Patent Grant
7075454
The current application shares some specification and figures with the following commonly owned and concurrently filed applications, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference:
The current application shares some specification and figures with the following commonly owned and previously filed applications, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference:
The benefit of 35 U.S.C. § 120 is claimed for all of the above referenced commonly owned applications. The applications referenced in the tables above are referred to herein as the “Related Applications.”
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a petroleum well and a method of operating the well to provide power and power storage downhole. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a rechargeable downhole power storage system with logic controlled charge and discharge circuits.
2. Description of Related Art
The Related Applications describe methods for providing electrical power to and communications with equipment at depth in oil or gas wells. These methods utilize the production tubing as the supply and the casing as the return for the power and communications transmission circuit, or alternatively, the casing and/or tubing as supply with a formation ground as the transmission circuit. In either case the electrical losses which will be present in the transmission circuit will be highly variable, depending on the specific conditions for a particular well. These losses cannot be neglected in the design of power and communications systems for a well, and in extreme cases the methods used to accommodate the losses may be the major determinants of the design.
When power is supplied using the production tubing as the supply conductor and the casing as the return path, the composition of fluids present in the annulus, and especially the possible presence of saline aqueous components in that composition (i.e., electrically conductive fluid), will provide electrical connectivity between the tubing and the casing. If this connectivity is of high conductance, power will be lost when it shorts between tubing and casing before reaching a downhole device.
When power is supplied using the casing as the conductor and formation ground as the return path, electric current leakage through completion cement or concrete (between the casing and the earthen formation) into the earth formation can provide a loss mechanism. The more conductive the cement and earth formation, the more electrical current loss occurs as the current travels from the surface through the casing to a downhole location (e.g., a reservoir location at great depth).
The successful application of systems and methods of providing power and/or communication downhole at depth therefore will often require that a means be provided to accommodate the power losses experienced when the power losses are significant.
All references cited herein are incorporated by reference to the maximum extent allowable by law. To the extent a reference may not be fully incorporated herein, it is incorporated by reference for background purposes, and indicative of the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art.
The problems and needs outlined above are largely solved and met by the present invention. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a system adapted to provide power to a downhole device in a well is provided. The system comprises a current impedance device and a downhole power storage device. The current impedance device is generally configured for concentric positioning about a portion of a piping structure of the well such that when a time-varying electrical current is transmitted through and along the portion of the piping structure a voltage potential forms between one side of the current impedance device and another side of the current impedance device. The downhole power storage device is adapted to be electrically connected to the piping structure across the voltage potential formed by the current impedance device, is adapted to be recharged by the electrical current, and is adapted to be electrically connected to the downhole device to provide power to the downhole device as needed.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a petroleum well for producing petroleum products is provided. The petroleum well comprises a piping structure, a power source, an induction choke, a power storage module, and an electrical return. The piping structure comprises a first portion, a second portion, and an electrically conductive portion extending in and between the first and second portions. The first and second portions are distally spaced from each other along the piping structure. The power source is electrically connected to the electrically conductive portion of the piping structure at the first portion, the power source is adapted to output time-varying current. The induction choke is located about a portion of the electrically conductive portion of the piping structure at the second portion. The power storage module comprises a power storage device and two module terminals, and is located at the second portion. The electrical return electrically connects between the electrically conductive portion of the piping structure at the second portion and the power source. A first of the module terminals is electrically connected to the electrically conductive portion of the piping structure on a source-side of the induction choke. A second of the module terminals is electrically connected to the electrically conductive portion of the piping structure on an electrical-return-side of the induction choke and/or the electrical return.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a petroleum well for producing petroleum products is provided. The petroleum well comprises a well casing, a production tubing, a power source, a downhole power storage module, a downhole electrically powered device, and a downhole induction choke. The well casing extends within a wellbore of the well, and the production tubing extends within the casing. The power source is located at the surface. The power source is electrically connected to, and adapted to output a time-varying electrical current into, the tubing and/or the casing. The downhole power storage module is electrically connected to the tubing and/or the casing. The downhole electrically powered device is electrically connected to the power storage module. The downhole induction choke is located about a portion of the tubing and/or the casing. The induction choke is adapted to route part of the electrical current through the power storage module by creating a voltage potential between one side of the induction choke and another side of the induction choke. The power storage module is electrically connected across the voltage potential.