Measuring and testing – Borehole or drilling – Formation logging
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-21
2001-10-02
Raevis, Robert (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Borehole or drilling
Formation logging
C073S864730, C073S863230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295867
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a new and novel apparatus for facilitating testing of geological samples within a hole drilled into the earth comprising a tubular body formed from thick-walled tubular pipe and having a slit therein whereby rocks motivated by fluid movement may enter into the tubular body. Baffles at either end of the tubular body prevent the rocks from exiting the tubular body until it is desired to remove and examine them.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When bores are made into the earth for the purpose of obtaining fossil fuels such as oil and hydrocarbon gases, it is desirable to obtain and examine geological samples comprising rock cuttings or chips. From the samples obtained, a trained observer can elucidate whether hydrocarbons are present and also determine the lithic nature, kind and type of the subterranean reservoir containing the hydrocarbons. Current methods for obtaining these samples include vertical coring using drill pipe and appropriate coring equipment as well as side-wall horizontal coring methods such as explosive processes or other mechanical processes.
Under normal conditions, the bottom-hole pressure in a bore or hole drilled into the earth increases predictably at the rate of from 0.434 lb./s.i. to 0.450 lb./s.i. per foot of depth. For example, a hole drilled to 1000 feet will have a bottom-hole pressure in the range of from 434 to 450 p.s.i. The method of using the Geological Sample-Sub (GSS) of the current invention exploits this bottom-hole pressure at a drilled depth to implode the surrounding rock. Rock dislodged by this implosion may be passively caught and retained by the GSS until it is desired to remove and examine it to determine its lithic nature and/or hydrocarbon content. Moreover, the GSS achieves the goal of capturing the desired rock sample without impeding the flow of fluids and gases through an associated string assembly having attendant testing apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a geological sample sub which may be utilized with conventional drilling apparatuses, being suitable for incorporation and joinder with these apparatuses and being capable of capturing and retaining rock samples in a passive manner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a geological sample sub which is sturdy, having no moving parts and comprising a unitary piece of equipment.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a geological sample sub which is easily assembled from materials which are readily available and known within the drilling art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a geologic sample sub that presents an economic use of material and which is simple in its design.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following specification or may be learned by practice of the invention. To the accomplishment of the above-related objects, this invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings merely are illustrative, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3123157 (1964-03-01), Graham
patent: 3427653 (1969-02-01), Jensen
Borsari Peter A.
Raevis Robert
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