Flexible piezoelectric for downhole sensing, actuation and health monitoring
First Claim
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1. Apparatus comprising:
- a section of a wellbore tubular member, anda flexible piezoelectric device having a length, width and thickness, the length and width defining at least one major planar surface as manufactured, the at least one major planar surface bent around and bonded to a curved surface of the wellbore tubular member and having a mechanical response aligned with one of the length and width,whereby the flexible piezoelectric device produces and detects compression forces in the wellbore tubular member aligned with the surface of the wellbore tubular member.
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Abstract
Thin flexible piezoelectric transducers are bonded to or imbedded into oilfield tubular members or structural members. The transducers may be used to telemeter data as acoustic waves through the members. By proper spacing of transducers and phasing of driving signals, the transmitted signals can be directionally enhanced or encoded to improve transmission efficiency. The transducers may be used for health monitoring of the tubular or structural members to detect cracks, delaminations, or other defects. The flexible transducers are very thin so that overall dimensions of tubular or structural members are essentially unchanged by incorporation of the transducers.
74 Citations
53 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a section of a wellbore tubular member, and a flexible piezoelectric device having a length, width and thickness, the length and width defining at least one major planar surface as manufactured, the at least one major planar surface bent around and bonded to a curved surface of the wellbore tubular member and having a mechanical response aligned with one of the length and width, whereby the flexible piezoelectric device produces and detects compression forces in the wellbore tubular member aligned with the surface of the wellbore tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus comprising,
a section of a wellbore tubular member, and a flexible piezoelectric device bonded to the wellbore tubular member; wherein the flexible piezoeleetric device has a length, a width and a thickness, has a mechanical response aligned with the length, and is bonded to the wellbore tubular member with its length dimension tilted by thirty to sixty degrees relative to the wellbore tubular member central axis, whereby the device may produce torsional waves in said welibore tubular member.
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16. Apparatus comprising,
a section of a wellbore tubular member, and a flexible piezoelectric device bonded to the wellbore tubular member; wherein the flexible piezoelectric device has a length, a width and a thickness, has a mechanical response aligned with the length, and is bonded to the wellbore tubular member with its length dimension tilted by about ninety degrees relative to the wellbore tubular member central axis, whereby said device may produce hoop waves in said welibore tubular member.
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17. Apparatus comprising,
a section of a wellbore tubular member, and a flexible piezoelectric device bonded to the wellbore tubular member; -
wherein the flexible piezoelectric device comprises a generally flat slab of piezoelectric material having a length, a width and a thickness, the slab having grooves along at least one side, said grooves aligned substantially with the length of the slab and reducing the slab thickness sufficiently to increase flexibility of the slab, and wherein the grooves have widths and depths which vary along the length of the slab, whereby the device generates a shaped waveform.
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18. Apparatus comprising,
a section of a wellbore tubular member, and a flexible piezoelectric device bonded to the wellbore tubular member; -
wherein the flexible piezoelectric device comprises a generally flat slab of piezoelectric material having a length, a width and a thickness, the slab having grooves along at least one side, said grooves aligned substantially with the length of the slab and reducing the slab thickness sufficiently to increase flexibility of the slab, and wherein the slab width varies along its length, whereby the device generates a shaped waveform.
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19. A borehole telemetry system, comprising:
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a tubular member adapted for use in a borehole, and at least one flexible piezoelectric transducer having a length, width and thickness, the length and width defining at least one major planar surface as manufactured, the at least one major planar surface bend around and bonded to a curved surface of the tubular member and having a mechanical response aligned with one of the length and width, whereby the flexible piezoelectric transducer produces and detects compression forces in the tubular member aligned with the surface of the tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A borehole telemetry system comprising:
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a tubular member adapted for use in a borehole, a plurality of flexible piezoelectric transducers having a length, width and thickness, the length and width defining at least one major pianar surface bonded to the tubular member and having a mechanical response aligned with one of the length and width, and a telemetry driver having separate electrical, outputs coupled to each of the plurality of flexible piezoelectric transducers whereby the flexible piezoelectric transducers experience essentially the same strains as the tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A borehole telemetry system comprising:
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a tubular member adapted for use in a borehole, a plurality of flexible piezoelectric transducers having a length, width and thickness, the length and width defining at least one major planar surface bonded to the tubular member and having a mechanical response aligned with one of the length and width, and a telemetry receiver having separate electrical outputs coupled to each of the plurality of flexible piezoelectric transducers whereby the flexible piezoelectric transducers experience essentially the same strains as the tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A system for monitoring health of a structural member, comprising:
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a structural member adapted for use in an oil production system, and a first flexible piezoelectric transducer having a length, width and thickness, the length and width defining at least one major pianar surface bonded to the structural member and having a mechanical response aligned with one of the length and width; whereby the flexible piezoelectric transducer produces and detects compression forces in the structural member aligned with said one of the length and width. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for monitoring health of a structural member, comprising:
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a structural member adapted for use in an oil production system, and a first flexible piezoelectric transducer having a length, width and thickness, the length and width defining at least one major planar surface bonded to the structural member and having a mechanical response aligned with one of the length and width; wherein; the structural member comprises a composite material, and the first transducer is imbedded in said composite material; whereby the flexible piezoelectric transducer experiences essentially the same strains as the structural member. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A system for detecting the flow of material tbrough a tubular element, comprising:
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a tubular element adapted for flowing materials in a hydrocarbon production system, and a flexible piezoelectric transducer having a length, width and thickness, the length and width defining at least one major planar surface as manufactured, the at least one major planar surface bent wound and bonded to a curved surface of the tubular element and having a mechanical response aligned with one of the length and width; whereby the flexible piezoelectric transducer produces and detects compression forces in the tubular member aligned with the surface of the tubular element. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. Apparatus comprising:
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a section of a wellbore tubular member, and a thin piezoelectric device having a length, width and thickness, the length and width defining at least one major planar surface as manufactured, the at least one planar surface bent around and bonded to a curved surface of the wellbore tubular member and having a mechanical response aligned with one of the length and width; whereby the thin piezoelectric device produces and detects compression forces in the tubular member aligned with the curved surface. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A system for monitoring health of a structural member, comprising:
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a structural member adapted for use in an oil production system, and a thin piezoelectric transducer having a length, width and thickness, the length and width defining at least one major planar surface bonded to the structural member and having a mechanical response aligned with one of the length and width; whereby the thin piezoelectric transducer produces and detects compression forces in the structural member aligned with said one of the length and width. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53)
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Specification