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a method of producing petroleum products from a petroleum well is provided. The method comprises the following steps (the order of which may vary): (i) providing a piping structure that comprises an electrically conductive portion extending in and between the surface and downhole; (ii) providing a surface power source that is electrically connected to the electrically conductive portion of the piping structure, wherein the power source is adapted to output time-varying current; (iii) providing a current impedance device that is located about a portion of the electrically conductive portion of the piping structure; (iv) providing a power storage module that comprises a power storage; (v) providing an electrical return that electrically connects between the electrically conductive portion of the piping structure and the power source; (vi) charging the power storage device with the current from the power source while producing petroleum products from the well; and (vii) discharging the power storage device to power an electrically powered device located at the second portion while producing petroleum products from the well. If the electrically powered device comprises a sensor and a modem, the method may further comprise the steps of: (viii) detecting a physical quantity within the well with the sensor; and (ix) transmitting measurement data indicative of the physical quantity of the detecting step to another device located at the first portion using the modem and via the piping structure. The transmitting may be performed when the power storage device is not being charged by the power source to reduce noise.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a method of powering a downhole device in a well is provided. The method comprising the steps of (the order of which may vary): (A) providing a downhole power storage module comprising a first group of electrical switches, a second group of electrical switches, two or more power storage devices, and a logic circuit; (B) if current is being supplied to the power storage module, (1) closing the first switch group and opening the second switch group to form a parallel circuit across the storage devices, and (2) charging the storage devices; (C) during charging, if the current being supplied to the power storage module stops flowing and the storage devices have less than a first predetermined voltage level, (1) opening the first switch group and closing the second switch group to form a serial circuit across the storage devices, and (2) discharging the storage devices as needed to power the downhole device; (D) during charging if the storage devices have more than the first predetermined voltage level, turning on a logic circuit; and (E) if the logic circuit is on, (1) waiting for the current being supplied to the power storage module to stop flowing, (2) if the current stops flowing, (i) running a time delay for a predetermined amount of time, (a) if the current starts flowing again before the predetermined amount of time passes, continue charging the storage devices, (b) if the predetermined amount of time passes, (b.1) opening the first switch group and closing the second switch group to form the serial circuit across the storage devices, (b.2) discharging the storage devices as needed to power the downhole device, (b.3) if the current starts flowing again, (b.3.1) closing the first switch group and opening the second switch group to form the parallel circuit across the storage devices, and (b.3.2) charging the storage devices, and (b.4) if the storage devices drop below a second predetermined voltage level, turning the logic circuit off. If the predetermined time passes on the time delay, if the current is not being supplied to the power storage module, and if the storage devices are above the second predetermined voltage level, the method may further comprise the step of transmitting data from the downhole device to a surface modem.
Thus, the problems outlined above are largely solved by the provision of a way to store electrical energy downhole, to replenish this energy as needed, and to distribute this power efficiently by using logic algorithms or communications to control the configuration of the power distribution paths.
The storage mechanism of the power storage devices may be chemical, as in batteries of secondary cells, or electrical, as in capacitors, ultracapacitors, or supercapacitors. By controlling the charge-discharge duty cycle of the storage devices, even a severely restricted availability of power downhole can be used to charge the storage devices, and the power can be extracted to drive electrical or electronic equipment at a much higher rate than the charge rate. Typical electrical equipment may include (but is not limited to) electric motors, sleeve and valve actuators, and/or acoustic sources. These typically require high power during use but are often operated only intermittently on command.
A conventional well completion with a single borehole may produce from multiple zones, and a multilateral completion can have a number of laterals communicating with the surface through the main borehole, thus forming a tree-like branching structure. In the general case therefore, a multiplicity of downhole modules for power storage and communications may be installed in the well. Power is supplied to each module from the surface via a piping structure of the well. Communications allow each downhole module to be individually addressed and controlled.
By the nature of their function, the downhole devices are placed in groups. Relative to their distance from the surface, the spacing between downhole devices within a group is small. This proximity allows power and/or communications to be transferred from one downhole device to another using the tubing and/or casing as the power transmission and/or communication path between individual downhole devices. Such a power distribution method depends on the provision of control communications to configure the connections between the power storage devices in each device, and loads which may be in another device. Using this method, the power available from more than one device in a group may be applied to a single point of use, allowing higher power consumption at that point of use than would be allowed if each device relied on only its own local power storage capacity.
Similarly in the case where power storage within an individual downhole device has failed, that module may be powered from adjacent devices, and its power storage devices removed from service. An important characteristic of power storage devices (both chemical cells and capacitors) is that their individual operating power may be limited to values that are lower than what is needed to operate electronics or electrical equipment. In cases where downhole power is severely restricted by losses in the power transmission path, the power that can be developed may be restricted to values lower than would allow electrical circuits to operate normally. Therefore, among other things, the present invention provides a solution to such a problem.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referencing the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used herein to designate like elements throughout the various views, preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated and further described, and other possible embodiments of the present invention are described. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations of the present invention based on the following examples of possible embodiments of the present invention, as well as based on those embodiments illustrated and discussed in the Related Applications, which are incorporated by reference herein to the maximum extent allowed by law.
As used in the present application, a “piping structure” can be one single pipe, a tubing string, a well casing, a pumping rod, a series of interconnected pipes, rods, rails, trusses, lattices, supports, a branch or lateral extension of a well, a network of interconnected pipes, or other similar structures known to one of ordinary skill in the art. A preferred embodiment makes use of the invention in the context of a petroleum well where the piping structure comprises tubular, metallic, electrically-conductive pipe or tubing strings, but the invention is not so limited. For the present invention, at least a portion of the piping structure needs to be electrically conductive, such electrically conductive portion may be the entire piping structure (e.g., steel pipes, copper pipes) or a longitudinal extending electrically conductive portion combined with a longitudinally extending non-conductive portion. In other words, an electrically conductive piping structure is one that provides an electrical conducting path from a first portion where a power source is electrically connected to a second portion where a device and/or electrical return is electrically connected. The piping structure will typically be conventional round metal tubing, but the cross-section geometry of the piping structure, or any portion thereof, can vary in shape (e.g., round, rectangular, square, oval) and size (e.g., length, diameter, wall thickness) along any portion of the piping structure. Hence, a piping structure must have an electrically conductive portion extending from a first portion of the piping structure to a second portion of the piping structure, wherein the first portion is distally spaced from the second portion along the piping structure.
The terms “first portion” and “second portion” as used herein are each defined generally to call out a portion, section, or region of a piping structure that may or may not extend along the piping structure, that can be located at any chosen place along the piping structure, and that may or may not encompass the most proximate ends of the piping structure.
The term “modem” is used herein to generically refer to any communications device for transmitting and/or receiving electrical communication signals via an electrical conductor (e.g., metal). Hence, the term “modem” as used herein is not limited to the acronym for a modulator (device that converts a voice or data signal into a form that can be transmitted)/demodulator (a device that recovers an original signal after it has modulated a high frequency carrier). Also, the term “modem” as used herein is not limited to conventional computer modems that convert digital signals to analog signals and vice versa (e.g., to send digital data signals over the analog Public Switched Telephone Network). For example, if a sensor outputs measurements in an analog format, then such measurements may only need to be modulated (e.g., spread spectrum modulation) and transmitted—hence no analog/digital conversion needed. As another example, a relay/slave modem or communication device may only need to identify, filter, amplify, and/or retransmit a signal received.
The term “valve” as used herein generally refers to any device that functions to regulate the flow of a fluid. Examples of valves include, but are not limited to, bellows-type gas-lift valves and controllable gas-lift valves, each of which may be used to regulate the flow of lift gas into a tubing string of a well. The internal and/or external workings of valves can vary greatly, and in the present application, it is not intended to limit the valves described to any particular configuration, so long as the valve functions to regulate flow. Some of the various types of flow regulating mechanisms include, but are not limited to, ball valve configurations, needle valve configurations, gate valve configurations, and cage valve configurations. The methods of installation for valves discussed in the present application can vary widely.
The term “electrically controllable valve” as used herein generally refers to a “valve” (as just described) that can be opened, closed, adjusted, altered, or throttled continuously in response to an electrical control signal (e.g., signal from a surface computer or from a downhole electronic controller module). The mechanism that actually moves the valve position can comprise, but is not limited to: an electric motor; an electric servo; an electric solenoid; an electric switch; a hydraulic actuator controlled by at least one electrical servo, electrical motor, electrical switch, electric solenoid, or combinations thereof; a pneumatic actuator controlled by at least one electrical servo, electrical motor, electrical switch, electric solenoid, or combinations thereof; or a spring biased device in combination with at least one electrical servo, electrical motor, electrical switch, electric solenoid, or combinations thereof. An “electrically controllable valve” may or may not include a position feedback sensor for providing a feedback signal corresponding to the actual position of the valve.
The term “sensor” as used herein refers to any device that detects, determines, monitors, records, or otherwise senses the absolute value of or a change in a physical quantity. A sensor as described herein can be used to measure physical quantities including, but not limited to: temperature, pressure (both absolute and differential), flow rate, seismic data, acoustic data, pH level, salinity levels, tracer presence, tracer concentration, chemical concentration, valve positions, or almost any other physical data.
The phrase “at the surface” as used herein refers to a location that is above about fifty feet deep within the Earth. In other words, the phrase “at the surface” does not necessarily mean sitting on the ground at ground level, but is used more broadly herein to refer to a location that is often easily or conveniently accessible at a wellhead where people may be working. For example, “at the surface” can be on a table in a work shed that is located on the ground at the well platform, it can be on an ocean floor or a lake floor, it can be on a deep-sea oil rig platform, or it can be on the 100the floor of a building. Also, the term “surface” may be used herein as an adjective to designate a location of a component or region that is located “at the surface.” For example, as used herein, a “surface” computer would be a computer located “at the surface.”
The term “downhole” as used herein refers to a location or position below about fifty feet deep within the Earth. In other words, “downhole” is used broadly herein to refer to a location that is often not easily or conveniently accessible from a wellhead where people may be working. For example in a petroleum well, a “downhole” location is often at or proximate to a subsurface petroleum production zone, irrespective of whether the production zone is accessed vertically, horizontally, lateral, or any other angle therebetween. Also, the term “downhole” is used herein as an adjective describing the location of a component or region. For example, a “downhole” device in a well would be a device located “downhole,” as opposed to being located “at the surface.”
As used in the present application, “wireless” means the absence of a conventional, insulated wire conductor e.g. extending from a downhole device to the surface. Using the tubing and/or casing as a conductor is considered “wireless.”
An electrical circuit is formed using various components of the well 20 in
The tubing 40 and casing 30 act as electrical conductors for the well circuit. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in
Other alternative ways to develop an electrical circuit using a piping structure of a well and at least one induction choke are described in the Related Applications, many of which can be applied in conjunction with the present invention to provide power and/or communications to the electrically powered downhole device 50 and to form other embodiments of the present invention. Notably the Related Applications describe methods based on the use of the casing rather than the tubing to convey power from the surface to downhole devices, and the present invention is applicable in casing-conveyed embodiments.
If other packers or centralizers (not shown) are incorporated between the insulated tubing joint 68 and the packer 42, they can incorporate an electrical insulator to prevent electrical shorts between the tubing 40 and the casing 30. Such electrical insulation of additional packers or centralizers may be achieved in various ways apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
In alternative to (or in addition to) the insulated tubing joint 68, another induction choke 168 (see
The communications and control module 84 comprises an individually addressable modem 94, a motor controller 96, and a sensor interface 98. Because the modem 94 of the downhole device 50 is individually addressable, more than one downhole device may be installed and operated independently of others within a same well 20. The communications and control module 84 is electrically connected to the power storage module 90 (connection wires not shown in
The electrically controllable gas-lift valve 86 comprises an electric motor 100, a valve 102, an inlet 104, and a outlet nozzle 106. The electric motor 100 is electrically connected to the communications and control module 84 at the motor controller 96 (electrical connections between motor 100 and motor controller 96 not shown). The valve 102 is mechanically driven by the electric motor 100 in response to control signals from the communications and control module 84. Such control signals from the communications and control module 84 may be from the surface computer system 52 or from another downhole device (not shown) via the modem 94. In alternative, the control signal for controlling the electric motor 100 may be generated within the downhole device 50 (e.g., in response to measurements by the sensor 88). Hence, the valve 102 can be adjusted, opened, closed, or throttled continuously by the communications and control module 84 and/or the surface computer system 52. Preferably the electric motor 100 is a stepper motor so that the valve 102 can be adjusted in known increments. When there is pressurized gas in the annulus 44, it can be controllably injected into an interior 108 of the tubing 40 with the electrically controllable valve 86 (via the inlet 104, the valve 102, and the outlet nozzle 106) to form gas bubbles 110 within the fluid flow to lift the fluid toward the surface during production operations.
