Claims
- 1. A method for maximizing the chemical integrity and maintaining the mechanical integrity of a core sample during transport from a subterranean formation to the surface comprising:
- cutting a core sample downhole, said core sample having an outer surface;
- encapsulating said core sample, as said core sample enters said core barrel, with an encapsulating material comprising a polyethylene glycol and polyethylene, said encapsulating material being capable of increasing in viscosity in response to a decrease in temperature during transport to a level and at a time sufficient to protect said integrity of said core sample during transport; and
- transporting said encapsulated core sample to said surface.
- 2. A method for maximizing the chemical integrity of a core sample during transport from a subterranean formation to the surface comprising:
- cutting a core sample downhole, said core sample having an outer surface;
- encapsulating said core sample, as said core sample enters said core barrel, with an encapsulating material comprising polypropylene glycol; and
- transporting said encapsulated core sample to said surface.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said polypropylene glycol has a molecular weight greater than about 1000.
- 4. The method of claim 2 wherein said encapsulating material further comprises a particulate sealing agent capable of substantially sealing the pores present at said outer surface of said core sample.
- 5. The method of claim 2 wherein said core sample is transported to said surface in a pressure core barrel.
- 6. The method of claim 3 wherein said core sample is transported to said surface in a pressure core barrel.
- 7. The method of claim 4 wherein said core sample is transported to said surface in a pressure core barrel.
- 8. A method for maintaining the mechanical integrity and maximizing the chemical integrity of a core sample during transport from a subterranean formation to the surface comprising:
- cutting a core sample downhole, said core sample having an outer surface;
- encapsulating said core sample, as said core sample enters said core barrel, with an encapsulating material comprising a polyalkylene derivative capable of increasing in viscosity in response to a decrease in temperature during transport to a level and at a time sufficient to protect said integrity of said core sample during transport; and
- transporting said encapsulated core sample to said surface.
- 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said polyalkylene derivative is polyethylene.
- 10. The method of claim 8 wherein said polyalkylene derivative is ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.
- 11. The method of claim 8 wherein said encapsulating material further comprises a particulate sealing agent capable of substantially sealing the pores present at said outer surface of said core sample.
- 12. The method of claim 8 wherein said core sample is transported to said surface in a pressure core barrel.
- 13. A method for maintaining the mechanical integrity and maximizing the chemical integrity of a core sample during transport from a subterranean formation to the surface comprising:
- cutting a core sample downhole using a coring tool, said core sample having an outer surface;
- encapsulating said core sample, as said core sample enters an inner tube in said coring tool, with an encapsulating material capable of protecting the integrity of said core sample during transport; and
- transporting said encapsulated core sample to said surface in a pressure core barrel.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/051,093, filed on Apr. 21, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,074.
US Referenced Citations (23)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0403437 |
Jun 1990 |
EPX |
22152109 |
Jul 1985 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Morrison, Robert Thornton et al., Organic Chemistry, Sixth Edition, Prentice Hall, 1992, pp. 356, 357. |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
51093 |
Apr 1993 |
|