Patent ID: 7093676

Claim:
A sponge liner for use in a sponge core barrel assembly, the sponge core barrel assembly including an inner barrel assembly formed of a first material and having a bore extending therethrough, the sponge liner comprising: a tubular sleeve having a longitudinal axis, formed of a second material and having an outer cylindrical surface sized and configured to be slidably disposed in the bore of the inner barrel assembly and an inner cylindrical surface, the outer cylindrical surface and the inner cylindrical surface being on opposing sides of a wall having a thickness, the tubular sleeve further including at least one groove configured in a helix about the inner cylindrical surface or extending circumferentially along the inner cylindrical, formed in the inner cylindrical surface and extending into the thickness of the wall, the at least one groove having a cross-sectional shape; and an annular sponge layer formed of a material adapted to absorb at least one specified reservoir fluid, the annular sponge layer including an interior cavity and an outer cylindrical surface secured to the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular sleeve, the annular sponge layer extending into the at least one groove.