The sensor 88 is electrically connected to the communications and control module 84 at the sensor interface 98. The sensor 88 may be any type of sensor or transducer adapted to detect or measure a physical quantity within the well 20, including (but not limited to): pressure, temperature, acoustic waveforms, chemical composition, chemical concentration, tracer material presence, or flow rate. In other embodiments there may be multiple sensors. Also, the placement of the sensor 88 may vary. For example, in an enhanced form there may be an additional or alternative sensor adapted to measure the pressure within the annulus 44.
Still referring to
In the preferred embodiment shown in
The logic circuit 116 is preferably powered from the device terminals 71, 72 (electrical power connections for logic circuit not shown), rather than by power storage devices 112. The power to the logic circuit 116 from the device terminals 71, 72 may be power from other downhole devices (not shown), or from the surface power source 54 and fed through the bridge 136 to provide DC to the logic circuit. Thus, the logic circuit 116 can change the switches 121, 122, 131, 132 in the power conditioning circuit 114 when the power storage devices 112 are uncharged. In alternative, the logic circuit 116 may also receive power from the power storage devices 112 when available and from the device terminals 71, 72, or the logic circuit 116 may comprise its own rechargeable battery to allow for changing the switches 121, 122, 131, 132 in the power conditioning circuit 114 when the power storage devices 112 are uncharged and when there is no power available via the device terminals 71, 72. Also, the logic circuit 116 may be powered only by one or more of the power storage devices 112.
In operation, the power conditioning circuit 114 shown in
Also, the power conditioning circuit 114 shown in
Power to the communications and control module 84 also may be provided solely from the well circuit (from the first and second device terminals 71, 72) by closing the first load switch 131, closing the second load switch 132, and opening the first and second switch groups 121, 122. Also, such a configuration for the power conditioning circuit 114 may be desirable when communication signals are being sent to or from the communications and control module 84. The Zener diode 134 provides overvoltage protection, but other types of overvoltage and/or overcurrent protectors can be provided as well. The power and/or communications provided to first and second device terminals 71, 72 (via the tubing 40 and/or casing ) may be supplied by the surface power source 54, another downhole device (not shown), and/or another downhole power storage module (not shown). Furthermore, power to the communications and control module 84 may be provided by the well circuit and the power storage devices 112 by closing the first load switch 131, closing the second load switch 132, and closing the first or second switch group 121, 122.
For charging the power storage devices 112 with the well circuit, the second load switch 132 is closed to connect the power conditioning circuit 114 to the well circuit via the bridge 136. It is preferable to charge the storage devices 112 with the parallel circuit configuration across the storage devices 112 (i.e., first switch group 121 closed and second switch group 122 open) and the communications and control module 84 load disconnected (first load switch 131 open), but the storage devices 112 can also be charged (less efficiently) while powering the communications and control module 84. Thus during a charging operation in the preferred embodiment shown in
Switching between charging and discharging configurations or altering the switch configurations may be an automated process controlled internally within the downhole device 50, it may be controlled externally by control signals from the surface computer system 52 or from another downhole device or a downhole controller (not shown), or it may be a combination of these ways. Because external commands cannot be received or acted upon until the downhole device 50 has power available, it is desirable to include an automatic control circuit that (i) detects the discharged condition of the storage devices 112, (ii) detects the availability of AC power from the surface power source 52 via the tubing 40 and/or the casing 30, and (iii) when both conditions are met, automatically recharges the storage devices 112. Therefore, switching in the preferred embodiment of
Referring to
The logic algorithm implemented in the preferred embodiment of
When AC flows through the well circuit across the device terminals 71, 72, the storage devices 112 begin to charge and the system transitions to state 162. In state 162, if the storage devices 112 have charged to the point where their voltage reaches 1.5 Volts the system transitions to state 163, the logic circuit 116 is activated, and is then able to sense the voltages on lines 141, 142. In state 162, if the flow of AC ceases before the storage devices 112 have reached 1.5 Volts, the circuit transitions back to state 161, inactive but ready to receive more charge.
