System for employing high temperature batteries for making measurements in a borehole
First Claim
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1. A system for making measurements in an earth borehole having an improved power source, comprising:
- downhole apparatus including means for sensing the magnitudes of one or more downhole parameters and generating signals representing the magnitudes of such parameters;
equipment at the earth'"'"'s surface for detecting said signals and translating said detected signals into indications representative of the magnitudes of said downhole parameters;
a battery within said downhole apparatus of a type that is operable only at temperatures substantially higher than those encountered in above-ground ambient air;
a heat source for maintaining the temperature of said battery within its operable range; and
a thermostat responsive to the battery temperature, said heat source and thermostat being connected to said battery whereby voltage supplied by said battery at least in part provides heat necessary to maintain said battery at operating temperatures during low ambient temperature conditions, said thermostat operating to remove battery voltage from said heat source when the ambient temperature is above a level which maintains said battery within its operable temperature range.
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Abstract
A DC power source for use in a wide range of variable temperatures employing a battery having the characteristic that it is substantially dormant at normal ambient temperatures and operable only at temperatures substantially above normal ambient temperatures, including a heat retaining housing in which the battery is positioned and a controllable heat source within the housing to maintain the temperature of the battery within a preselected elevated range corresponding to the effective operating temperature characteristics of the battery.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for making measurements in an earth borehole having an improved power source, comprising:
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downhole apparatus including means for sensing the magnitudes of one or more downhole parameters and generating signals representing the magnitudes of such parameters; equipment at the earth'"'"'s surface for detecting said signals and translating said detected signals into indications representative of the magnitudes of said downhole parameters; a battery within said downhole apparatus of a type that is operable only at temperatures substantially higher than those encountered in above-ground ambient air; a heat source for maintaining the temperature of said battery within its operable range; and a thermostat responsive to the battery temperature, said heat source and thermostat being connected to said battery whereby voltage supplied by said battery at least in part provides heat necessary to maintain said battery at operating temperatures during low ambient temperature conditions, said thermostat operating to remove battery voltage from said heat source when the ambient temperature is above a level which maintains said battery within its operable temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. With an apparatus for making measurements in an earth borehole in which the apparatus is powered by a temperature sensitive battery having the characteristic of providing sufficient electrical potential at temperatures experienced in relatively deep locations in a borehole and providing insufficient electrical potential at temperatures experienced at ambient surface and shallow depth locations, the apparatus having a heating means associated with said battery, a method of operating such battery powered apparatus comprising the steps of:
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applying an external voltage potential to a heating means associated with a battery at the earth'"'"'s surface to heat the battery to an operating temperature preparatory to lowering the measurement apparatus into the borehole; applying voltage from the battery to the associated heating means to heat the battery while in the borehole to maintain the temperature of the battery to an appropriate operating temperature; and removing battery voltage potential from heating application when the ambient temperature, such as that occasioned by increased borehole depth, is sufficient to maintain the battery at adequate voltage producing potential. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification