Electricity generation within a downhole drilling motor
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for generating electricity, comprising:
- a drilling motor, comprisinga stator;
a rotor operable to rotate within the stator with passage of a drilling fluid through the drilling motor, the rotor comprising a bore that runs through the rotor, the bore comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet, the bore, and the outlet define a flow path for the drilling fluid to flow through the rotor; and
a secondary progressing cavity drive disposed within the rotor, wherein the secondary progressing cavity drive comprises a secondary rotor disposed within a secondary stator;
a generator disposed at least partially within the bore, wherein the drilling fluid flowing through one or more passages between the secondary stator and the secondary rotor rotates the secondary rotor relative to the secondary stator to drive the generator to generate the electricity.
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Abstract
A progressing cavity-type drilling motor having an electrical generator disposed within the rotor of the drilling motor. In some embodiments, the electrical generator produces electrical energy from a flow of drilling fluid through a bore in the rotor. In other embodiments, the electrical generator produces electrical energy by harnessing the kinetic energy of the rotor as the drilling motor is used to drill into a formation. The electrical energy generated by the generator can be stored or used to power sensors, actuators, control systems, and other downhole equipment.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An apparatus for generating electricity, comprising:
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a drilling motor, comprising a stator; a rotor operable to rotate within the stator with passage of a drilling fluid through the drilling motor, the rotor comprising a bore that runs through the rotor, the bore comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet, the bore, and the outlet define a flow path for the drilling fluid to flow through the rotor; and a secondary progressing cavity drive disposed within the rotor, wherein the secondary progressing cavity drive comprises a secondary rotor disposed within a secondary stator; a generator disposed at least partially within the bore, wherein the drilling fluid flowing through one or more passages between the secondary stator and the secondary rotor rotates the secondary rotor relative to the secondary stator to drive the generator to generate the electricity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for generating electricity, comprising
disposing a secondary progressing cavity drive within a rotor of a drilling motor, wherein the secondary progressing cavity drive comprises a secondary rotor disposed within a secondary stator; -
disposing a generator at least partially within a bore that runs through the rotor, wherein the bore comprises an inlet and an outlet that define a flow path for a drilling fluid to flow through the rotor; and operating the drilling motor, wherein operating the drilling motor comprises driving the generator by flowing the drilling fluid through one or more passages between the secondary stator and the secondary rotor to thereby rotate the secondary rotor relative to the secondary stator to drive the generator to generate the electricity. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification