Flexible antenna assembly for well logging tools
First Claim
1. A well logging tool comprising:
- a tubular member;
at least one antenna assembly flexibly mounted on the tubular member, the antenna assembly including;
a flexible, non-conductive cylindrical core having a first outer surface and a first electrically conductive path positioned on the first outer surface of the core, the first electrically conductive path including a first electromagnetic coil operable to transmit or receive electromagnetic energy; and
a non-conductive layer positioned over the core and the first electromagnetic coil, the non-conductive layer having a second outer surface and a second electrically conductive path positioned on the second outer surface, the second electrically conductive path including a second electromagnetic coil operable to transmit or receive electromagnetic energy;
wherein the flexible, non-conductive cylindrical core, the first electrically conductive path, the non-conductive layer, and the second electrically conductive path are formed using a multi-material 3D printing process; and
electrical circuitry electrically coupled to the at least one antenna assembly to provide electric current to or receive electric current from the first electromagnetic coil and the second electromagnetic coil.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disclosed example embodiment includes an antenna assembly for use in a well logging system. The antenna assembly includes a flexible, non-conductive cylindrical core having an outer surface and an electrically conductive path positioned on the outer surface of the core. The electrically conductive path forms an electromagnetic coil operable to transmit or receive electromagnetic energy. The electrically conductive path is formed on the core without winding a wire around the core using, for example, a removal process selected from the group consisting of milling, machining, etching and laser removal, an additive process selected from the group consisting of printing with conductive and dielectric inks and silk screening with conductive and dielectric epoxies or an integrated material deposition process such as a multi-material 3D printing process. The antenna assembly may be flexible mounted on a tubular member during assembly of a well logging tool.
6 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A well logging tool comprising:
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a tubular member; at least one antenna assembly flexibly mounted on the tubular member, the antenna assembly including; a flexible, non-conductive cylindrical core having a first outer surface and a first electrically conductive path positioned on the first outer surface of the core, the first electrically conductive path including a first electromagnetic coil operable to transmit or receive electromagnetic energy; and a non-conductive layer positioned over the core and the first electromagnetic coil, the non-conductive layer having a second outer surface and a second electrically conductive path positioned on the second outer surface, the second electrically conductive path including a second electromagnetic coil operable to transmit or receive electromagnetic energy; wherein the flexible, non-conductive cylindrical core, the first electrically conductive path, the non-conductive layer, and the second electrically conductive path are formed using a multi-material 3D printing process; and electrical circuitry electrically coupled to the at least one antenna assembly to provide electric current to or receive electric current from the first electromagnetic coil and the second electromagnetic coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of producing an antenna assembly comprising:
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forming a flexible, non-conductive cylindrical core having a first outer surface as part of a multi-material 3D printing process; forming a first electromagnetic coil operable to transmit or receive electromagnetic energy on the first outer surface of the core by disposing a first electrically conductive path on the core as part of the multi-material 3D printing process; forming a non-conductive layer positioned over the core and the first electromagnetic coil as part of the multi-material 3D printing process, the non-conductive layer having a second outer surface; forming a second electromagnetic coil operable to transmit or receive the electromagnetic energy on the second outer surface by disposing a second electrically conductive path on the non-conductive layer as part of the multi-material 3D printing process. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification