Accessible Downhole Power Assembly

• US 20100186944A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Turner, Paula, Hall, David R., Nelson, Nathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/65.100
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes

Abstract

In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole power assembly has a downhole drill string component having a center mandrel with a through-bore adapted to accommodate a flow of drilling fluid. The component has an independent tubular battery cage disposed around the center mandrel. At least one battery is disposed in at least one bay formed in the tubular battery cage and a tubular sleeve is adapted to slide over and cover the tubular battery cage.

Claims

1. A downhole power assembly, comprising:

a downhole drill string component comprising a center mandrel with a through-bore adapted to accommodate a flow of drilling fluid;

the component comprising an independent tubular battery cage disposed around the center mandrel;

at least one battery disposed in at least one bay formed in the tubular battery cage; and

a tubular sleeve adapted to slide over and cover the tubular battery cage.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a sleeve slide guide is disposed around the center mandrel adjacent to the tubular battery cage and comprises a length at least equal to a length of the tubular battery cage.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the sleeve slide guide comprises a first end with an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the tubular sleeve and a second end with an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the tubular sleeve.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the first end of the sleeve slide guide is adapted to abut against an end of the tubular battery cage.

5. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the tubular sleeve is adapted to slide off of the tubular battery cage onto the sleeve slide guide.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the tubular sleeve comprises a locking collar adapted to be bolted to the tubular battery cage restricting the movement of the tubular sleeve.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the downhole power assembly comprises an electrical contact disposed at a first end of the tubular battery cage adapted to transfer electrical power from the downhole power assembly to an electronics assembly.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the electronics assembly is disposed around the center mandrel of the downhole drill string component.

9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the electronics assembly is disposed on another downhole drill string component.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the electronics assembly comprises a geophone, a hydrophone, or combinations thereof.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one mechanical retainer is disposed in the at least one bay and is adapted to mechanically retain the at least one battery in the at least one bay.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the mechanical retainer comprises an extending pin adapted to extend from a body of the mechanical retainer into the at least one bay.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the extending pin is spring actuated, actuated by a biased driving element, piston actuated, or combinations thereof.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the downhole power assembly comprises at least one electrical connector adapted to provide an electrical connection between the at least one battery and a power network of a downhole tool component independent of the mechanical retention of the at least one battery in the at least one bay.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the at least one electrical connector comprises an expandable element disposed in a box adapted to extend a plunger contact through a hole formed in a lid of the box.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the expandable element is a spring, a wave spring, a coil spring, compressible foam, rubber, gas, or combinations thereof.

17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the expandable element is adapted to extend a second plunger contact through a hole formed in a bottom of the box.

18. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the tubular battery cage comprises five bays connected electrically in parallel to a positive junction and a negative junction.

19. The assembly of claim 1, wherein an electrical generator disposed in another downhole tool string component is adapted to send electrical power across at least one inductive coupler to the at least one battery.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the downhole power assembly is adapted to send power across the at least one inductive coupler to another downhole drill string component.