Sidewall coring tools having active circulation features
Systems and methods presented herein include sidewall coring tools with active circulation caused by bi-directional downhole pump modules included in the sidewall coring tools. The active flow of mud through the sidewall coring tools may be adjustable in substantially real time during coring operations performed by the sidewall coring tools. In general, the ability to actively control the flow of mud through the sidewall coring tools enables lubrication and assists in moving cuttings during coring operations away from the coring bit.
1 . A sidewall coring tool assembly, comprising:
a coring tool configured to perform a sidewall coring operation to extract a core sample from a formation adjacent a borehole within which the sidewall coring tool assembly is disposed; and
a downhole pump configured to control a flow of fluid through the coring tool, wherein the sidewall coring tool assembly further comprises at least one of:
the downhole pump being configured to automatically adjust a pumping rate and/or a pumping direction of the flow of the fluid through the coring tool in substantially real time during the sidewall coring operation; or
one or more screens configured to remove debris from the flow of the fluid.
2 . The sidewall coring tool assembly of claim 1 , wherein the downhole pump is configured to bi-directionally control the flow of the fluid through the coring tool.
3 . The sidewall coring tool assembly of claim 1 , wherein the downhole pump is configured to automatically adjust the pumping rate of the flow of the fluid through the coring tool in substantially real time during the sidewall coring operation.
4 . The sidewall coring tool assembly of claim 1 , wherein the downhole pump is configured to automatically adjust the pumping direction of the flow of the fluid through the coring tool in substantially real time during the sidewall coring operation.
5 . The sidewall coring tool assembly of claim 1 , wherein the downhole pump is configured to automatically adjust the pumping rate and/or the pumping direction of the flow of the fluid through the coring tool in substantially real time during the sidewall coring operation based at least in part on one or more properties of cuttings in the flow of the fluid measured by one or more sensors of the sidewall coring tool assembly.
6 . A coring system, comprising:
a sidewall coring tool assembly comprising:
a coring tool configured to perform a sidewall coring operation to extract a core sample from a formation adjacent a borehole within which the sidewall coring tool assembly is disposed; and
a downhole pump configured to control a flow of fluid through the coring tool; and
a surface unit configured to send control signals to the downhole pump to automatically adjust operating parameters of the downhole pump.
7 . The coring system of claim 6 , wherein the downhole pump comprises one or more screens configured to remove debris from the flow of the fluid.
8 . The coring system of claim 6 , wherein the downhole pump is configured to bi-directionally control the flow of the fluid through the coring tool.
9 . The coring system of claim 6 , wherein the downhole pump is configured to automatically adjust a pumping rate and/or a pumping direction of the flow of the fluid through the coring tool in substantially real time during the sidewall coring operation.
10 . The coring system of claim 9 , wherein the downhole pump is configured to automatically adjust the pumping rate of the flow of the fluid through the coring tool in substantially real time during the sidewall coring operation.
11 . The coring system of claim 9 , wherein the downhole pump is configured to automatically adjust the pumping direction of the flow of the fluid through the coring tool in substantially real time during the sidewall coring operation.
12 . The coring system of claim 9 , wherein the downhole pump is configured to automatically adjust the pumping rate and/or the pumping direction of the flow of the fluid through the coring tool in substantially real time during the sidewall coring operation based at least in part on one or more properties of cuttings in the flow of the fluid measured by one or more sensors.
13 . The coring system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more sensors are located at a surface location of the coring system.
14 . The coring system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more sensors are disposed in the sidewall coring tool assembly.
15 . A sidewall coring tool assembly, comprising:
a coring tool configured to perform a sidewall coring operation to extract a core sample from a formation adjacent a borehole within which the sidewall coring tool assembly is disposed; and
a downhole pump configured to bi-directionally control a flow of fluid through the coring tool.
16 . The sidewall coring tool assembly of claim 15 , wherein the downhole pump is configured to automatically adjust a pumping rate and/or a pumping direction of the flow of the fluid through the coring tool in substantially real time during the sidewall coring operation.
17 . The sidewall coring tool assembly of claim 16 , wherein the downhole pump is configured to automatically adjust the pumping rate of the flow of the fluid through the coring tool in substantially real time during the sidewall coring operation.
18 . The sidewall coring tool assembly of claim 16 , wherein the downhole pump is configured to automatically adjust the pumping direction of the flow of the fluid through the coring tool in substantially real time during the sidewall coring operation.
19 . The sidewall coring tool assembly of claim 16 , wherein the downhole pump is configured to automatically adjust the pumping rate and/or the pumping direction of the flow of the fluid through the coring tool in substantially real time during the sidewall coring operation based at least in part on one or more properties of cuttings in the flow of the fluid measured by one or more sensors of the sidewall coring tool assembly.
20 . The sidewall coring tool assembly of claim 15 , wherein the downhole pump comprises one or more screens configured to remove debris from the flow of the fluid.