Pressure-compensated downhole battery
First Claim
1. A pressure-balanced battery disposed within an insert positioned within a downhole tool, the battery being for powering downhole drilling components in a subterranean environment, the pressure-balanced battery comprising:
- a battery; and
a housing enclosing and sealing a volume containing the battery, the housing being expandable and contractible to balance pressure internal to the housing with pressure external to the housing; and
the insert comprising an inside diameter adapted for passage of drilling fluids;
the battle being disposed within a recess formed in an annular wall of the insert, and at least one aperture formed in the inside diameter leading to the recess;
the apertures being adapted to allow the drilling fluid to pressurize the batteries disposed within the recess.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure-balanced battery for powering downhole-drilling components and a downhole telemetry network in a subterranean environment includes a battery and a housing enclosing and sealing a volume containing the battery. At least a portion of the housing is expandable and contractible to enable pressure encountered downhole to balance pressure internal to the housing. In this way, the thermal range of a battery'"'"'s operation may be increased to function in a downhole environment. In selected embodiments, the housing is in operable communication with downhole fluids to transfer pressure to the battery. In selected embodiments, the battery is integrated into the annular structure of an existing downhole tool. In other embodiments, the battery may be integrated into a downhole tool specifically dedicated for use as a battery.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A pressure-balanced battery disposed within an insert positioned within a downhole tool, the battery being for powering downhole drilling components in a subterranean environment, the pressure-balanced battery comprising:
- a battery; and
a housing enclosing and sealing a volume containing the battery, the housing being expandable and contractible to balance pressure internal to the housing with pressure external to the housing; and
the insert comprising an inside diameter adapted for passage of drilling fluids;
the battle being disposed within a recess formed in an annular wall of the insert, and at least one aperture formed in the inside diameter leading to the recess;
the apertures being adapted to allow the drilling fluid to pressurize the batteries disposed within the recess. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a battery; and
-
14. A pressure-balanced battery disposed within an insert positioned within a downhole tool, the battery being for powering downhole drilling components in a subterranean environment, the pressure-balanced battery comprising:
- a battery; and
a housing enclosing and sealing a volume containing the battery, the housing comprising;
a substantially rigid portion;
a resilient portion deformable to vary the volume of the housing, the resilient portion balancing pressure internal to the housing with ambient pressure external to the housing; and
the insert comprising an inside diameter adapted for passage of drilling fluids;
the battery being disposed within a recess formed in an annular wall of the insert, and at least one aperture formed in the inside diameter leading to the recess;
the apertures being adapted to allow the drilling fluid to pressurize the batteries disposed within the recess. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- a battery; and
-
20. A method for providing power to downhole drilling components in a subterranean environment, the method comprising:
- providing a battery disposed within an insert positioned within a downhole tool, the insert comprising an inside diameter adapted for passage of drilling fluids;
the battery being disposed within a recess formed in an annular wall of the insert, and at least one aperture formed in the inside diameter leading to the recess;
the apertures being adapted to allow the drilling fluid to pressurize the batteries disposed within the recess;
providing a housing enclosing and sealing a volume containing the battery, the sealed housing having a resilient portion flexible to vary the volume within the housing; and
flexing the resilient portion to balance pressure internal to the housing with pressure external to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (21)
- providing a battery disposed within an insert positioned within a downhole tool, the insert comprising an inside diameter adapted for passage of drilling fluids;
Specification