In state 163, storage devices 112 continue to receive charge, and the logic circuit 116 monitors the voltage on lines 141 and 142. When AC power is switched off, the logic circuit senses this condition by means of line 141, and the system transitions to state 164.
In state 164, the logic circuit 116 opens switch group 121, closes switch group 122, opens switch 132, and starts a time delay circuit. The purpose of the delay is to allow switching transients from the parallel-to-serial reconfiguration of devices 112 to die down: the delay is brief, of the order of milliseconds. If AC power is turned on again while the delay timer is still running, the system transitions back to state 162, otherwise the system transitions to state 165 when the delay has timed out.
In state 165, logic circuit 116 maintains switch group 121 open and switch group 122 closed, but closes switch 131 to pass power to the main load 84. The system remains in state 165 until either AC power comes on again, as sensed on line 141, or until the storage devices have discharged such that the voltage sensed on line 142 has dropped below 7.5 Volts. If AC power appears, the system transitions to state 162, with its associated settings for switches 121, 122, 131 and 132. If the storage devices discharge before AC re-appears, the system transitions to state 161 with its associated settings for switches 121, 122, 131, and 132.
The system described by reference to
As described in reference to the
By controlling the charge-discharge duty cycle of the storage devices 112 with the power condition circuit 114 and the logic circuit 116, even a severely restricted availability of power downhole can be used to charge the storage devices 112, and the power can be extracted to drive electrical or electronic equipment at a much higher rate than the charge rate. Typical downhole electrical equipment may include (but are not limited): motors, sleeve and valve actuators, and acoustic sources. Such electrical equipment often require high power during use, but are operated only intermittently on command. Hence, the present invention provides ways to charge the downhole power storage devices 112 at one rate (e.g., restricted power availability) and discharge the stored power in power storage devices 112 at another rate (e.g., brief, high-power loads). Therefore, among other things, the present invention can overcome the many of the difficulties caused by restrictions on power available downhole.
A characteristic of power storage devices 112 (both chemical cells and capacitors) is that their individual operating power may be limited to values that are lower than that needed to operate downhole electronics or electrical equipment. In cases where downhole power is severely restricted by losses in the power transmission path, the power that can be developed may be restricted to values lower than needed to allow electrical circuits to operate normally.
By the nature of their functions, downhole devices 50 are often placed in groups within a well. Relative to their distance from the surface, the spacing between downhole devices within a group is small. Because of their relatively close proximity to one another, it sometimes may be advantageous to transfer power from one downhole device to another using the tubing 40 and/or casing 30 as electrical conductors or power transmission paths between them. Such a power distribution method depends on the provision of control communications to configure the connections between the power storage modules in each downhole device and a load that may be in another downhole device. Such control communications may be provided by internal electronics with one or more downhole devices, it may be provided by the surface computer system 52, or a combination of these. Hence, the power available from more than one downhole devices in a group may be applied to a single point of use, allowing higher power consumption at that point of use than would be allowed if each downhole device merely relied on only its own local power storage capacity. Similarly in the case where power storage within an individual downhole device has failed, that device may be powered from adjacent devices. Thus, the failed power storage devices may be removed from service without eliminating the use of the downhole device that suffered the power storage failure.
In other possible embodiments of the present invention having multiple downhole devices (not shown), each downhole device 50 comprises power storage devices 112 that may power the downhole device 50 alone or may be switched to apply power to the tubing 40 and/or casing 30. Each downhole device 50 may draw power only from its own local storage devices 112, or have its local power augmented by drawing power from the tubing 40 and/or casing 30. In the latter case the power can be drawn from other storage devices 112 in neighboring downhole devices 50, as described above, and/or from the surface power source 54.
In still other possible embodiments of the present invention, each switch of the first and second switch groups 121, 122 can be independently opened or closed to provide a variety of voltage levels to the load or loads by changing the switch positions. Thus, separate independent output voltages can be provided to a variety of loads, for multiple loads, or for a variety of load conditions, while retaining the ability to charge all of the storage devices 112 in parallel at a low voltage.
