Downhole electrical connection

• US 7,537,053 B1
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: NovaDrill, Inc. (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Wilde, Tyson J., Hall, David R., Dahlgren, Scott, Marshall, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): WRIGHT, GIOVANNA COLLINS
• Application Number:
  US12/021,743
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 166/65.1, 166/242.6, 340/853.7, 340/853.4, 340/854.5
• US Class Current: 166/242.6
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention, a downhole power generation assembly has a downhole tool string component comprising a bore. A collar is rotatably supported within the bore and has a centralized fluid passageway and a plurality of turbine blades. The collar is connected to a power generation element such that rotation of the collar moves the power generation element and induces an electrical current.

Claims

1. A double shoulder downhole tool connection, comprising:

box and pin ends having mating threads intermediate mating primary and secondary shoulders;

the secondary shoulder of the box end being in an insert retained in the box end and being intermediate a floating component and the secondary shoulder of the pin end; and

an electrical transmission cable passing through the inserted secondary shoulder of the box end;

wherein the cable comprises a bend at an interface between the inserted secondary shoulder and the floating element.

2. The connection of claim 1, wherein the electrical transmission cable is a coaxial cable, a triaxle cable, a pair of twisted wires, or a combination thereof.

3. The connection of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises a plurality of bends at the interface.

4. The connection of claim 1, wherein the bend is between 50 and 93 degrees.

5. The connection of claim 1, wherein the bend is an S-shaped bend.

6. The connection of claim 1, wherein the bend is adapted to accommodate rotation with respect to the floating element and the inserted secondary shoulder.

7. The connection of claim 1, wherein the cable is disposed in a notch formed in the floating element or the inserted secondary shoulder proximate the bend.

8. The connection of claim 7, wherein the notch is U-shaped or V-shaped.

9. The connection of claim 1, wherein the floating element comprises at least one electrical device.

10. The connection of claim 1, wherein the floating element comprises a portion of a downhole generator.

11. The connection of claim 1, wherein the downhole generator is connected to fluid driven turbine disposed within a bore of a downhole component which comprises the tool connection.

12. The connection of claim 11, wherein the downhole generator comprises a collar with a centralized fluid passageway.

13. The connection of claim 12, wherein the collar comprises fluid engaging blades on its outer diameter.

14. The connection of claim 12, wherein the collar comprises fluid engaging blades within the centralized fluid passageway.

15. The connection of claim 1, wherein the cable is part of a transmission system adapted to transmit a signal from a first end of the downhole tool to the other end.

16. The connection of claim 1, wherein the secondary shoulders each comprises a signal coupler disposed within the groove such that when the threads are fully mated the signal couplers are brought into at least proximity of each other such that a signal couplers are in magnetic communication with each other.

17. The connection of claim 1, wherein the signal couplers comprises a coil disposed within a magnetically conducting groove.