Environmentally powered transmitter for location identification of wellbores
First Claim
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1. A method of performing an operation in a wellbore, comprising:
- disposing a device in a downhole environment of the wellbore;
harvesting energy from an energy source in the downhole environment by coupling a first electrode to a first formation layer having a first electrochemical potential and coupling a second electrode to a second formation layer having a second electrochemical potential different from the first electrochemical potential to obtain a current; and
using the harvested energy to power the device in the wellbore to perform the operation.
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Abstract
A method, apparatus and system for performing an operation in a borehole is disclosed. A device is disposed in a downhole environment of the borehole to perform the downhole operation. An energy harvesting unit coupled to the device harvests energy from an energy source in a downhole environment of the device and provides the harvested energy to the device to perform the downhole operation.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of performing an operation in a wellbore, comprising:
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disposing a device in a downhole environment of the wellbore; harvesting energy from an energy source in the downhole environment by coupling a first electrode to a first formation layer having a first electrochemical potential and coupling a second electrode to a second formation layer having a second electrochemical potential different from the first electrochemical potential to obtain a current; and using the harvested energy to power the device in the wellbore to perform the operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of performing an operation in a wellbore, comprising:
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disposing a device in a downhole environment of the wellbore; harvesting energy from an energy source in the downhole environment by obtaining an electric current in response to radiation received from a formation; and using the harvested energy to power the device in the wellbore to perform the operation. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A method of performing an operation in a wellbore, comprising:
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disposing a device in a downhole environment of the wellbore; harvesting energy from an energy source in the downhole environment by inducing an electric current in response to an electromagnetic field resulting from at least one of;
(i) a cathodic protection operation for a casing in the wellbore; and
(ii) operation of an electrical instrument in the wellbore; andusing the harvested energy to power the device in the wellbore to perform the operation. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for performing a downhole operation, comprising:
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a device disposed downhole configured to perform the downhole operation; and an energy harvesting unit coupled to the device configured to harvest energy from an energy source in a downhole environment of the device and to provide the harvested energy to the device to perform the downhole operation, wherein the energy harvesting unit further comprises a first electrode configured to couple to a first formation layer having a first electrochemical potential and a second electrode configured to couple to a second formation layer having a second electrochemical potential different from the first electrochemical potential to obtain a current at the energy harvesting unit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for performing a downhole operation, comprising:
a device disposed downhole configured to perform the downhole operation; and
an energy harvesting unit coupled to the device configured to harvest energy from an energy source in a downhole environment of the device and to provide the harvested energy to the device to perform the downhole operation, wherein the energy harvesting unit further comprises a detector configured to receive radiation from a formation and produce an electric current in response to the received radiation.- View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for performing a downhole operation, comprising:
a device disposed downhole configured to perform the downhole operation; and
an energy harvesting unit coupled to the device configured to harvest energy from an energy source in a downhole environment of the device and to provide the harvested energy to the device to perform the downhole operation, wherein the energy harvesting unit further comprises an induction coil configured to produce an electric current induced by an electromagnetic field resulting from at least one of;
(i) a cathodic protection operation for a casing in the wellbore; and
(ii) operation of an electrical instrument in the wellbore.- View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A completion system, comprising:
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a casing disposed in a wellbore; a device disposed in the wellbore proximate the casing configured to perform a downhole operation; and an energy harvesting unit disposed in the well bore coupled to the device configured to harvest energy from an energy source in a downhole environment of the device and to provide the harvested energy to the device to perform the downhole operation, wherein the energy harvesting unit further comprises a first electrode configured to couple to a first formation layer having a first electrochemical potential and a second electrode configured to couple to a second formation layer having a second electrochemical potential different from the first electrochemical potential to obtain a current at the energy harvesting unit. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A completion system, comprising:
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a casing disposed in a wellbore; a device disposed in the wellbore proximate the casing configured to perform a downhole operation; and an energy harvesting unit disposed in the wellbore coupled to the device configured to harvest energy from an energy source in a downhole environment of the device and to provide the harvested energy to the device to perform the downhole operation, wherein the energy harvesting unit further comprises a detector configured to receive radiation from a formation and produce an electric current in response to the received radiation. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A completion system, comprising:
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a casing disposed in a wellbore; a device disposed in the wellbore proximate the casing configured to perform a downhole operation; and an energy harvesting unit disposed in the wellbore coupled to the device configured to harvest energy from an energy source in a downhole environment of the device and to provide the harvested energy to the device to perform the downhole operation, wherein the energy harvesting unit further comprises an induction coil configured to produce an electric current induced by an electromagnetic field resulting from at least one of;
(i) a cathodic protection operation for a casing in the wellbore; and
(ii) operation of an electrical instrument in the wellbore. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification