Apparatus and method for retrieval of downhole sample

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for retrieving a downhole sample. The apparatus includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating an earth formation; a sample capsule configured to be disposed at the carrier and to contain the sample; and a discharge mechanism configured to discharge the sample capsule downhole into drilling fluid in the borehole.

1 . An apparatus for retrieving a downhole sample, the apparatus comprising:
 a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating an earth formation;   a sample capsule configured to be disposed at the carrier and to contain the sample; and   a capsule discharge mechanism configured to discharge the sample capsule downhole into drilling fluid in the borehole.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample capsule comprises insulation configured to insulate the sample. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample capsule comprises a buoyancy device configured to add buoyancy to the sample capsule in order for the sample chamber to float in the drilling fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample capsule comprises a sample sensor configured to sense one or more properties of the sample. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample capsule comprises an actuator configured to actively maintain a selected environment in the sample capsule. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample capsule comprises a substantially spherical shape. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample capsule comprises a cylindrical shape with spherical ends. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample capsule comprises a material having a wall thickness sufficient to withstand a pressure at which the sample was retrieved from earth formation. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample capsule comprises a valve configured to admit and/or discharge the sample. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the valve is configured to admit the sample into the sample capsule when a pressure of the sample is greater than an interior pressure of the sample capsule. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pump configured to pump the sample into the sample capsule. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom hole assembly (BHA) having a sample tool configured to extract the sample from the earth formation and dispose the sample in the sample capsule. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the BHA comprises a conduit configured to guide the sample capsule out of the BHA and into the borehole. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the BHA is configured to flow a drilling fluid disposed in the borehole thorough the conduit to eject the sample capsule from the BHA. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the sample capsule comprises a detachable connection configured to detach the sample capsule from the sample tool. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a controller configured to actuate the detachable connection to detach the sample capsule from the sample tool. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the sample capsule comprises a plurality of sample capsules. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein each sample capsule in the plurality of sample capsules is configured to be ejected sequentially by the controller. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample capsule comprises an information tag comprising identification. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a capsule catcher disposed at the surface of the earth and configured to catch the sample capsule from drilling fluid flowing out of the borehole. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises a drill string or coiled tubing. 
     
     
         22 . A method for retrieving a downhole sample, the method comprising:
 conveying a carrier through a borehole penetrating an earth formation;   extracting a sample from the earth formation with a sampling tool disposed at the carrier;   disposing the sample in a sample capsule; and   releasing the sample capsule into drilling fluid in the borehole using a capsule discharge mechanism.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein releasing comprises actuating a releasable connection coupling the sample capsule to the sampling tool. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising retrieving the sample capsule from the borehole.