Downhole power generation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9546539-B2
Application number	US-200913000867-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2009
Priority date	Jun 25, 2008
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

Downhole electrical power generation apparatus and methods of using stored pressurized gas and/or ambient downhole pressure. One example comprises first and second fluid receiving chambers, a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber and a turbine generator disposed so that fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communications path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus comprising first and second fluid receiving chambers separated by a dividing wall, wherein an opening in the dividing wall acts as a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber, and wherein a turbine generator and valve provided to control fluid flow from the first fluid receiving chamber to the second fluid receiving chamber are disposed in the region of the opening so that, upon opening the valve, fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power, the apparatus further comprising a third fluid receiving chamber, a piston which is moveable to reduce the volume of the first chamber for driving fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber and a second piston which is moveable under action of ambient pressure to reduce the volume of the third fluid receiving chamber and is lockable via a locking arrangement against such movement.

2. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus according to claim 1 in which the second chamber is sealed against the ingress of fluid except for fluid received from the first chamber.

3. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus according to claim 2 in which the second chamber is sealed against the ingress of fluid except via the fluid communication path from the first chamber.

4. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first chamber is sealed against the egress of fluid except for fluid supplied towards the second chamber.

5. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus according to claim 4 in which the first chamber is sealed against the egress of fluid except via the fluid communication path to the second chamber.

6. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus according to claim 1 in which the third fluid receiving chamber is arranged to store a pressurized gas.

7. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus according to claim 1 which comprises a non-return valve for allowing ingress of fluid into the third fluid receiving chamber from the exterior of the apparatus.

8. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus according to claim 1 in which the chambers and pistons are arranged with the second piston exposed to ambient pressure and being disposed at one end of the third chamber, the first piston disposed between the third chamber and the first chamber, and the first chamber being disposed between the third chamber and the second chamber.

9. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus according to claim 1 which comprises a controller for controlling flow of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber via the fluid communication path.

10. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus according to claim 9 in which the controller is arranged to allow flow of fluid via the fluid communication path to generate electricity when in receipt of a signal indicating that power is required.

11. A downhole communication system comprising:
communication apparatus comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver; and
downhole electrical power generation apparatus comprising first and second fluid receiving chambers separated by a dividing wall, wherein an opening in the dividing wall acts as a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber, and wherein a turbine generator and valve provided to control fluid flow from the first fluid receiving chamber to the second fluid receiving chamber are disposed in the region of the opening so that, upon opening the valve, fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power for supply to the communication apparatus, the downhole electrical power generation apparatus further comprising a third fluid receiving chamber, a piston which is moveable to reduce the volume of the first chamber for driving fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber and a second piston which is moveable under action of ambient pressure to reduce the volume of the third fluid receiving chamber and is lockable via a locking arrangement against such movement.

12. A downhole communication system according to claim 11 in which the communication apparatus comprises a control unit which is arranged to send a signal, indicating that power is required, to the downhole electrical power generation apparatus at predetermined times and/or under predetermined conditions.

13. A well installation comprising downhole metallic structure and, disposed within the metallic structure, downhole electrical power generation apparatus according to claim 1 .

14. A method of downhole electrical power generation using downhole electrical power generation apparatus comprising first and second fluid receiving chambers separated by a dividing wall, wherein an opening in the dividing wall acts as a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber, and wherein a turbine generator and valve provided to control fluid flow from the first fluid receiving chamber to the second fluid receiving chamber are disposed in the region of the opening so that, upon opening the valve, fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power, the apparatus further comprising a third fluid receiving chamber, a piston which is moveable to reduce the volume of the first chamber for driving fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber and a second piston which is moveable under action of ambient pressure to reduce the volume of the third fluid receiving chamber and is lockable via a locking arrangement against such movement, the method comprising a step of pressurizing the third fluid receiving chamber using ambient pressure and in turn using the pressure in the third fluid receiving chamber to cause the flow of fluid from the first fluid receiving chamber to the second fluid receiving chamber.

15. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus comprising first and second fluid receiving chambers separated by a dividing wall, wherein an opening in the dividing wall acts as a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber, and wherein a turbine generator and valve provided to control fluid flow from the first fluid receiving chamber to the second fluid receiving chamber are disposed in the region of the opening so that, upon opening the valve, fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power, the apparatus further comprising a piston which is moveable to reduce the volume of the first chamber for driving fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber, a third fluid receiving chamber, and a non-return valve for allowing ingress of fluid into the third fluid receiving chamber from the exterior of the apparatus, wherein the third fluid receiving chamber has one end defined by the piston and is arranged to store a pressurized gas.

16. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus according to claim 15 in which the second chamber is sealed against the ingress of fluid except for fluid received from the first chamber.

17. Downho

Assignees

• Hudson Steven Martin
• Rogacheva Alexandra Vasil'Evna
• Expro North Sea Ltd

Inventors

• Hudson Steven Martin
• Rogacheva Alexandra Vasil'Evna

Classifications

• E21B41/0085 Primary

  Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes · CPC title