Fluid saturated formation core sampling tool

Abstract

Downhole core sampling apparatus including first and second sealing elements and at least one pump configured to pump wellbore fluid from the annular space defined by the sealing elements. The downhole core sampling apparatus is capable of obtaining formation fluid saturated core samples for laboratory testing and reservoir evaluation. Method and system for obtaining formation fluid saturated core samples from the sidewall of subterranean wellbores is provided.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of taking one or more formation fluid measurements of a formation comprising:
 disposing a downhole apparatus into a wellbore, wherein the downhole apparatus comprises a first sealing element, and a second sealing element;   extending the first sealing element and the second sealing element within a wellbore;   sealing the first sealing element and the second sealing element against the wellbore, the first sealing element longitudinally spaced from the second sealing element and defining, at least in part, an annular space corresponding to a formation access zone along a sidewall of the wellbore between the first sealing element and the second sealing element;   pumping fluid out of the annular space through one or more ports disposed between the first sealing element and the second sealing element; and   accessing, with the downhole apparatus, at least a portion of the formation through the formation access zone to extract formation fluid from the formation for making the one or more formation fluid measurements.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole apparatus comprises a sidewall drilling tool and the method further comprising:
 accessing the at least a portion of the formation through the formation access zone with the sidewall drilling tool.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 drilling through at least a portion of the sidewall between the first sealing element and the second sealing element to expose the at least a portion of the formation to the annular space; and   extracting the formation fluid through the at least a portion of the formation that is exposed to the annular space.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least a portion of the sidewall between the first sealing element and the second sealing element is drilled through after the fluid is pumped out of the annular space. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , where the at least a portion of the formation of the annular space is exposed while refraining from coring the formation through the at least a portion of the sidewall between the first sealing element and the second sealing element. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the formation is accessed through the formation access zone without coring the formation through the formation access zone. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole apparatus comprises one or more pumps for pumping the fluid out of the annular space through the one or more ports. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 operating the one or more pumps to extract the formation fluid from the formation through the at least portion of formation that is accessed through the formation access zone.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more pumps are operated to extract the formation fluid from the formation while refraining from coring the formation through the formation access zone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the annular space defined, at least in part, by the first sealing element and the second sealing element is isolated from another portion of the wellbore when the first sealing element and the second sealing element are sealing against the wellbore. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the downhole apparatus comprises an output port coupled to the one or more ports and exposed to the another portion of the wellbore, the method further comprising pumping the fluid through the one or more ports and out of the output port to the another portion of the wellbore. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more formation fluid measurements include chemistry of the formation fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more formation fluid measurements include reactive fluid component measurements. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more formation fluid measurements include permeability measurements. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more formation fluid measurements include capillary pressure measurements. 
     
     
         16 . A formation fluid gathering apparatus that is insertable into a wellbore for taking one or more formation fluid measurements of a formation surrounding the wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongate housing;   a first sealing element and a second sealing element coupled with the elongate housing, the first sealing element and the second sealing element spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal length of the elongate housing,
 wherein the first sealing element and the second sealing element are extendible substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the elongate housing to engage a surface of the wellbore, thereby forming an annular space corresponding to a formation access zone along a sidewall of the wellbore between the first sealing element and the second sealing element; 
   a sidewall drilling tool coupled with the elongate housing and configured to drill through at least a portion of the sidewall between the first sealing element and the second sealing element to expose at least a portion of the formation to the annular space through the formation access zone;   one or more ports along a surface of elongate housing between the first sealing element and the second sealing element; and   a pump coupled with one or more intake ports and configured to extract formation fluid from the formation through the at least a portion of the formation exposed to the annular space and into the elongate housing through the one or more intake ports for making the one or more formation fluid measurements.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more formation fluid measurements include chemistry of the formation fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more formation fluid measurements include reactive fluid component measurements. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more formation fluid measurements include permeability measurements. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more formation fluid measurements include capillary pressure measurements.