Downhole power source

• US 7,834,777 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Gold, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr.; Timothy
• Application Number:
  US11/607,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20080128123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 340/855.8, 367/83, 166/66
• US Class Current: 340/855.8
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes

Abstract

A power source for use in a downhole environment. The power source can include a microgenerator, where the microgenerator is comprised of a motive source, a rotor, a stator, and an electrical load. The motive source can be compressed gas, liquid, two-phase fluid, or combustion gases. The rotor may comprise a magnet and the stator may comprise a coil, such that rotating the rotor coaxially proximate to the stator produces electrical current. The electrical load includes any device used in downhole exploration and production that requires electrical energy.

Claims

1. A downhole power source comprising:

a pressurized motive source having pressurized gas stored therein and in communication with a turbine;

a magnetized rotor operatively coupled to the turbine;

a winding in electromagnetic communication with the rotor; and

a load electrically connected to the winding.

2. The downhole power source of claim 1 wherein said pressurized source contains fluid selected from the list consisting of gas, liquid, or a two phase mixture of gas and liquid.

3. The downhole power source of claim 1, wherein said pressurized fluid source comprises a combustion product.

4. The downhole power source of claim 1 further comprising an additional power source.

5. The downhole power source of claim 4, wherein said additional power source is selected from the list consisting of electrical energy supplied via wireline, a battery, a voltaic cell, and a downhole motor.

6. The downhole power source of claim 1, wherein the electrical load is selected from the list consisting of a sensor, a downhole actuator, a sliding sleeve, a packer, a telemetry device, a pump, a transducer, a downhole detonation system, a processor, and a controller.

7. The downhole power source of claim 6, wherein the sensor is selected from the list consisting of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, an optical sensor, an electromagnetic energy sensor or an acoustic sensor.

8. The downhole power source of claim 6, wherein the downhole actuator is selected from the list consisting of a clamping arm and an anchor.

9. The downhole power source of claim 6, wherein the transducer is selected from the list consisting of a piezoelectric device, an electromagnetic acoustic transmitter, a pulsed laser, a flexural resonator, a signal transmitter, and a signal receiver.

10. The downhole power source of claim 6, wherein the load consists of an electrical energy storage device.

11. The downhole power source of claim 10, wherein the electrical energy storage device is selected from the list consisting of a capacitor and a battery.

12. A downhole power source comprising:

a microgenerator;

a pressurized fluid source insertable downhole with the micro generator and in communication with the microgenerator; and

an electrical load in electrical communication with the microgenerator.

13. The downhole power source of claim 12, wherein the microgenerator comprises a rotational activation system, a magnetic member coupled to the rotational activation system, and an alternator in electromagnetic communication with the magnetic member and in electrical contact with a resistive load.

14. The downhole power source of claim 13, wherein the rotational activation system comprises a turbine formed to receive pressurized fluid from a pressurized fluid source.

15. The downhole power source of claim 14, wherein the pressurized fluid source provides a pressurized fluid selected from the list consisting of gas, liquid, a gas and liquid mixture, and a combustion product.

16. The downhole power source of claim 14 wherein the magnetic member comprises an electromagnetic source formed to receive rotational motion upon application of the pressurized fluid to the turbine.

17. The downhole power source of claim 12, wherein the alternator is comprised of an electrically conducting coil having leads connected to the resistive load.

18. The downhole power source of claim 17 further comprising an additional electrically conducting coil having leads connected to the resistive load, wherein each coil conducts electrical energy at differing phases.

19. The downhole power source of claim 12 further comprising an additional power source.

20. The downhole power source of claim 19, wherein said additional power source is selected from the list consisting of electrical energy supplied via wireline, a battery, a voltaic cell, and a downhole motor.

21. The downhole power source of claim 12, wherein the resistive load is selected from the list consisting of a sensor, a downhole actuator, a sliding sleeve, a packer, a telemetry device, a pump, a transducer, a downhole detonation system, a processor, and a controller.

22. The downhole power source of claim 21, wherein the sensor is selected from the list consisting of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a flow sensor.

23. The downhole power source of claim 21, wherein the downhole actuator is selected from the list consisting of a clamping arm and an anchor.

24. The downhole power source of claim 21, wherein the transducer is selected from the list consisting of a piezoelectric device, an electromagnetic acoustic transmitter, a pulsed laser, a flexural resonator, a signal transmitter, and a signal receiver.