Measurement of downhole component stress and surface conditions
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring strain on a downhole component, comprising:
- at least one strain gauge deposited on a surface of the downhole component of a downhole drilling assembly or disposed within a material forming the downhole component, the strain gauge including a plurality of conductive traces connected in parallel; and
a processor in operable communication with the at least one strain gauge, the processor configured to detect changes in the at least one strain gauge in response to conditions of the surface of the downhole component, the conditions of the surface including the formation of a crack or surface discontinuity, the processor configured to estimate the formation and extent of the crack or the surface discontinuity based on a number of conductive traces disrupted by the crack or the surface discontinuity.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring strain on a downhole component includes: at least one strain sensitive device disposed proximate to a surface of a component of a drilling assembly or disposed within a material forming the component; and a processor in operable communication with the at least one strain sensitive device, the processor configured to detect changes in the at least one strain sensitive device and detect at least one of erosion, crack formation and crack propagation in the component surface. An apparatus for measuring strain on a downhole component includes: at least one strain gauge deposited on a surface of a drive shaft or disposed within a material forming the drive shaft; and a processor in operable communication with the at least one strain gauge, the processor configured to detect changes in the at least one strain gauge and detect conditions affecting operation of the drive shaft.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring strain on a downhole component, comprising:
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at least one strain gauge deposited on a surface of the downhole component of a downhole drilling assembly or disposed within a material forming the downhole component, the strain gauge including a plurality of conductive traces connected in parallel; and a processor in operable communication with the at least one strain gauge, the processor configured to detect changes in the at least one strain gauge in response to conditions of the surface of the downhole component, the conditions of the surface including the formation of a crack or surface discontinuity, the processor configured to estimate the formation and extent of the crack or the surface discontinuity based on a number of conductive traces disrupted by the crack or the surface discontinuity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for measuring strain on a downhole component, comprising:
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at least one strain gauge deposited on a surface of a downhole component of a downhole drilling assembly or disposed within a material forming the downhole component, the at least one strain gauge including an insulating layer disposed between the at least one strain gauge and the downhole component, the insulating layer made from a material that is at least as brittle as the material forming the downhole component when in an operating environment; and a processor in operable communication with the at least one strain gauge, the processor configured to detect changes in the at least one strain gauge in response to conditions of the surface of the downhole component, the conditions of the surface including the formation of a crack or surface discontinuity. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An apparatus for measuring strain on a downhole component, comprising:
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at least one strain gauge deposited on a surface of a downhole component of a downhole drilling assembly or disposed within a material forming the downhole component; and a processor in operable communication with the at least one strain gauge, the processor configured to detect changes in the at least one strain gauge in response to conditions of the surface of the downhole component, the conditions of the surface including the formation of a crack or surface discontinuity, the changes including a change in acoustic wave transmission occurring in the downhole component due to surface modifications caused by the at least one of the crack formation in the downhole component and crack propagation in the downhole component.
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Specification