30 and thereby restore permeability to borehole wall 28 at this point electrical signals to the tool can stop and the fluid oscillation thereby ceases the necessary period is allowed for the hydrocarbons in formation 14 to pressurize tool chamber 84 the time period needed to pressurize chamber 84 will vary depending on factors such as the permeability of the formation and the pressure in the formation the fluids in formation 14 seep through borehole wall 28 and into chamber 84 through orifice 76 with hydraulic communication established via conduit 78 chamber 84 and orifice 76 pressure reader 64 can measure formation fluid pressure as is known in the art it is possible to estimate formation pressure without the need for the pressure to equalize between that of the formation and that of the chamber pressure reader 64 transmits the pressure data to the surface the tool allows for continuous or near continuous readings of formation pressure in the logging while drilling embodiment the movement of the drill string downward as drilling progresses also moves the tool vertically downward however the tool receives pressure readings from a given point on the borehole wall prior to the time that the tool descends past this point of the borehole wall the tool clears mudcake from the borehole wall and records the formation pressure associated with the cleared area of borehole wall prior to the orifice moving past that cleared point once the orifice does descend past a point on the borehole wall that has been cleared and measured for pressure the process can begin anew at a new lower point on the borehole wall the tool clears mudcake and again records formation pressure the points of pressure measurement can be closely spaced so as to allow recording.