Wellbore Servicing Tools, Systems and Methods Utilizing Downhole Wireless Switches

• US 20140352981A1
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: FRIPP, Michael Linley, KYLE, Donald, FRIPP, Archibald Linley, WALTON, Zachary William Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,752,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/381
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/1185 Ignition systems
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/05 Electric circuits for blasting

Abstract

A wellbore tool comprising a power supply, an electrical load, a receiving unit configured to passively receive a triggering signal, and a switching system electrically coupled to the power supply, the receiving unit, and the electrical load, wherein the switching system is configured to selectively transition from an inactive state to an active state in response to the triggering signal, from the active state to the active state in response to the triggering signal, or combinations thereof, wherein in the inactive state a circuit is incomplete and any route of electrical current flow between the power supply and the electrical load is disallowed, and wherein in the active state the circuit is complete and at least one route of electrical current flow between the power supply and the electrical load is allowed.

Claims

1. A wellbore tool comprising:

a power supply;

an electrical load;

a receiving unit configured to passively receive a triggering signal; and

a switching system electrically coupled to the power supply, the receiving unit, and the electrical load,

wherein the switching system is configured to selectively transition from an inactive state to an active state in response to the triggering signal, from the active state to the active state in response to the triggering signal, or combinations thereof;

wherein in the inactive state a circuit is incomplete and any route of electrical current flow between the power supply and the electrical load is disallowed; and

wherein in the active state the circuit is complete and at least one route of electrical current flow between the power supply and the electrical load is allowed.

2. The wellbore tool of claim 1, wherein the switching system comprises a rectifier portion configured to convert the triggering signal to a rectified signal.

3. The wellbore tool of claim 2, wherein the switching system comprises a triggering portion and a power switching portion, wherein the triggering portion is configured to activate the power switching portion in response to the rectified signal.

4. The wellbore tool of claim 1, wherein the switching system comprises a triggering portion and a power switching portion, wherein the triggering portion is configured to activate the power switching portion in response to the triggering signal.

5. The wellbore tool of claim 1, wherein the switching system comprises a feedback portion configured to retain the power switching portion in an active state.

6. The wellbore tool of claim 1, wherein the switching system comprises a power disconnection portion configured to deactivate the power switching portion.

7. The wellbore tool of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is an antenna.

8. The wellbore tool of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is a passive transducer.

9. The wellbore tool of claim 1, wherein the electrical load is a microprocessor.

10. The wellbore tool of claim 1, wherein the electrical load is an electronically actuatable valve.

11. The wellbore tool of claim 1, wherein the electrical load is a transmitter system.

12. The wellbore tool of claim 1, wherein the electrical load is a detonator.

13. The wellbore tool of claim 1, wherein the wellbore servicing tool is configured such that upon receiving the triggering signal the receiving unit generates an electrical response effective to activate one or more electrical switches of the switching system to complete one or more circuits and, thereby configure the switching system to allow a route of electrical current flow between the power supply and the electrical load.

14. A wellbore servicing system comprising:

one or more stationary receiving well tools disposed within a wellbore;

wherein the stationary receiving well tools are configured to selectively transition from an inactive state to an active state in response to a triggering signal;

wherein in the inactive state a circuit is incomplete and current flow between the power supply and the electrical load is disallowed; and

wherein in the active state the circuit is complete and electrical current flow between the power supply and the electrical load is allowed; and

a transitory transmitting well tool configured to be communicated through at least a portion of the wellbore, wherein the transitory transmitting well tool is configured to transmit the triggering signal to one or more stationary receiving well tools.

15. The wellbore servicing system of claim 14, wherein the stationary receiving well tools are each configured to transition from the inactive state to the active state in response to the triggering signal.

16. The wellbore servicing system of claim 15, wherein the stationary receiving well tools are each configured to perform one or more wellbore servicing operations in response to transitioning to the active state.

17. A wellbore servicing method comprising:

positioning one or more stationary receiving well tools within a wellbore;

wherein the stationary receiving well tools are each configured to selectively transition from an inactive state to an active state in response to a triggering signal;

wherein in the inactive state a circuit is incomplete and any route of electrical current flow between the power supply and the electrical load is disallowed; and

wherein in the activate state the circuit is complete and at least one route of electrical current flow between the power supply and the electrical load is allowed;

communicating a transitory transmitting well tool through the wellbore such that the transitory transmitting well tool comes into signal communication with at least one of the one or more stationary receiving well tools;

wherein the transitory transmitting well tool communicates with at least one of the one or more stationary receiving well tools via one or more triggering signals; and

sensing the triggering signal to transition one or more stationary receiving well tools to the active state.

18. The wellbore servicing method of claim 17, further comprising performing one or more wellbore servicing operations in response to transitioning to the active state.

19. The wellbore servicing method of claim 17, wherein transitioning from an inactive state to an active state in response to a triggering signal comprises the steps of:

receiving a triggering signal;

converting the triggering signal to a direct current signal and thereby generating a rectified signal; and

applying the rectified signal to a first electronic switch and thereby activating the first electronic switch;

wherein activating the first electronic switch allows a first route of electrical current flow; and

wherein allowing the first route of electrical current flow activates a second electronic switch and thereby allowing a route of electrical current flow between a power supply and an electrical load.

20. The wellbore servicing method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

diverting at least a portion of the current flowing from the power source to the electrical load to generate an electrical voltage;

applying the electrical voltage to a third electronic switch and thereby activating the third electronic switch;

wherein activating the third electronic switch allows a second route of electrical current flow; and

wherein allowing the second route of electrical current flow configures the second electronic switch to remain active.

21. The wellbore servicing method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

applying a voltage signal to a fourth electronic switch and thereby activating the fourth electronic switch;

wherein activating the fourth electronic switch allows a route of electrical current flow; and

wherein allowing the route of electrical current flow deactivates the third electronic switch and thereby disallowing a route of electrical current flow between a power supply and an electrical load.