Downhole power generation
First Claim
1. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus comprising first and second fluid receiving chambers separated by a dividing wall, wherein an opening in the dividing wall acts as a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber, and wherein a turbine generator and valve provided to control fluid flow from the first fluid receiving chamber to the second fluid receiving chamber are disposed in the region of the opening so that, upon opening the valve, fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power, the apparatus further comprising a third fluid receiving chamber, a piston which is moveable to reduce the volume of the first chamber for driving fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber and a second piston which is moveable under action of ambient pressure to reduce the volume of the third fluid receiving chamber and is lockable via a locking arrangement against such movement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Downhole electrical power generation apparatus and methods of using stored pressurized gas and/or ambient downhole pressure. One example comprises first and second fluid receiving chambers, a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber and a turbine generator disposed so that fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communications path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power.
30 Citations
29 Claims
- 1. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus comprising first and second fluid receiving chambers separated by a dividing wall, wherein an opening in the dividing wall acts as a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber, and wherein a turbine generator and valve provided to control fluid flow from the first fluid receiving chamber to the second fluid receiving chamber are disposed in the region of the opening so that, upon opening the valve, fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power, the apparatus further comprising a third fluid receiving chamber, a piston which is moveable to reduce the volume of the first chamber for driving fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber and a second piston which is moveable under action of ambient pressure to reduce the volume of the third fluid receiving chamber and is lockable via a locking arrangement against such movement.
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11. A downhole communication system comprising:
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communication apparatus comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver; and downhole electrical power generation apparatus comprising first and second fluid receiving chambers separated by a dividing wall, wherein an opening in the dividing wall acts as a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber, and wherein a turbine generator and valve provided to control fluid flow from the first fluid receiving chamber to the second fluid receiving chamber are disposed in the region of the opening so that, upon opening the valve, fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power for supply to the communication apparatus, the downhole electrical power generation apparatus further comprising a third fluid receiving chamber, a piston which is moveable to reduce the volume of the first chamber for driving fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber and a second piston which is moveable under action of ambient pressure to reduce the volume of the third fluid receiving chamber and is lockable via a locking arrangement against such movement. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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14. A method of downhole electrical power generation using downhole electrical power generation apparatus comprising first and second fluid receiving chambers separated by a dividing wall, wherein an opening in the dividing wall acts as a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber, and wherein a turbine generator and valve provided to control fluid flow from the first fluid receiving chamber to the second fluid receiving chamber are disposed in the region of the opening so that, upon opening the valve, fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power, the apparatus further comprising a third fluid receiving chamber, a piston which is moveable to reduce the volume of the first chamber for driving fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber and a second piston which is moveable under action of ambient pressure to reduce the volume of the third fluid receiving chamber and is lockable via a locking arrangement against such movement, the method comprising a step of pressurizing the third fluid receiving chamber using ambient pressure and in turn using the pressure in the third fluid receiving chamber to cause the flow of fluid from the first fluid receiving chamber to the second fluid receiving chamber.
- 15. Downhole electrical power generation apparatus comprising first and second fluid receiving chambers separated by a dividing wall, wherein an opening in the dividing wall acts as a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber, and wherein a turbine generator and valve provided to control fluid flow from the first fluid receiving chamber to the second fluid receiving chamber are disposed in the region of the opening so that, upon opening the valve, fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power, the apparatus further comprising a piston which is moveable to reduce the volume of the first chamber for driving fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber, a third fluid receiving chamber, and a non-return valve for allowing ingress of fluid into the third fluid receiving chamber from the exterior of the apparatus, wherein the third fluid receiving chamber has one end defined by the piston and is arranged to store a pressurized gas.
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22. A downhole communication system comprising:
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communication apparatus comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver; and downhole electrical power generation apparatus comprising first and second fluid receiving chambers separated by a dividing wall, wherein an opening in the dividing wall acts as a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber, and wherein a turbine generator and valve provided to control fluid flow from the first fluid receiving chamber to the second fluid receiving chamber are disposed in the region of the opening so that, upon opening the valve, fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power for supply to the communication apparatus, the downhole electrical power generation apparatus further comprising a piston which is moveable to reduce the volume of the first chamber for driving fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber, a third fluid receiving chamber, and a non-return valve for allowing ingress of fluid into the third fluid receiving chamber from the exterior of the apparatus, wherein the third fluid receiving chamber has one end defined by the piston and is arranged to store a pressurized gas. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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- 26. A method of downhole electrical power generation comprising the steps of using energy stored in a stored pressurized gas to cause flow of fluid from a first fluid receiving chamber via a fluid communication path to a second fluid receiving chamber, the first fluid receiving chamber and second fluid receiving chamber separated by a dividing wall, wherein an opening in the dividing wall acts as the fluid communication path, and upon opening a valve disposed in the region of the opening, flow of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber is used to operate a turbine generator disposed also in the region of the opening to generate electrical power, wherein the stored pressurized gas is stored in a third fluid receiving chamber and the method comprises the step of supplying pressurized gas into the third fluid receiving chamber.
Specification