Probe Packer and Method of Using Same

Abstract

The techniques herein relate to a probe for forming a seal between a downhole tool and a wall of a wellbore. The probe includes a probe inlet extending from the downhole tool for fluid communication with a subterranean formation, a base positionable about the downhole tool about the probe inlet, a packer positionable on the base for forming a seal with the wellbore wall, and a raised packer support and/or packer stopper for supporting the packer as the packer is compressed against the wellbore wall. The packer may have an inlet channel extending therethrough for receiving the probe inlet. The raised packer support can extend from the base for supporting the packer, and the packer may have a support channel extending a distance therein for receiving the raised packer support. The packer stopper can extend from the base about a perimeter of the packer with an expansion gap defined therebetween.

1 . A downhole tool comprising a probe for forming a seal between the downhole tool and a wall of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:
 a probe inlet extending from the downhole tool for fluid communication with the subterranean formation;   a base positionable about the downhole tool, the base having a raised packer support ring extending therefrom; and   a packer for forming the seal with the wall of the wellbore, the packer positionable on the base and having an inlet channel extending therethrough for receiving the probe inlet, the packer having a support channel extending a distance therein for receiving the raised packer support whereby the packer is supported as it is compressed against the wall of the wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the packer has a donut shaped body. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the support channel extends into the packer from an outer perimeter downhole tool or into the packer from a base surface of the packer. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the packer support ring comprises a plate operatively connectable to the base or is integral with the base. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the packer support ring comprises a raised lip on an inner diameter thereof or a raised lip on an inner diameter thereof having an S-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet channel has an outwardly tapered outer portion adjacent an outer surface of the packer or an inwardly tapered inner portion adjacent a base surface of the packer. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the probe inlet is in fluid communication with a fluid circuit of the downhole tool. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the base is selectively extendable from a housing of the downhole tool. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool is one of a wireline tool, a drilling tool, a coiled tubing tool, a completions tool, a testing tool, a production tool and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming a seal between a downhole tool and a wall of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
 providing the downhole tool with a probe, the probe comprising:
 a probe inlet extending from the downhole tool for fluid communication with the subterranean formation; 
 a base positionable about the downhole tool, the base having a raised packer support ring extending therefrom; and 
 a packer for forming the seal with the wall of the wellbore, the packer positionable on the base and having an inlet channel extending therethrough for receiving the probe inlet, the packer having a support channel extending a distance therein for receiving the raised packer support whereby the packer is supported as it is compressed against the wall of the wellbore; 
   positioning the probe against the wall of the wellbore; and   forming the seal between the packer and the wall of the wellbore by supporting the packer with the raised packer support ring while compressing the packer against the wall of the wellbore.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising establishing fluid communication between the subterranean formation and the probe inlet. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising drawing fluid from the subterranean formation into the downhole tool. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising securing the packer to the base. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising forming a seal between the packer and the inlet. 
     
     
         15 . A downhole tool comprising a probe for forming a seal between the downhole tool and a wall of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:
 a probe inlet extending from the downhole tool for fluid communication with the subterranean formation;   a base positionable about the downhole tool;   a packer for forming the seal with the wall of the wellbore, the packer positionable on the base and having an inlet channel extending therethrough for receiving the probe inlet; and   a packer stopper for supporting the packer, the packer stopper extending from the base about a perimeter of the packer with an expansion gap defined therebetween whereby the packer is supported as it is compressed against the wall of the wellbore.   
     
     
         16 . The downhole tool of  claim 15 , wherein the packer stopper has a ring shaped body with a triangular cross-section or a trapezoidal cross-section. 
     
     
         17 . The downhole tool of  claim 15 , wherein the perimeter of the probe is tapered away from the packer stopper and an inner diameter of the packer stopper is flat, or the perimeter of the probe is flat and an inner diameter of the packer stopper is tapered away from the perimeter of the packer. 
     
     
         18 . The downhole tool of  claim 15 , wherein the probe inlet is in fluid communication with a fluid circuit of the downhole tool. 
     
     
         19 . The downhole tool of  claim 15 , wherein the base is selectively extendable from a housing of the downhole tool. 
     
     
         20 . The downhole tool of  claim 15 , wherein the downhole tool is one of a wireline tool, a drilling tool, a coiled tubing tool, a completions tool, a testing tool, a production tool and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 - 26 . (canceled)