Switching device for, and a method of switching, a downhole tool
First Claim
1. A downhole tool switching system comprising:
- an electronic switch assembly housed within a downhole tool, the electronic switch assembly comprising an electronics module, a power source, and a wireless signal receiver device configured to receive a wireless signal, the electronic switch assembly comprising a closed electrical system with no external electrical connections,and wherein the switching system includes an activator for remote switching of the electronic switch assembly, the activator comprising a surface activator having a wireless and contactless activation mechanism adapted to switch the electronic switch assembly between inactive and active configurations at a surface of a well without physical connection between the electronic switch and the activator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The switching device comprises an electronic switch embedded within a downhole tool (100) and an activator for remote switching of the electronic switch. The activator may be a handheld unit that is used at the surface of the wellbore by an operator or may be a wireline run unit. The activator permits wireless and contactless activation of the electronic switch without the need for mechanical switches which could provide a point of failure for the downhole tool. The electronic switch comprises an electronics module and a power source such as one or more batteries wherein in the active configuration, the switch can allow electrical connection between the electronics module and the power source and in the inactive configuration, the switch prevents electrical connection between the electronics module and the power source.
152 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A downhole tool switching system comprising:
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an electronic switch assembly housed within a downhole tool, the electronic switch assembly comprising an electronics module, a power source, and a wireless signal receiver device configured to receive a wireless signal, the electronic switch assembly comprising a closed electrical system with no external electrical connections, and wherein the switching system includes an activator for remote switching of the electronic switch assembly, the activator comprising a surface activator having a wireless and contactless activation mechanism adapted to switch the electronic switch assembly between inactive and active configurations at a surface of a well without physical connection between the electronic switch and the activator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A downhole tool assembly comprising:
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an electronic switch assembly accommodated within a downhole tool, the electronic switch assembly comprising a closed electrical system with no external electrical connections; and an activator for remote switching of the electronic switch assembly, the activator comprising a surface activator having a wireless and contactless activation mechanism to activate the electronic switch assembly at a surface of a well without physical connection between the electronic switch assembly and the activator. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A downhole tool assembly comprising:
an electronic switch assembly accommodated within a downhole tool, and an activator for remote switching of the electronic switch assembly, the activator comprising a surface activator having a wireless and contactless activation mechanism to activate the electronic switch assembly at a surface of a well without physical connection between the electronic switch assembly and the activator.
Specification