Stripline energy transmission in a wellbore

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9874091-B2
Application number	US-201715655129-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2017
Priority date	Dec 5, 2014
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

A downhole energy transmission system is described. The system can include a tubing string having a number of tubing pipe disposed within an annulus formed by a casing string disposed within a wellbore, where the tubing string has at least one wall forming a cavity. The system can also include a remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the tubing string at a first location. The system can further include a first stripline cable disposed on an outer surface of the tubing string, where the first stripline cable transmits a first electromagnetic directional traveling wave received from an energy source. The system can also include a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, where the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the remote electrical device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A downhole energy transmission system, comprising:
a tubing string comprising a plurality of tubing pipe disposed within an annulus formed by a casing string disposed within a wellbore, wherein the tubing string has at least one wall forming a cavity;
a first remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the tubing string at a first location;
a first stripline cable disposed toward an outer surface of the tubing string within the wellbore, wherein the first stripline cable transmits a first electromagnetic directional traveling wave in a first direction along the first stripline cable; and
a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, wherein the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the first remote electrical device,
wherein the first electromagnetic directional traveling wave transmitted through the first stripline cable passively reciprocates a second electromagnetic directional traveling wave in the second stripline cable, wherein the second electromagnetic directional traveling wave is used to operate the first remote electrical device,
wherein the first stripline cable comprises a rugged outer surface that withstands scraping against the casing string as the tubing string is inserted into the annulus formed by the casing string,
wherein the second electromagnetic directional traveling wave is generated without resonance, without inductive materials, and without direct physical coupling between the first stripline cable and the second stripline cable, and
wherein the first electromagnetic directional traveling wave comprises an operating frequency of at least one Hertz.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the tubing string at a second location; and
a third stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the second location, wherein the third stripline cable is electrically coupled to the second remote electrical device,
wherein the first energy transmitted through the first stripline cable passively reciprocates a third electromagnetic directional traveling wave in the third stripline cable, wherein the third electromagnetic directional traveling wave is used to operate the second remote electrical device.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first electromagnetic directional traveling wave comprises a first signal and a second signal, wherein the first signal is addressed to the first remote electrical device, and wherein the second signal is addressed to the second remote electrical device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first stripline cable is disposed within a channel in the outer surface of the tubing string.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:
at least one coupling device disposed in the channel of the tubing string, wherein the at least one coupling device secures the first stripline cable against the outer surface of the tubing string within the channel.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second stripline cable is disposed within a channel in a remote device sleeve at the first location.

7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising:
at least one retaining device disposed in the channel of the tubing string, wherein the at least one coupling device secures the second stripline cable within the channel at the first location.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubing string further comprises at least one remote device sleeve, and wherein the first remote electrical device and the second stripline cable are disposed in a first remote device sleeve of the at least one remote device sleeve.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first stripline cable is disposed within a channel in the at least one remote device sleeve, wherein the first stripline cable abuts against the second stripline cable within the channel.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a terminator load coupled to a distal end of the first stripline cable.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a terminator load coupled to a first end of the second stripline cable, wherein the first remote electrical device is coupled to a second end of the second stripline cable.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the first remote electrical device.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first remote electrical device comprises a rectifier and a receiver.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first stripline cable and the second stripline cable form a power transfer coupling mechanism.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second stripline cable ignores a second directional traveling wave traveling through the first stripline cable in a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first stripline cable comprises a first electrically conductive element disposed between first layers of electrically non-conductive material.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first layers of electrically non-conductive material comprise a material that withstands scraping against the casing string when the tubing string is inserted into the annulus of the casing string.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first remote electrical device comprises a controller for a gas lift valve.

19. A method for providing energy in a wellbore of a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
transmitting a first electromagnetic directional traveling wave through a first stripline cable, wherein the first stripline cable is disposed toward an outer surface of a tubing string within the wellbore;
generating a second electromagnetic directional traveling wave in a second stripline cable using directional traveling wave coupling between the first stripline cable and the second stripline cable, wherein the second stripline cable is disposed within the tubing string at a first location; and
delivering, using the second stripline cable, the second electromagnetic directional traveling wave to a first remote electrical device, wherein the second electromagnetic directional traveling wave is used to operate the first remote electrical device at the first location,
wherein the first stripline cable comprises a rugged outer surface that withstands scraping against the casing string as the tubing string is inserted into the annulus formed by the casing string,
wherein the second electromagnetic directional traveling wave is generated without resonance, without inductive materials, and without direct physical coupling between the first stripline cable and the second stripline cable, and
wherein the first electromagnetic directional traveling wave comprises an operating frequency of at least one Hertz.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
generating a third electromagnetic directional traveling wave in a third stripline cable using the directional traveling wave coupling between the first stripline cable and the third stripline cable, wherein the third stripline cable is disposed within the tubing string at a second location; and
delivering, using the third stripline cable, the third electromagnetic directional traveling wave to a second remote electrical device, wherein the second electromagnetic directional traveling wave is used to operate the second remote electrical device at the second location.

Assignees

• Chevron Usa Inc

Inventors

• Thompson Melvin Clark

Classifications

• E21B47/12 Primary

  Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling · CPC title

• E21B17/003

  with electrically conducting or insulating means (E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01P1/268

  Strip line terminations (H01P1/262 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01P3/082

  Multilayer dielectric · CPC title

• H01P5/184

  the guides being strip lines or microstrips · CPC title