Method and apparatus for insulating a resonator downhole

• US 7,647,965 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Powell, Christopher J., Perez, Louis Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gay; Jennifer H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stephenson; Daniel P
• Application Number:
  US11/492,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20070175632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 166/250.01, 166/302, 702/6, 731/521.8, 731/525.5, 731/525.8, 324/324, 324/326, 439/278, 174/31.5
• US Class Current: 166/250.01
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/023 Arrangements for connecting cables or wirelines to downhole devices
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/00 Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/10 using side-wall fluid samplers or testers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 11/16 by measuring damping effect upon oscillatory body
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2009/006 vibrating tube, tuning fork

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for insulating electrical connections to a resonator from fluid downhole under extreme pressure and temperature conditions downhole. The method and apparatus provide a pliable insulator that maintains electrical isolation between resonator electrical connections during exposure to high pressures downhole. The insulator is evacuated or placed in a vacuum prior to curing to remove bubbles from the insulator material. The insulator is then heat cured. The insulator is substantially chemically non reactive so that the insulator maintains electrical isolation between the resonator electrical connections during exposure to fluids downhole. The insulator has a thermal coefficient of expansion in a range so that the insulator maintains electrical isolation between the resonator electrical connections during exposure to high temperatures downhole.

Claims

1. An apparatus for analyzing a fluid comprising:

a resonator having a fixed end attached to an electrical connection and a free vibrating end in physical contract only with the fluid; and

a vacuum cycled insulator material covering only the fixed end of the resonator and the electrical connection wherein the insulator material is exposed to a vacuum to remove bubbles from the insulator material, and wherein the insulator material maintains integrity when exposed to downhole pressure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulator has a thermal coefficient of expansion so that it maintains electrical isolation between the electrical connection and the fluid when exposed to downhole temperature.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the insulator maintains electrical isolation between the electrical connection and the fluid when exposed to over 300 degrees Fahrenheit downhole.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulator is substantially chemically non reactive so that the insulator remains at a substantially constant volume when exposed to the fluid downhole.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the insulator comprises a halogenated elastomer.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the halogenated elastomer is a silicone selected from a set consisting of a fluorinated silicone, chlorinated silicone, brominated silicone, iodinated silicone and astatinated silicone.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a high pressure feed through containing wires connecting the electrical connections to electronics, wherein the insulator has a bulk modulus sufficient to maintain electrical isolation between the wires and the fluid.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulator has a durometer value of less than 50 and a tensile PSI value greater than or equal to 500 so that the insulator attenuates a signal from vibration of the free end of the resonator in the fluid by less than fifty per cent.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a rigid material covering the insulator to strengthen the insulator.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a primer placed between the resonator and the insulator to facilitate adhesion between the resonator and the insulator.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the primer is deformable.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resonator is a flexural piezoelectric resonator.

13. A method for insulating electrical connections to a resonator having a fixed end attached to the electrical connections and a free end in physical contact with only a fluid, the method comprising:

priming the electrical connection;

covering the primed electrical connection attached to the fixed end of the resonator with a pliable insulator material to prevent fatigue under pressure; and

exposing the insulator material to a vacuum to remove bubbles from the insulator material.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein maintaining a volume of the insulator to provide continuous electrical isolation further comprises maintaining electrical isolation between the electrical connection and the fluid while exposing the insulator to downhole temperature.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein continuous electrical isolation between the electrical connection and the fluid further comprises maintaining the insulator at a substantially constant volume when exposed to the fluid downhole.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the insulator comprises a halogenated elastomer selected from a set consisting of a fluorinated silicone, chlorinated silicone, brominated silicone, iodinated silicone and astatinated silicone.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein insulating further comprises insulating a high pressure feed through containing wires connecting electrical connections to electronics, wherein the insulator maintains a bond between the insulator and the feed through to provide continuous electrical isolation between the wires and the fluid.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the insulator attenuates a vibration of the free end of resonator by less than fifty per cent.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

covering the insulator with a rigid material.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

priming the resonator to enhance adhesion between the resonator and the pliable insulator.