July 15, 1958

R. H. BLOOD

2,843,208

INFLATABLE FACKER FORMATION TESTER

WITH SEPARATE PRODUCTION POCKETS

Filed Jan. 22, 1954

4 Sheets-Sheet 1

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Inventor
Attorney

Robert H. Blood

July 15, 1958

Filed Jan. 22, 1954

R. H. BLOOD

2,843,208

INFLATABLE PACKER FORMATION TESTER

WITH SEPARATE PRODUCTION POCKETS

4 Sheets-Sheet 2

Inventor

Robert H. Blood

Attorney %_444

July 15, 195&

Filed Jan. 22. 1954

R. H. BLOOD

INFLATABLE PACKER FORMATION TESTER

WITH SEPARATE PRODUCTION POCKETS'

2,843,208
4 Sheets-Sheet 3

Robert H. Blood

July 15, 1958

R H, BLOOD

INFLATABLE PACKER FORMATION TESTER

WITH SEPARATE PRODUCTION POCKETS

Filed Jan. 22, 1954

2,843,208
4 Sheets-Sheet 4

Inventor

Robert H. Blood

Attorney jaw, 4.

2,843,298
Patented July 15', 1958
as bead chain, so as to render the pockets non-collapsible.
The ?lling material at the same time de?ne interstices
through which fluid may ?ow. Fluid communication be
tween such pockets or recesses and a sample receiving

asssnss
llfslFLA'll'AlBLE FAQKER FGRMATION TESTER
SEPARATE PRQYEUCTION PUCKET

Robert H. Eiocd, Tulsa, him, assignor to Esso Research

and Engineering tCornpany, a corporation of Delaware

Application January 22, 1954, Serial No. 465,587

chamber within the tester is established through collapses

resistant tubes that pass through the packer wall. By
utilizing interconnected ?lling material in this manner,
it is possible to construct a relatively simple and inex
pensive testing apparatus in which a larger area of the
packer can be placed into contact with at producing

stratum than is possible with simple packer Wall open

ings, for the purpose of collecting a ?uid sample. A
formation tester of this type is disclosed and claimed in
U. S. Patent 2,600,173 of Ben W. Sewell and George H.
This invention relates to an improvement in apparatus 15 Ramsey, issued June 10, 1952.
for testing a bore hole in the earth to determine the
Although a formation tester of the type just described

3 @lairns. (tCl. 166-400)

nature of ?uids produced from various subsurface strata

encountered by the bore hole. More particularly, the

constitutes a decided improvement over earlier types,

it still leaves much to be desired. Since the external
invention concerns an improved formation tester of the
pockets or recesses that receive the interconnected ?ll
in?atable packer type wherein provision is made for ?uid 20 ing material are molded into the wall of the in?atable
production from an increased area of the bore hole wall.
packer and are of necessity reinforced with fabric or

in conventional oil well drilling operations, ?uids

equivalent material, they cannot stretch when the packer

known as drilling muds are employed to aid in carrying

is in?ated. Hence the portion of the packer that does
away cuttings and also to maintain a hydrostatic head
not contain reinforcing fabric, and thus is available for
25
in the Well to prevent the uncontrolled escape of gases
expansion, is limited. As a result the proportion of the
or fluids from various formations encountered during
circumference of the bore hole that can be covered by
drilling. One disadvantage of drillingwith a drilling mud
the production pockets, and hence the area of the stratum

is that the sampling of natural ?uids occurring in various

formations is thereby rendered di?icult.

