Sampling device for oilfield applications

1. A sample collecting device comprising:

an outer casing having a base;

a valve assembly disposed at least partially within the outer casing, the valve assembly comprising a sampler tube configured to draw a sample of a sample material up through an opening in the base of the outer casing to isolate the sample within the sampler tube; and

a buoyancy generating device configured to selectively increase buoyancy of the sample collecting device.

2. The sample collecting device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pressure sensor wherein the pressure sensor detects pressure data.

3. The sample collecting device of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly further comprises:

a platform disposed at an upper end of the sampler tube;

a biasing member disposed between the platform and the upper end of the sampler tube; and

at least one biasing member restraining link coupled to the platform and the upper end of the sampler tube.

4. The sample collecting device of claim 1 , wherein the buoyancy generating device comprises at least one of a compressed gas cartridge and a gas generating material.

5. The sample collecting device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one biasing member restraining link comprises a material that deteriorates in water.

6. The sample collecting device of claim 1 , further comprising a programmable logic controller operatively coupled to at least one selected from a group consisting of a pressure sensor and a timer.

7. The sample collecting device of claim 6 , wherein the programmable logic controller controls at least one selected from a group consisting of actuation of a sampler tube plunger at a predetermined depth sensed by the pressure sensor, actuation of the sampler tube plunger after a predetermined time measured by the timer, and actuation of a buoyancy generation device.

8. The sample collecting device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an annular skirt disposed on a lower portion of the outer casing; and

at least one vent disposed on the lower portion of the outer casing.

9. The sample collecting device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a transparent window disposed in the outer casing;

a camera disposed within the outer casing adjacent the transparent window, wherein a lens of the camera is oriented toward the transparent window; and

a plurality of lights disposed around the lens of the camera.

10. The sample collecting device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of lights are light-emitting diode lights.

11. The sample collecting device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of buoyancy adjusting objects configured to provide the sample collecting device with a predetermined initial buoyancy.

12. A method comprising:

entering a sample collecting device into a fluid storage container having a sample material disposed therein, wherein the sample collecting device includes at least an outer casing and a valve assembly having a sampler tube, wherein the valve assembly is disposed at least partially within the outer casing;

contacting a surface of the sample material with a lower end of the outer casing;

obtaining a sample of the sample material by drawing a sample into the sampler tube of the sample collecting device through an opening in the lower end of the outer casing; and

removing the sample collecting device from the fluid storage container.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the fluid storage container is disposed on a sea floor.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining an amount of the sample material present in the fluid storage container.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining the amount of the sample material present in the fluid storage container comprises:

measuring hydrostatic pressure at the surface of the sample material.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein obtaining the sample comprises actuating the valve assembly by at least one selected from a group consisting of structural failure of a restraining pin and actuation instruction from a programmable logic controller, wherein the actuating the valve assembly creates a suction and draws the sample material into the sampler tube.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein removing the sample collecting device from the fluid storage container further comprises:

increasing a buoyancy of the sample collecting device; and

ascending the sample collecting device to a desired area of the fluid storage container for retrieval.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein increasing the buoyancy of the sample collecting device comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of reacting at least one gas generating material with water to form a gas, and releasing a compressed gas from a compressed gas cartridge.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the increasing the buoyancy of the sample collecting device is actuated by a programmable logic controller.

20. A sample collecting device comprising:

an outer casing having a base;

a valve assembly disposed at least partially within the outer casing, the valve assembly comprising a sampler tube configured to draw a sample of a sample material up through an opening in the base of the outer casing to isolate the sample within the sampler tube;

an annular skirt disposed on a lower portion of the outer casing; and

at least one vent disposed on the lower portion of the outer casing.

21. The sample collecting device of claim 20 further comprising a buoyancy generating device configured to selectively increase buoyancy of the sample collecting device.