Downhole Sampling Probe with Penetrating Inlet and Method of Using Same

Abstract

A probe of a downhole tool deployable into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is provided. The downhole tool has at least one flowline extendable therein. The formation has a clean fluid therein. The probe includes a base carried by the downhole tool and positionable adjacent a wall of the wellbore, a penetrating inlet carried by the base and having a tip about a sampling end thereof to receive the clean fluid, and an inlet packer. The penetrating inlet is in fluid communication with the at least one flowline, and extendable through the wall of the wellbore a distance into the formation. The inlet packer is inflatably positionable about the penetrating inlet to form a seal with the formation and isolate the tip therein whereby the clean fluid may be drawn from the formation and into the downhole tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A probe of a downhole tool deployable into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the downhole tool having at least one flowline extendable therein, the formation having a clean fluid therein, the probe comprising:
 a base carried by the downhole tool and positionable adjacent a wall of the wellbore;   a penetrating inlet carried by the base and having a tip about a sampling end thereof to receive the clean fluid, the penetrating inlet in fluid communication with the at least one flowline, the penetrating inlet extendable through the wall of the wellbore a distance into the formation; and   an inlet packer inflatably positionable about the penetrating inlet to form a seal with the formation and isolate the tip therein whereby the clean fluid may be drawn from the formation and into the downhole tool.   
     
     
         2 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the tip is selectively extendable from the penetrating inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the tip is extendable from the penetrating inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the penetrating inlet comprises a sampling intake and a packer flow tube positionable about the sampling intake, the sampling intake operatively connectable to the at least one flowline, the packer flow tube operatively connectable to a fluid source to selectively inflate the inlet packer. 
     
     
         5 . The probe of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet connector operatively connecting the penetrating inlet to the at least one flowline. 
     
     
         6 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the tip is positionable through the wall of the wellbore and a distance beyond an invaded zone in the formation, the invaded zone having contaminated fluid therein. 
     
     
         7 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the penetrating inlet is positionable in a perforation extending through the wall of the wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The probe of  claim 7 , wherein the inlet packer is inflatable in the perforation to isolate the tip therein. 
     
     
         9 . The probe of  claim 1 , further comprising supports to selectively extend the base. 
     
     
         10 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a sealing surface sealable with the wall of the wellbore. 
     
     
         11 . A downhole tool deployable into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the formation having a clean fluid therein, the downhole tool comprising:
 a housing having at least one flowline extending therein; and   a probe, comprising:
 a base carried by the housing and positionable adjacent a wall of the wellbore; 
 a penetrating inlet carried by the base and having a tip about a sampling end thereof to receive the clean fluid, the penetrating inlet in fluid communication with the at least one flowline, the penetrating inlet extendable through the wall of the wellbore a distance into the formation; and 
 an inlet packer inflatably positionable about the penetrating inlet to form a seal with the formation and isolate the tip therein whereby the clean fluid may be drawn from the formation and into the housing. 
   
     
     
         12 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , further comprising a formation evaluation tool operatively connectable to the at least one flowline. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole tool of  claim 12 , wherein the formation evaluation tool comprises at least one of a flow evaluation module, a sample chamber, and at least one sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , further comprising a fluid source operatively connectable to the inlet packer. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , further comprising a downhole unit. 
     
     
         16 . A method of sampling a downhole fluid of a subterranean formation, the formation having a wellbore extending therein, the formation having a clean fluid therein, the method comprising:
 deploying a downhole tool into the wellbore, the downhole tool comprising a housing with at least one flowline extending therein and a probe, the probe comprising a base carried by the housing, a penetrating inlet carried by the base and having a tip about a sampling end thereof, and an inlet packer positionable about the penetrating inlet, the penetrating inlet in fluid communication with the at least one flowline;   positioning the base adjacent a wall of the wellbore;   selectively extending the penetrating inlet through the wall of the wellbore a distance into the formation;   isolating the tip from contaminated fluid by inflating the inlet packer about the penetrating inlet and forming a seal with the formation; and   drawing the clean fluid from the formation and into the housing through the tip.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising collecting a sample of the downhole fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising perforating the wall of the wellbore and deploying the penetrating inlet in the perforation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the selectively extending comprises selectively extending at least one of the tip and the penetrating inlet. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising retracting the penetrating inlet.