DOWNHOLE PROBE ASSEMBLY WITH BLUETOOTH DEVICE

• US 20160194952A1
• Filed: 08/12/2014
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc .
• Original Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc .
• Inventors: Switzer, David A., Liu, Jili, Derkacz, Patrick R., Logan, Aaron W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,976,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The embodiments described herein generally relate a downhole probe assembly incorporating a Bluetooth device for wirelessly transmitting electrical information between the downhole probe assembly and a surface electronic interface such as a computer when the probe assembly is above ground. The downhole probe assembly includes sensors for sensing downhole conditions; a controller in electrical communication with the sensors and configured to receive and process information from the sensors; a housing enclosing the one or more than one sensor and the controller; the Bluetooth device in electrical communication with the controller; and an end cap assembly fitted at one end of the housing. The end cap assembly partially surrounds the Bluetooth device and is configured for transmission of the electrical information therethrough. Also described is an end cap assembly for fitting to one end of a downhole probe assembly including a transmission module mated with and electrically connected to the Bluetooth device. The end cap assembly includes an end cap having an end cap mating section configured to mate with a mating section of the transmission module to form a chamber enclosing the Bluetooth device between the transmission module and the end cap. A known downhole probe assembly can be retrofitted with the Bluetooth device and end cap subassembly. The end cap subassembly is configured and adapted to promote signal transmission between the Bluetooth device and a surface computer or other electronic interface.

Claims

1-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A downhole probe assembly comprising:

(a) one or more than one sensor for sensing downhole conditions;

(b) a controller in electrical communication with the one or more than one sensor and configured to receive and process information from the one or more than one sensor;

(c) a housing enclosing the one or more than one sensor and the controller;

(d) a Bluetooth device in electrical communication with the controller and configured to wirelessly transmit and receive electrical information respectively to and from a surface electronic interface; and

(e) an end cap assembly fitted at one end of the housing, the end cap assembly comprising an end cap comprising a metal body partially surrounding the Bluetooth device and a non-metal rod extending longitudinally through the body for transmission of the electrical information therethrough.

27. The downhole probe assembly of claim 25, further comprising a transmission module in electrical communication with the controller, the transmission module comprising an electrical connector, wherein a portion of the Bluetooth device mates with the electrical connector and electrically connects the transmission module and the Bluetooth device.

28. The downhole probe assembly of claim 27, wherein the end cap further comprises an end cap mating section configured to mate with a mating section of the transmission module to form a chamber between the transmission module and the end cap, the Bluetooth device being positioned in the chamber.

29. The downhole probe assembly of claim 28, wherein one or more than one o-ring is positioned between the end cap mating section and the mating section of the transmission module to fluidly seal the chamber.

30. The downhole probe assembly of claim 28, wherein the end cap mating section comprises a female mating section with a cavity therein configured to matingly receive the mating section of the transmission module.

31. The downhole probe assembly of claim 30, wherein a thickness of a wall of the female mating section surrounding the chamber is reduced compared to a thickness of the wall surrounding the mating section of the transmission module.

32. The downhole probe assembly of claim 25, wherein the end cap assembly further comprises a landing spider for positioning the downhole probe assembly within a drill collar and a connector connecting the landing spider to the end cap, the landing spider comprising a plurality of apertures for flowing drilling fluid therethrough when the downhole probe assembly is positioned downhole, wherein at least a portion of the connector comprises non-metal material for transmission of the electronic information therethrough.

33. The downhole probe assembly of claim 32, wherein the connector releasably connects the landing spider to the end cap.

34. The downhole probe assembly of claim 25, further comprising a switch configured to turn the Bluetooth device on and off in response to measured parameters of conditions downhole.

35. The downhole probe assembly of claim 34, wherein the downhole probe assembly further comprises a temperature sensor in electrical communication with the switch and the switch is configured to turn the Bluetooth device off when the temperature is above a predetermined temperature and to turn the Bluetooth device on when the temperature is below the predetermined temperature.

36. The downhole probe assembly of claim 34, wherein the downhole probe assembly further comprises a pressure sensor in electrical communication with the switch and the switch is configured to turn the Bluetooth device off when the pressure is above a predetermined pressure and to turn the Bluetooth device on when the pressure is below the predetermined pressure.

26. A downhole probe assembly comprising:

(a) one or more than one sensor for sensing downhole conditions;

(b) a controller in electrical communication with the one or more than one sensor and configured to receive and process information from the one or more than one sensor;

(c) a housing enclosing the one or more than one sensor and the controller;

(d) a Bluetooth device in electrical communication with the controller and configured to wirelessly transmit and receive electrical information respectively to and from a surface electronic interface; and

(e) an end cap assembly fitted at one end of the housing, the end cap assembly comprising an end cap including a transmission port comprising a longitudinally extending metal body surrounded by non-metal walls, wherein one end of the metal body is electrically connected to a transceiver on the Bluetooth device, such that the metal body operates as an antenna for wirelessly receiving and transmitting the electrical information to and from the Bluetooth device.

37. An end cap assembly for fitting to one end of a downhole probe assembly comprising one or more than one sensor for sensing downhole conditions;

a controller in electrical communication with the one or more than one sensor; and

a Bluetooth device in electrical communication with the controller and configured to wirelessly transmit and receive electrical information respectively to and from a surface electronic interface, the end cap assembly comprising an end cap comprising a metal body partially surrounding the Bluetooth device and a non-metal rod extending longitudinally through the body and configured for transmission of the electrical information therethrough.

39. The end cap assembly of claim 37, wherein the end cap assembly further comprises an end cap mating section, the end cap mating section configured to mate with a mating section of a transmission module in electrical communication with the controller to form a chamber enclosing the Bluetooth device between the transmission module and the end cap.

40. The end cap assembly of claim 39, wherein the end cap mating section comprises a female mating section with a cavity therein configured to matingly receive the mating section of the transmission module.

41. The end cap assembly of claim 40, wherein a thickness of a wall of the female mating section surrounding the chamber is reduced compared to a thickness of the wall surrounding the mating section of the transmission module.

42. The end cap assembly of claim 37, wherein the end cap assembly further comprises a landing spider for positioning the downhole probe assembly within a drill collar, and a connector connecting the landing spider to the end cap, the landing spider comprising a plurality of apertures for flowing drilling fluid therethrough when the downhole probe assembly is positioned downhole, wherein at least a portion of the connector comprises non-metal material for transmission of the electronic information therethrough.

43. The end cap assembly of claim 42, wherein the connector releasably connects the landing spider to the end cap.

38. An end cap assembly for fitting to one end of a downhole probe assembly comprising one or more than one sensor for sensing downhole conditions;

a controller in electrical communication with the one or more than one sensor; and

a Bluetooth device in electrical communication with the controller and configured to wirelessly transmit and receive electrical information respectively to and from a surface electronic interface, the end cap assembly comprising an end cap including a transmission port comprising a longitudinally extending metal body surrounded by non-metal walls, wherein one end of the metal body is electrically connected to a transceiver on the Bluetooth device, such that the metal body operates as an antenna for wirelessly receiving and transmitting the electrical information to and from the Bluetooth device.