The components of the downhole device 50 may vary to form other possible embodiments of the present invention. Some possible components that may be substituted for or added to the components of the downhole device include (but are not limited to): an electric servo, another electric motor, other sensors, transducers, an electrically controllable tracer injection device, an electrically controllable chemical injection device, a chemical or tracer material reservoir, an electrically controllable valve, a relay modem, a transducer, a computer system, a memory storage device, a microprocessor, a power transformer, an electrically controllable hydraulic pump and/or actuator, an electrically controllable pneumatic pump and/or actuator, or any combination thereof.
Also, the components of a power storage module 90 may vary, but it will always has at least one power storage device 112 as a minimum. For example, the power storage module 90 may be as simple as a single power storage device 112 and some wires to electrically connect it. The power storage module 90 may be very complex comprising, for example, an array of power storage devices 112, a microprocessor, a memory storage device, a control card, a digital power meter, a digital volt meter, a digital amp meter, multiple switches, and a modem. Or, the power storage module 90 may be somewhere in between, such as the power storage
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this invention provides a petroleum production well and a method of operating the well to provide power and power storage downhole. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms and examples disclosed. On the contrary, the invention includes any further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined module 90 of the preferred embodiment described herein and shown in
The present invention can be applied to any type of petroleum well (e.g., exploration well, injection well, production well) where downhole power is needed for electronics or electrical equipment. The present invention also may be applied to other types of wells (other than petroleum wells), such as a water production well.
The present invention can be incorporated multiple times into a single petroleum well having one or more production zones, or into a petroleum well having multiple lateral or horizontal completions extending therefrom. Because the configuration of a well is dependent on the natural formation layout and locations of the production zones, the number of applications and arrangement of an embodiment of the present invention may vary accordingly to suit the formation, or to suit the well injection or production needs by the following claims. Thus, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments.
This application claims the benefit of the following U.S. Provisional Applications, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference: COMMONLY OWNED AND PREVIOUSLY FILEDU.S. PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATIONST&K #Ser. No.TitleFiling DateTH 159960/177,999Toroidal Choke Inductor forJan. 24, 2000Wireless and CommunicationControlTH 160060/178,000Ferromagnetic Choke in Well-Jan. 24, 2000headTH 160260/178,001Controllable Gas-Lift WellJan. 24, 2000and ValveTH 160360/177,883Permanent, Downhole, Wire-Jan. 24, 2000less, Two-Way TelemetryBackbone Using RedundantRepeater, Spread SpectrumArraysTH 166860/177,998Petroleum Well HavingJan. 24, 2000Downhole Sensors,Communication, and PowerTH 166960/177,997System and Method forJan. 24, 2000Fluid Flow OptimizationTS 618560/181,322A Method and ApparatusFeb. 9, 2000for the Optimal Pre-distortion of an Electro-magnetic Signal in aDownhole CommunicationsSystemTH 1599x60/186,376Toroidal Choke InductorMar. 2, 2000for Wireless Communicationand ControlTH 1600x60/186,380Ferromagnetic Choke inMar. 2, 2000WellheadTH 160160/186,505Reservoir ProductionMar. 2, 2000Control from IntelligentWell DataTH 167160/186,504Tracer Injection in aMar. 2, 2000Production WellTH 167260/186,379Oilwell Casing ElectricalMar. 2, 2000Power Pick-Off PointsTH 167360/186,394Controllable ProductionMar. 2, 2000Well PackerTH 167460/186,382Use of Downhole HighMar. 2, 2000Pressure Gas in a GasLift WellTH 167560/186,503Wireless Smart Well CasingMar. 2, 2000TH 167760/186,527Method for Downhole PowerMar. 2, 2000Management UsingEnergization from DistributedBatteries or Capacitorswith ReconfigurableDischargeTH 167960/186,393Wireless Downhole WellMar. 2, 2000Interval Inflow andInjection ControlTH 168160/186,394Focused Through-CasingMar. 2, 2000Resistivity MeasurementTH 170460/186,531Downhole RotaryMar. 2, 2000Hydraulic Pressure forValve ActuationTH 170560/186,377Wireless Downhole Measure-Mar. 2, 2000ment and Control ForOptimizing Gas Lift Welland Field PerformanceTH 172260/186,381Controlled DownholeMar. 2, 2000Chemical InjectionTH 172360/186,378Wireless Power andMar. 2, 2000CommunicationsCross-Bar Switch
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US01/06942 | 3/2/2001 | WO | 00 | 8/29/2002 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO01/65054 | 9/7/2001 | WO | A |
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