DOWNHOLE ENERGY HARVESTING
First Claim
1. A downhole electrical energy harvesting system for use in a well installation having metallic structure comprising at least one run of metallic elongate members carrying electrical current, the harvesting system comprising:
- an energy harvesting module comprising an electrical circuit connected between spaced contacts to harvest energy from a potential difference between the spaced contacts, wherein a first of the spaced contacts is made to the at least one run of metallic elongate members at a first location and a second of the spaced contacts is made to the at least one run of metallic elongate members at a second location and the potential difference is caused by the current flowing in the at least one run of elongate members and, at least in part, the impedance of the at least one run of elongate members.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Downhole electrical energy harvesting and communication in systems for well installations having metallic structure carrying electric current, for example CP current. In some instances there is a harvesting module (4) electrically connected to the metallic structure (2) at a first location and to a second location spaced from the first location, the first and second locations being chosen such that, in use, there is a potential difference therebetween due to the electric current flowing in the structure (2); and the harvesting module (4) being arranged to harvest electrical energy from the electric current. In addition or alternatively, there may be communication apparatus (4, 5, 6) for communication by modulation of the current, for example CP current, in the metallic structure (2).
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A downhole electrical energy harvesting system for use in a well installation having metallic structure comprising at least one run of metallic elongate members carrying electrical current, the harvesting system comprising:
an energy harvesting module comprising an electrical circuit connected between spaced contacts to harvest energy from a potential difference between the spaced contacts, wherein a first of the spaced contacts is made to the at least one run of metallic elongate members at a first location and a second of the spaced contacts is made to the at least one run of metallic elongate members at a second location and the potential difference is caused by the current flowing in the at least one run of elongate members and, at least in part, the impedance of the at least one run of elongate members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of powering a downhole device in a well installation having metallic structure carrying electric current, the method comprising the steps of:
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electrically connecting a harvesting unit to the metallic structure at a first location and to the metallic structure at a second location spaced from the first location, the first and second locations being chosen such that there is a potential difference therebetween due to the electric current flowing in the structure and the harvesting unit being arranged to harvest electrical energy from electric current when connected between locations having a potential difference therebetween; harvesting electrical power from the electric current at the harvesting unit; and supplying electrical power from the harvesting unit to the downhole device. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification