Coil tubing string and downhole generator

• US 5,285,204 A
• Filed: 07/23/1992
• Issued: 02/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fiberspar Corp. (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Conoco Incorporated (ConocoPhillips)
• Inventors: Sas-Jaworsky, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred, J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US07/918,967
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 175/40, 175/50, 340/855.8, 340/854.9, 340/854.6, 340/856.1, 367/911, 367/14
• US Class Current: 340/854.9
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/203 with plural fluid passages
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/206 with conductors, e.g. electrical, optical
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/911 Particular well-logging apparatus

Abstract

A borehole system for operating a downhole generator suspended on a composite coiled tubing string. The coiled tubing has at least two separate longitudinal chambers to provide separate flow paths. A fluid is pumped from the surface through one flowpath to drive a downhole turbine powered generator for operating downhole systems. A second flowpath in the tubing is used to return fluids to the surface. The non-metal environment of the composite coiled tubing provides a non-magnetic environment in which to operate wellbore devices. Data is transmitted to the surface by way of a fiber optic conductor.

Claims

1. A borehole logging system for gathering downhole data and including a downhole electrical power generator, comprising:

a unitary spoolable coiled tubing member arranged to be run into and out of the borehole and thereby selectively extended from the earths surface downhole location, said coiled tubing member comprised of nonmetallic structural materials and having a hollow centrally located core portion divided into a plurality symmetrical longitudinal cells for forming separated flow paths from the surface to the downhole location through said tubular member when extended into a wellbore; and

generator means mounted on said coiled tubing member and operable in response to fluids being conducted through said isolated cells for generating electrical power at said downhole location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coiled tubing member is comprised of electrically non-conductive materials.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tubular member contains an energy conducting means for transmitting data between the earth'"'"'s surface and said downhole location.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said energy conducting data transmission means is comprised of fiber optic materials.

3. The apparatus of claim wherein said generator means has:

a housing arranged for connection to said coiled tubing member;

a turbine rotatably mounted in said housing;

inlet means for directing fluids from one of said isolated cells into said turbine to rotate said turbine in said housing;

electrical generating means connected to said turbine for rotation therewith;

and fluid exit means for providing fluid communication with another of said isolated cells so that fluids can be moved from the earths surface down one of said cells through said turbine and then returned to the earths surface through another of said cells.

6. A method of generating electrical energy downhole in a borehole, comprising the steps of:

placing a fluid operated electrical generating device in a composite coiled tubing string constructed of nonmetallic structural materials, said coiled tubing string having at least two longitudinal isolated cells centrally located along the axis of said tubing string to form the core of said tubing string;

extending the coiled tubing string from the earths surface to a downhole location in a borehole;

moving fluids from the surface through one of the isolated cells in the tubing string to the electrical generating device downhole for generating electricity at the downhole location to operate a device downhole; and

passing fluids from the downhole generating device back to the surface through another of said isolated longitudinal cells.

7. The method of claim 6 and further including the step of generating a data signal at the downhole location;

and

passing said data signal to the surface by an energy conducting path.

8. An apparatus for providing electrical power for an electrically operated downhole device positioned in a borehole in the earth, the apparatus comprising:

spoolable tubing means having a first end at the surface and a second end extending down into the borehole and a core portion centrally positioned within said tubing means, said core portion having at least two symmetrically arranged cells isolated from one another for carrying fluid from one end of said tubing means to the other;

means for directing fluid into a first cell of said tubing means at said first end thereof;

fluid motor means attached to said second end of said tubing means for receiving the fluid from said first cell and directing the fluid into a second cell of said tubing means at said second end thereof, said fluid motor means further including a shaft mounted for rotation about its axis and means for rotating said shaft by movement of fluid in said fluid motor;

electric generating means connected to said rotatable shaft of said fluid motor means for generating electrical energy; and

means for connecting a downhole electrically powered device to said electrical generating means.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 and further including non-metallic data conducting path means for transmitting data signals from said device to the surface.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said tubing means is formed of oriented fibers in a resin matrix body.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said tubing means comprises a tubular member having at least one web member dividing the interior space of said tubular member into at least two cells.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means for rotating said rotatable shaft comprises a turbine in the path of the fluid moving from said first cell to said second cell.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for directing fluid into said first cell at said first end comprises a reservoir for containing a reserve amount of the fluid, and a pump supplied with fluid from said reservoir for pumping the fluid under pressure through the tubing means, through said fluid motor means, and back up the second cell to said reservoir.

14. A method for providing electrical power for an electrically operated downhole tool positioned in a borehole in the earth, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a composite coiled tubing string into the borehole, said coiled tubing string being constructed of non-metallic materials and having at least two longitudinal isolated cells;

directing fluid into a first cell at a first end of said coiled tubing string which extends into the borehole with its second end;

receiving the fluid from the first cell into a fluid motor at the second end of the tubing string;

rotating a shaft within the fluid motor by movement of the fluid in the fluid motor;

directing the fluid into a second cell at the second end of the tubing string to return to the first end thereof within the second cell;

generating electrical energy with an electric generator connected to the rotating shaft of the fluid motor; and

conducting the electric power to the downhole tool connected to the end of the electric generator.

15. The method according to claim 14 and further including the step of maintaining a low viscosity fluid at the surface in a reservoir and circulating said fluid from said reservoir through said coiled tubing string through said first cell to said fluid motor and returning fluid from said fluid motor to the surface reservoir through said second cell.

16. The method of claim 14 and further including sending data signals form the downhole tool to the surface over a non-metallic data conducting path.

17. A coiled tubing string for running downhole tools from the earths surface into a deviated borehole to a downhole location comprising:

a continuous composite tubing member constructed of nonmetallic structural materials designed, constructed and arranged to permit compressive forces to push a downhole tool through a deviated portion of a borehole, overcoming frictional forces produced by engagement of the downhole tool and tubing member with the borehole walls,

said tubing member having a plurality of symmetrical chambers forming a longitudinal core portion within said tubing member for providing isolated fluid conduits through the tubing member from the surface to the downhole location.

18. The coiled tubing string of claim 17 and further including downhole electrical generator means arranged in said tubing string for being positioned at said downhole location.

19. The coiled tubing string of claim 18 and further including downhole motive means for operating said downhole generator means, said motive means being operative in response to pumping fluid through a first of said fluid conduits to said motive means for powering said motive means and returning such fluid to the surface through another of said fluid conduits.