Separation system to separate phases of downhole fluids for individual analysis

Abstract

An apparatus for sampling a fluid in a borehole may include a vessel configured to be disposed in a borehole and at least one sensor in communication with one phase of the plurality of phases in the vessel. The vessel separates the fluid into a plurality of phases.

1 . An apparatus for sampling a fluid in a borehole, comprising:
 a vessel configured to be disposed in the borehole, the vessel being further configured to separate the fluid into a plurality of phases without substantially affecting a structure of at least one of the separated phases; and   at least one sensor in communication with one separated phase in the vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors, each sensor being in communication with a different phase of the plurality of phases. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to generate signals representative of a parameter of interest relating to the one phase. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an environmental sensor configured to estimate at least one environmental parameter. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel includes a separator separating the fluid into the plurality of phases. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the separator is configured to spin the fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the separator includes a permeable material configured to separate the fluid into the plurality of phases. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the separator includes at least one material configured to interact with one phase of the plurality of phases. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the interaction is one of: (i) attraction, (ii) repulsion, (iii) a molecular interaction; (iv) chemical interaction, (v) physical interaction, and (vi) ionic interaction. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the separator changes a temperature of the fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one phase is selected from at least one of: (i) an aqueous phase, (ii) a hydrocarbon, (iii) a precipitate; (iv) a nonpolar phase, and (v) a polar phase. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one phase is selected from one of: (i) a solid, (ii) a liquid, and (iii) a gas. 
     
     
         13 . A method for sampling a fluid in a borehole, comprising:
 separating the fluid into a plurality of phases in a vessel positioned in the borehole without substantially affecting a structure of at least one of the separated phases; and   estimating a parameter of interest relating to at least one separated phase fluid while the at least one phase is in the vessel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising estimating an environmental parameter while the fluid is being separated. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the parameter of interest is estimated while the fluid is being separated. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising discharging the separated phases from the vessel after estimating the parameter of interest. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the fluid is separated by a chromatographic procedure.