Downhole power and data transfer using resonators

• US 9,915,145 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2014
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Skinner, Neal Gregory, Samson, Etienne
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Quan-Zhen
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURGDORF, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US15/038,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20170167250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 367 82
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/16 through the drill string or casing , e.g. by torsional acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A downhole system usable with a well string is provided that can include a first resonator positioned on the well string. The system can also include a second resonator positioned to couple with the first resonator by an evanescent field. The second resonator can include a load. Further, the system can include a metamaterial positioned between the first resonator and the second resonator for amplifying or extending a range of the evanescent field.

Claims

1. A system for use with a well string, the system comprising:

a first resonator positioned coaxially about a longitudinal axis of a first well string member for generating an evanescent field at a particular frequency in response to receiving a signal at the particular frequency;

a second resonator positioned coaxially about a longitudinal axis of a second well string member and entirely below or entirely above the first resonator, the second resonator having a first resonance frequency and being positioned to couple with the evanescent field in response to the particular frequency being the first resonance frequency, wherein the second resonator comprises a first load;

a third resonator having a second resonance frequency that is different from the first resonance frequency and being positioned to couple with the evanescent field in response to the particular frequency being the second resonance frequency, wherein the third resonator comprises a second load; and

a metamaterial positioned between the first resonator and at least one of the second resonator or the third resonator, wherein the metamaterial is for amplifying or extending a range of the evanescent field, wherein the metamaterial comprises a conductive material having a periodic array of apertures.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first well string member is above a wellbore and the second well string member is in the wellbore.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first well string member is inside the second well string member, and wherein the first resonator comprises a first wire loop positioned around a first circumference of the first well string member and the second resonator comprises a second wire loop positioned around a second circumference of the second well string member.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first load comprises an impedance that is variable.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first load comprises a sensor, an actuator, or a motor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the conductive material further comprises a magnetic material.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the metamaterial is positioned halfway between the first resonator and the second resonator.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the metamaterial is included in a plurality of metamaterials, the plurality of metamaterials positioned between the first resonator and the second resonator.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the metamaterial is positioned on a well string member.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first load includes a motor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises optical pulses at the particular frequency.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a first resonator positioned coaxially about a longitudinal axis of a first well string member, a first signal at a first frequency;

generating, by the first resonator, a first evanescent field at the first frequency;

amplifying or extending, by a metamaterial, the first evanescent field, wherein the metamaterial comprises a conductive material having a periodic array of apertures;

coupling, by a second resonator positioned coaxially about a longitudinal axis of a second well string member and entirely below or entirely above the first resonator, with the first evanescent field at the first frequency;

transmitting, by the second resonator, a first amount of power to a first load;

receiving, by the first resonator, a second signal at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency;

generating, by the first resonator, a second evanescent field at the second frequency;

coupling, by a third resonator, with the second evanescent field at the second frequency; and

transmitting, by the third resonator, a second amount of power to a second load.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first load is a sensor, and further comprising the sensor determining a pressure, temperature, inclination, acceleration, orientation, strain, or magnetic field in response to receiving the first amount of power.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first signal is modulated for transmitting data from the first resonator to the second resonator.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting data from the second resonator to the first resonator by modulating an impedance of the first load.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the data further comprises compressing the data.