DOWNHOLE POWER AND DATA TRANSFER USING RESONATORS

• US 20170167250A1
• Filed: 03/06/2014
• Published: 06/15/2017
• 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: Samson, Etienne, Skinner, Neal Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 9,915,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 downhole system usable with a well string, comprising:

a first resonator positioned on the well string;

a second resonator positioned to couple with the first resonator by an evanescent field, wherein the second resonator comprises a load; and

a metamaterial positioned between the first resonator and the second resonator for amplifying or extending a range of the evanescent field.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first resonator is positioned on a first well string member and the second resonator is positioned on a second well string member.

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

4. The system of claim 2, 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.

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

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

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the metamaterial comprises a conductive material, and wherein the conductive material comprises a periodic array of apertures.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the conductive material further comprises a magnetic material.

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

10. 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.

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

12. A downhole system usable with a well string, comprising:

a metamaterial positioned between resonators, the resonators positioned on the well string for coupling with each other by evanescent fields.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the metamaterial comprises a conductive material, and wherein the conductive material comprises a periodic array of apertures.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the conductive material further comprises a magnetic material.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the metamaterial is included in a plurality of metamaterials, the plurality of metamaterials positioned between the resonators.

16. A method, comprising:

transmitting a first amount of power to a first resonator positioned on a well string;

generating an evanescent field from the first resonator;

amplifying or extending, by a metamaterial, the evanescent field;

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

transmitting a second amount of power from the second resonator to a load.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining a pressure, temperature, inclination, acceleration, orientation, strain, or magnetic field.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting data from the first resonator to the second resonator by modulating the first amount of power.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting data from the second resonator to the first resonator by modulating an impedance of the load.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein transmitting the data further comprises compressing the data.