacuum is re-established. The core is pulled out from the cup and then analyzed within the tubular or squeezed out on a flat tray for horizontal analysis. The micro layering can be visually separated, before they are mixed as in conventional sample and the information is lost.

1 . An apparatus for making a mini core from a sample, comprising:
 a. a tubular having open ends, adapted for penetrating the sample to a selected depth; and   b. a piston adapted for sealing at least one of the open ends when the selected depth is reached.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular is a cylinder. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular is a quadrilateral. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the quadrilateral is a rectangle. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the sample comprising drilling cuttings. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for making a mini core from a sample with a sample container, comprising a tubular having a closed bottom and an at least partially open sidewall, adapted to be received in the sample container to sequentially receive the sample as the sample container receives the sample. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , the at least partially open sidewall comprising a plurality of apertures, spaced along at least a portion of the length of he tubular. 
   
   
       8 . A method of making a mini core from a sample comprising:
 a. inserting an open ended tubular into the sample until a selected depth is reached;   b. sealing at least one end of the open ended tubular; and   c. removing the tubular from the sample, pulling the mini core with it.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tubular is rotated to assist inserting the tubular into the sample. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tubular is vibrated to assist inserting the tubular into the sample. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , the sample comprising drilling cuttings. 
   
   
       12 . A method of making a mini core from a sample with a sample container comprising:
 a. inserting a tubular having an at least partially open sidewall into the sample container, prior to receiving the sample into the sample container;   b. receiving the sample into the sample container, at least a portion of the sample passing through the at least partially open sidewall of the tubular as the sample is received in the sample container; and   c. removing, the tubular from the sample, pulling the mini core with it.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , the at least partially open sidewall comprising a plurality of apertures, spaced along at least a portion of the length of the tubular. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising sealing the at least partially open sidewall after the tubular with the mini core is removed from the sample. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least partially open sidewall are sealed with an adhesive tape. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , the sample comprising drilling cuttings.