Systems and methods for isolating current flow to well loads

• US 8,476,786 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2010
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Shaw, Joel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• Application Number:
  US12/819,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20110309678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 307/31
• US Class Current: 307/31
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/003 with electrically conducting or insulating means E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/066 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/08 Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/096 the power supply of the control circuit being connected in parallel to the main switching element H02M1/092 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling power distribution among various electrical loads disposed in a bore are described. Control modules that are associated with loads such that each load is associated with at least one control module. Each control module includes circuitry that can respond to a voltage at a level that is above a threshold by allowing current to flow to its associated load, and that can prevent current from flowing to its associated load when a voltage level at another load, instead of the associated load, is above a threshold. The loads and control modules can be located in various zones in the wellbore.

Claims

1. A system for coupling to conducting paths that include a sheath conducting path, a first conducting path, a second conducting path, and a third conducting path, the system comprising:

a first control module configured for coupling to the first conducting path and for being in electrical series with a first well load coupled to the second conducting path;

a second control module configured for coupling to the second conducting path and for being in electrical series with a second well load coupled to the first conducting path;

a third control module configured for coupling to the first conducting path and for being in electrical series with a third well load coupled to the third conducting path; and

a fourth control module configured for coupling to the first conducting path and for being in electrical series with a fourth well load coupled to the sheath conducting path,

wherein the second control module, third control module, and fourth control module prevent leak current from flowing to the second well load, third well load, and fourth well load, respectively, when the first control module allows current to flow to the first well load.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first control module, the second control module, the third control module, and the fourth control module comprises a thyristor having a gate.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the gate is coupled to a resistor network, the thyristor being configured to allow current to flow to a well load associated with the respective control module when a voltage that is above the threshold is applied to the gate.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the gate is disconnected from other circuitry,

wherein the threshold corresponds to a breakdown voltage of the thyristor.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the thyristor comprises at least one of:

a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR);

a diode for alternating current (DIAC);

a four layer diode with a disconnected gate;

or

a triode for alternating current (TRIAC).

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein, in response to the first conducting path being coupled to a power source, second conducting path being coupled to ground, and the third conducting path and the sheath conducting path being allowed to flow, the first control module is configured to allow current to flow to the first well load and the second control module, the third control module, and the fourth control module are configured to prevent current from flowing to the second well load, the third well load, and the fourth well load.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sheath conducting path is a sheath that encapsulates the first conducting path, the second conducting path, and the third conducting path.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is located in a bore that includes zones defined therein by isolation packers, the well loads being disposed among the zones.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first control module comprises a first thyristor and a second thyristor that is biased in an opposite direction than the first thyristor, the first thyristor being configured to allow current flowing in a first direction to flow to the first well load, the second thyristor being configured to allow current flowing in a second direction to flow to the first well load.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first well load is a motor, the second well load is a solenoid actuated valve, the third well load is a pump, and the fourth well load is a gauge.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sheath conducting path is a grounded conducting path and the second conducting path and the third conducting path are floating conducting paths.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a fifth control module configured for coupling to the third conducting path and for being in electrical series with a fifth well load coupled to the first conducting path;

a sixth control module configured for coupling to the second conducting path and for being in electrical series with a sixth well load coupled to the third conducting path;

a seventh control module configured for coupling to third conducting path and for being in electrical series with a seventh well load coupled to the second conducting path;

an eighth control module configured for coupling to the sheath conducting path and for being in electrical series with an eighth well load coupled to the first conducting path;

a ninth control module configured for coupling to the second conducting path and for being in electrical series with a ninth well load coupled to the sheath conducting path;

a tenth control module configured for coupling to the sheath conducting path and for being in electrical series with a tenth well load coupled to the second conducting path;

an eleventh control module configured for coupling to the third conducting path and for being in electrical series with an eleventh well load coupled to the sheath conducting path; and

a twelfth control module configured for coupled to the sheath conducting path and for being in electrical series with a twelfth well load coupled to the third conducting path.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the fifth control module, the sixth control module, the seventh control module, the eighth control module, the ninth control module, the tenth control module, the eleventh control module, and the twelve control module prevent leak current from flowing to the fifth well load, the sixth well load, the seventh well load, the eighth well load, the ninth well load, the tenth well load, the eleventh well load, and the twelve well load, respectively, when the first control module allows current to flow to the first well load.

14. A method, comprising:

allowing current to flow to a first well load in a wellbore by a first control module coupled to a first conducting path and in electrical series with the first well load that is coupled to a second conducting path; and

substantially simultaneous to the first control module allowing current to flow to the first well load,

preventing leak current from flowing to a second well load in the wellbore by a second control module coupled to the second conducting path and in electrical series with the second well load that is coupled to the first conducting path;

preventing leak current from flowing to a third well load in the wellbore by a third control module coupled to the first conducting path and in electrical series with the third well load that is coupled to a third conducting path; and

preventing leak current from flowing to a fourth well load in the wellbore by a fourth control module coupled to the first conducting path and in electrical series with the fourth well load that is coupled to a sheath conducting path.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the sheath conducting path is formed by a sheath that encapsulates the first conducting path, the second conducting path, and the third conducting path.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first well load, the second well load, the third well load, and the sheath well load are disposed among wellbore zones that are defined by isolation packers.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first well load is a motor, the second well load is a solenoid actuated valve, the third well load is a pump, and the fourth well load is a gauge.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

substantially simultaneous to the first control module allowing current to flow to the first well load,

preventing leak current from flowing to a fifth well load in the wellbore by a fifth control module coupled to the third conducting path and in electrical series with the fifth well load that is coupled to the first conducting path;

preventing leak current from flowing to a sixth well load in the wellbore by a sixth control module coupled to the second conducting path and in electrical series with the sixth well load that is coupled to the third conducting path;

preventing leak current from flowing to a seventh well load in the wellbore by a seventh control module coupled to the third conducting path and in electrical series with the seventh well load that is coupled to the second conducting path;

preventing leak current from flowing to an eighth well load in the wellbore by an eighth control module coupled to the sheath conducting path and in electrical series with the eighth well load that is coupled to the first conducting path;

preventing leak current from flowing to a ninth well load in the wellbore by a ninth control module coupled to the second conducting path and in electrical series with the ninth well load that is coupled to the sheath conducting path;

preventing leak current from flowing to a tenth well load in the wellbore by a tenth control module coupled to the sheath conducting path and in electrical series with the tenth well load that is coupled to the second conducting path;

preventing leak current from flowing to an eleventh well load in the wellbore by an eleventh control module coupled to the third conducting path and in electrical series with the eleventh well load that is coupled to the sheath conducting path; and

preventing leak current from flowing to a twelfth well load in the wellbore by a twelfth control module coupled to the sheath conducting path and in electrical series with the twelfth well load that is coupled to the third conducting path.