Downhole electrical energy conversion and generation

• US 9,187,983 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2011
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Guerrero, Julio C., Lang, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Gay, Jennifer H
• Assistant Examiner(s): MacDonald, Steven
• Application Number:
  US13/290,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20130112401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 166/65.1, 166/305.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes

Abstract

A procedure and device for electric energy generation from electrochemical use of substances for powering downhole devices and a procedure and device for electric energy generation from nuclear decay for powering downhole devices. The types of devices being powered are untethered or otherwise cannot benefit from direct power transmission from the surface.

Claims

1. A system for converting electrochemical energy to electrical energy downhole comprising:

an acidic fluid delivered downhole as part of a downhole wellbore treatment;

a first electrode;

a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being adapted and arranged to be deployed downhole and to form an anode and a cathode respectively upon exposure to the acidic fluid in a downhole environment, thereby generating electrical energy;

a downhole device adapted and arranged to be energized by the generated electrical energy while in the downhole environment; and

wherein the downhole device is arranged such that it is located between the first and second electrodes and is untethered with the surface such that electrical power from the surface is unavailable to the downhole device.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the downhole device is less than about 1 mm in size.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the downhole device is a sensor or a burrowing device.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the downhole device is adapted to be deployed within a subterranean hydrocarbon formation.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the downhole device is associated with a completion.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the downhole device is a sensor or a flow control valve.

7. A method for converting electrochemical energy to electrical energy downhole comprising:

introducing an apparatus into a downhole environment, the apparatus comprising a first electrode, a second electrode and a downhole device;

exposing the first electrode and the second electrode to an acidic fluid in the downhole environment thereby causing the first and second electrodes to form an anode and a cathode respectively, thereby generating electrical energy;

energizing the downhole device using the generated electrical energy; and

wherein the downhole device is arranged such that it is located between the first and second electrodes and the apparatus is untethered with the surface such that electrical power from the surface is unavailable to the downhole device.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the downhole environment is the environment of a hydrocarbon wellbore.

9. A method according to claim 7 further comprising pumping the acidic fluid through a borehole as part of a treatment service for the borehole.

10. A method according to claim 7 wherein the downhole device is less than about 1 mm in size.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the device is a sensor or a burrowing device that is adapted to be deployed within a subterranean rock formation.