that is under test that can be exposed to the Zone of re

To overcome

duced pressure for the production of ?uid into the for

this disadvantage various types of formation testers have 30 mation tester, is somewhat limited.
been devised which are provided with means for reduc
it is an object of the present invention to furnish a
ing the hydrostatic pressure in the vicinity of the forma
formation tester of the inflatable packer type in which a
tion to be tested in order that a sample of the natural
maximum area of the producing formation can be placed
?uids can be taken. Many of these formation testers are
into contact with the ?uid receiving ports of the tester
35
provided with elastic sleeves or packers for sealing off
without limiting the extent to which the inflatable packer
the portion of the Well in which it is desired to reduce
can be expanded to till the section of the bore hole under
the hydrostatic pressure. The use of such elastic packers
test so as to isolate the fluid producing stratum.
is particularly desirable since such a packer can be ex
In accordance with the present invention, a formation
panded to give a thorough seal and yet may be readily
tester is provided that has an in?atable packer in which
removed from the well after being de?ated. Further 40 no fabric or other reinforcing agents are employed around
more, it is possible to position such an elastic packer
the entire circumference of the packer in the region of
at any desired point in the well with very little di?iculty.
the production pockets. Instead these pockets are posi
In formation testers of the type that employ in?atable
tioned in one or more separate fabric-reinforced mem~
elastic packers, a major portion of the surface of the
hers, i. e. pocket strips, that are supported entirely out
packer is required for sealing off the stratum that is to be
side of the fluid envelope or packer. The pockets are
tested so as to isolate it from the remainder of the bore
so designed that when the packer is in the de?ated con
hole for the purpose of minimizing or preventing con
dition the pockets will cover approximately the full cir

tamination of the sample fluids by drilling mud and for

cumference of the testing device.

the purpose of permitting a decrease in hydrostatic pres

in?ated in the bore hole, it is free to expand over its

full circumference, a relative motion or sliding taking

sure over a selected area of the stratum under test in

order to enable formation ?uid to ?ow into the tester.

it is thus apparent that with this type of tester a problem
is encountered in that an elfective passageway for pro
duced ?uids must be provided in the same general area

When the packer is

place between the packer and each pocket supporting

member that is mounted exterior of the packer.

The

advantage thereby gained is that the packer can expand

to a large diameter while the tester still provides a gen

of the packer that is serving to seal off the formation 55

erous producing area.

Such a passageway may consist of a ?exible tube extend

The nature and objects of this invention will be more

fully understood when reference is made to the accom

under test from the fluids that are present in the well.

ing from the sample chamber within the tester and ter
panying drawings, in which:
minating in an opening through the Wall or" the packer.
Figure 1 is an elevational View, in broken section, of
An arrangement of this sort would not be very satisfac 60 one embodiment of the invention in expanded position
tory from a practical standpoint in view of the limited
in a bore hole;
area through which formation ?uids could be produced.
Figure 2 is a section taken on line lI-li of Figure 1
. Furthermore, it would not be practical to provide a plu
showing the manner of clamping the top of the packer
rality of such tubes terminating in a plurality of open
element and the pocket strips to the mandrel;
ings in the packer wall so as to provide more producing 65
Figure 3 is a section taken on line ill-4H of Figure
area in view of the di?iiculty and considerable expense
1 showing in a manner similar to Figure 2. the mount~
that would be involved in such a tester.

One solution to the problem of providing enlarged

ing of the lower end of the packer and the pocket strips.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the clamping arrange
ment;

non-collapsible testing areas in the wall of an in?atable

packer of a formation tester has been to employ in the 70
Figure 5 is a section taken on line V-V of Figure 1
wall of the packer external recesses or pockets ?lled with
showing the relation of the packer to the pocket strip

interconnected ?lling material, viz. packing elements such

when the packer is in?ated;

2,843,208

4%
bypass channel serves to equalize the hydrostatic pres

Figure 6 is a section taken on line Vl-VI of Figure 1

to illustrate the extent to which the pockets cover the

sures acting on the elastic packer so that no pressure

periphery of the bore hole;

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of the packer in its
de?ated condition; and

will exist that will tend to force the packer upward or

downward in the bore hole. For ease of illustration

port 26 is shown as being behind the mandrel in Figure 1.

Further like the apparatus in the Sewell and Ramsey
patent, mandrel 12 in the present apparatus is provided

Figure 8 is a section taken on line VIIIVH of

Figure 7 showing the relation of the pockets to the packer

when the packer is in the de?ated position.
Referring now to particular features of the drawings,
a bore hole 10 is diagrammatically illustrated traversing
a subsurface stratum 20 whose ?uid producing properties

at its upper end with check valves to control the ?ow

of ?uids within the inner packer 13 and within the tubes

10 19. Thus a suitable check valve 40 is provided in the
in?ation channel 23 as particularly shown in Figure 1
so as to maintain the packer in its in?ated condition dur
ing a test. Also, a check valve 41 is provided at the
upper end of each producing tube 19 which is operative
to prevent ?ow of ?uid in a downward direction through

are to be tested. The uncased bore hole has been drilled

with conventional apparatus, the drill bit has been re,

moved from the bore hole, and the formation testing
apparatus that is illustrated in the drawing has been at~
tached to the lower end of a drill pipe if and lowered

these tubes, but to permit flow of ?uid upwardly in the

tubes and into the drill string. The check valves 41 act

into the bore hole so as to be adjacent stratum 2d. The

testing apparatus is mounted on a mandrel 12 that has

been attached to the lower end of the drill pipe.

to prevent ?uid loss from the drill string through the

tubes 19 when the packer is being in?ated.
It is to be understood further that the testing appara
tus is lowered into the bore hole with the packer in the
de?ated condition and that the packer is then in?ated
after the proper depth has been reached. With the packer
in?ated and with the production pockets thus placed in

An

_ in?atable elastic packer 13 is attached at its upper and

lower ends to the mandrel by means of clamps 15. Sep

arately mounted on the exterior of the packer 13 are

elongated outer pocket strips 14, the upper and lower

ends of which are also held by clamps l5. Conveniently
these clamps are of the split ring type with the clamps 25 contact with the formation to be tested, the pressure
within the drill string is reduced by suitable means until
drawn together by means of bolts 116 as illustrated in
it is below the pressure existing in the formation being
the fragmentary view in Figure 4'. The pocket strips 14
tested, thus permitting formation ?uid to flow through
are fabric-reinforced members that are entirely separate
the producing tubes 19 into the drill string. Conveniently
from the inner packer l3. Conveniently the inner packer
the required reduction in pressure can be effected by use
13 and the outer pocket strips 14 are made of molded
of a sample chamber run into the drill string on a wire
rubber.
line to seat in a special section of drill pipe arranged
immediately above the formation tester. A suitable
sample chamber assembly that can be used for this pur
pose is described in U. S. Patent 2,661,803 of George H.

The pocket strips are molded so as to provide pockets

17 intermediate their ends into which are placed inter
connected ?lling material 1.8 such as bead chain, inter
meshed wire spirals, link chain, or the like, in essentially
the same manner as described in the aforementioned

Ramsey, issued December S, 1953.

patent of Sewell and Ramsey, thereby furnishing non

been completed, the sample chamber is retrieved and the

collapsible production pockets through which ?uids from

packer is de?ated by releasing the check valve associated

the tested formation may ?ow.

The packing elements

l?'may be secured within the pockets 17 by equipping the

40

pockets with tongues 42 to support wires 43. The wires

may be passed around the packing elements and thereby
hold them securely in position.

After the test has

with the in?ation channel.

If reference is made to Figures 7 and 8, of the drawing,
which present views of the packer in its de?ated condi
tion, certain additional features of the invention will be
apparent. It will be noted that, except for the cord 29

The individual strips are separate from one another as

arranged longitudinally of packer 13 adjacent each end

mentioned earlier in this description and as especially

illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8. Each strip, fur

of the packer to control expansion in the vicinity of the

points of support, the inner packer has no reinforcing.
The outer pocket strips, however, are provided with
woven fabric reinforcing 30 from the top of each strip
to a point just below the bottom of the pockets. This
fabric reinforcing serves to prevent the pockets them
selves, as well as the portions of the strips that surround

thermore, is reinforced in the vicinity of its pocket; but

at least a portion of the strip which is not in the vicinity
of its pocket is free of reinforcement so as to stretch

readily upon expansion of packer 13. Thus, in Figures

1, 2 and 5 reinforcement is depicted as extending from
the upper end of each strip 14% to a point just below the

pocket 17 positioned in the strip. Conversely, the lower

the producing tubes, from stretching during in?ation of

the inner packer. It also serves to prevent the rubber in

portion of each strip in these ?gures is illustrated as being

the vicinity of the pockets from being forced under pres

free of any reinforcement so as to insure adequate stretch- '

sure into the interconnected ?lling material to thereby

ing quality in therstrip. Connecting each pocket with

the interior of the drill string is a non-collapsible ?exible
producing tube which may conveniently be constructed

interfere with ?uid'?ow through the pockets. Fabric

reinforcing is omitted from the lower portion of the
strips, however, in order that the strips may stretch as

in the same manner as ?exible shaft housing such as is

the inner packer is in?ated.

