Downhole component with multiple transmission elements

• US 7,277,026 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2005
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: David R. Hall
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Fox, Joe, Bartholomew, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang; Hung Q
• Application Number:
  US11/133,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20060260797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 864 Days
• Field of Search: 340/854.9, 340/855.1, 340/854.6, 340/854.4, 340/853.1, 336/132, 336/214, 166/242.6, 166/66.5, 367/82
• US Class Current: 340/854.8
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/003 with electrically conducting or insulating means E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/0283 characterised by the coupling being contactless, e.g. inductive

Abstract

A tubular component in a downhole tool string has a first end and a second end. The first end includes first and second inductive couplers, and the second end includes third and fourth inductive couplers. The component further has a first conductive medium and second conductive medium. The first conductive medium is connecting the first and third couplers, and the second conductive medium is connecting the second and fourth couplers. The first and second ends may include additional inductive couplers and the component may include an additional conductive medium connecting the additional couplers. A tubular component in a downhole tool string may have a first end and a second end and electronic equipment disposed in the component. The first end may have a first plurality of inductive couplers, and the component may further have a conductive medium connecting each inductive coupler of the first plurality of inductive couplers and the electronic equipment.

Claims

1. A tubular component in a downhole tool string, comprising:

a first end and a second end;

the first end comprising first and second inductive couplers;

the second end comprising third and fourth inductive couplers;

a first conductive medium connecting the first and third couplers; and

a second conductive medium connecting the second and fourth couplers, wherein the first inductive coupler, the third inductive coupler, and the first conductive medium are electromagnetically independent from the second inductive coupler, the fourth inductive coupler, and the second conductive medium.

2. The component of claim 1 wherein the first and second inductive couplers are located in a secondary shoulder of the first end and the third and fourth inductive couplers are located in a secondary shoulder of the second end.

3. The component of claim 1 wherein the first inductive coupler is located in a primary shoulder of the first end, the second inductive coupler is located in a secondary shoulder of the first end, the third inductive coupler is located in a primary shoulder of the second end and the fourth inductive coupler is located in a secondary shoulder of the second end.

4. The component of claim 1 wherein the inductive couplers comprise a coil disposed in a trough of magnetically conductive material.

5. The component of claim 4 wherein the coils of the first and second inductive couplers are disposed in a trident-shaped magnetically conducting material, and the coils of the third and fourth inductive couplers are disposed in a trident-shaped magnetically conducting material.

6. The component of claim 1 wherein the component further comprises electronic equipment disposed in the component.

7. The component of claim 6 wherein the electronic equipment is selected from the group consisting of network nodes, repeaters, downhole tools, computers, modems, network interface modems, processors, memories, bottom-hole assemblies, seismic sources, seismic receivers, wireless transceivers, motors, turbines, generators, amplifiers, MWD tools, LWD tools, sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, pumps, perforators, other tools with an explosive charge, mud-pulse sirens, switches, routers, multiplexers, piezoelectric devices, magnetostrictive devices, optical transmitters, optical regenerators, optical receivers, optical converters and combinations thereof.

8. The component of claim 1 wherein the first end is adapted to connect to a second end of a similar component and the first and second inductive couplers of the component are aligned with and proximate fifth and sixth inductive couplers of the similar component, respectively.

9. The component of claim 1 wherein the first end further comprises a seventh inductive coupler, the second end further comprises an eighth inductive coupler, and the component further comprises a third conductive medium connecting the seventh and eighth inductive couplers.

10. The component of claim 9 wherein the seventh inductive coupler is located in a tertiary shoulder of the first end and the eighth inductive coupler is located in a tertiary shoulder of the second end.

11. The component of claim 1, wherein the first conductive medium transmits data and the second conductive medium transmits power.

12. A tubular component in a downhole tool string, comprising:

a first end and a second end;

the first end comprising first and second inductive couplers;

electronic equipment disposed in the component; and

first and second conductive medium connecting the first and second inductive couplers respectively to the electronic equipment;

wherein the first and second inductive couplers are electrically isolated from each other.

13. The component of claim 12 wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of rigid pipes, coiled tubing, jars, mud hammers, motors, seismic tools, swivels, well casing, bottom-hole assemblies, shock absorbers, reamers, under-reamers, saver subs, production pipes, and combinations thereof.

14. The component of claim 12 wherein the electronic equipment is selected from the group consisting of network nodes, repeaters, downhole tools, computers, modems, network interface modems, processors, memories, bottom-hole assemblies, seismic sources, seismic receivers, wireless transceivers, motors, turbines, generators, amplifiers, MWD tools, LWD tools, sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, pumps, perforators, other tools with an explosive charge, mud-pulse sirens, switches, routers, multiplexers, piezoelectric devices, magnetostrictive devices, optical transmitters, optical regenerators, optical receivers, optical converters and combinations thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first end comprises more inductive couplers than the second end.

16. The component of claim 12 wherein the inductive couplers are capable of transmitting power.