'

The lower portions of the strips 14 as well as the lower

used for automobile speedometer cables and the like. (if)
portion of packer 13, it will be noted, are illustrated in
As illustrated, the flexible producing tubes 11.9 may be

molded into the pocket strips for protection. The upper

end of mandrel 12 is provided with suitable grooves to

receive the shaped portion of the pocket strip that is

Figure 7 to have a somewhat bowed appearance. In

other words, the lower portions of these members are
shown to be out of contact with the mandrel 12. This

held by the clamps, as shown in the sectional view shown

in Figure 2.
Other features of the testing apparatus are essentially

structural feature of these members may be readily in

corporated into the members as, for example, by using

the same as described in the aforementioned patent of

it will be notedv from Figure 8 that when the packer is

in its de?ated position the two production pockets cover
approximately the full circumference of the tester. When
the packer is in?ated the production pockets do not
change in size since the fabric reinforcing referred to
prevents expansion of the pocket strips. It is thus ap
parent that the formation tester of this invention provides

Sewell and Ramsey. Thus the mandrel 12 is provided

with an interior passageway 25 that terminates at its
upper end in a port 26 exterior of the mandrel above
the packer and in one or more ports 27 exterior of the
mandrel below the packer so as to provide a bypass

channel for well ?uids between regions in the bore hole

above the packer and regions below the packer.

This

conventional premolding techniques.

a maximum utilization of formation ?uid producing area

2,843,208

without limiting the extent to which the in?atable packer

can expand.

It is readily apparent that if an attempt

were made to enlarge the producing pockets in an ar

rangement where the pockets were integrally mounted
on the packer, any substantial enlargement in the pro
ducing area would result in a corresponding loss in the

ability of the packer to expand to ?ll the bore hole.

6
connected at one end to each said pocket and leading ex
teriorly of said packer to the upper end of said tester.
2. A borehole formation tester including an elongated
mandrel attachable at its upper end to the lower end of a

string of Well pipe, an elastic sleeve packer surrounding

and extending along said mandrel, a plurality of elongated

elastic strip membersv overlying and extending along said
packer, said strip members arranged side-by-side around

It is to be understood that this invention is not to be

limited to the exact description presented which has been
said packer, reinforcing means in a portion of each said
by way of example only, but that the invention is to be 10 strip member such that said portion is substantially in

limited only by the following claims.

capable of longitudinal stretching, another portion of

What is claimed is:

each said strip member being unreinforced, means
1. An improved formation tester which comprises an
for clamping the upper and lower ends of said packer and
elongated mandrel attachable at its upper end to the
strip members against said mandrel, a recessed pocket in
lower end of a string of well pipe, an in?atable elastic 15 the exterior surface of the reinforced portion of each said

packer surrounding and extending along said mandrel, a

plurality of elongated elastic strip members overlying
and extending along said packer, said strips being ar

strip member, interconnected ?lling material ?lling each

said recessed pocket and supported therein, a separate

non-collapsible ?exible conduit enclosed Within said re
ranged side-by-side around said packer, reinforcing
inforced portion of each said strip member and connected
means in a portion of each said strip member such that 20 at one end of each said pocket and extending exteriorly
said portion is substantially incapable of longitudinal
of said packer to the upper end of said tester.
stretching, another portion of each said strip member
3. An apparatus as de?ned in claim 2 in which the in
being unreinforced, means for clamping the upper and
terconnected packing elements comprise bead chain.
lower ends of said packer and of each said strip member
References Cited in the ?le of this patent
against said mandrel, a recessed pocket in the exterior
UNITED STATES PATENTS
surface of the reinforced portion of each said strip mem

ber, interconnected ?lling material supported within each

2,143,962

recessed pocket to render the pocket non-collapsible, a

2,581,070
separate non-collapsible ?exible conduit enclosed within
2,600,173
said reinforced portion of each said strip member and 30 2,661,803

Stone ________________ __ Jan. 17, 1939

Blood ________________ _.- Ian. 1, 1952
Sewell et al. _________ __ June 10, 1952

Ramsey _______________ .. Dec. 8, 1953