Wellbore servicing tools, systems and methods utilizing downhole wireless switches

• US 9,752,414 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• 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, Jr., Zachary William
• Primary Examiner(s): Andrews, David
• Application Number:
  US13/907,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20140352981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• 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 using a device not electrically coupled to a source of electrical power and to convert the triggering signal to an electrical response; and

a signal conditioning filter electrically coupled to the receiving unit, wherein the signal conditioning filter removes signals received by the receiving unit having a frequency outside of a determined frequency range;

a switching system comprising a first electronic switch, a second electronic switch and a third electronic switch, wherein the switching system is electrically coupled to the power supply and the electrical load, wherein the switching system is communicatively coupled to the receiving unit, and wherein the switching system receives the electrical response from the receiving unit;

wherein the switching system is configured to activate the first electronic switch using the electrical response to permit a first electrical current flow and to selectively transition from an inactive state to an active state in response to activating the first electronic switch, from the active state to the inactive state in response to activating the first electronic switch, or combinations thereof, wherein the switching system is configured to activate the second electronic switch using the first electrical current flow to permit a second current flow between the power supply and the electrical load, and wherein a portion of the second current flow is diverted to generate a first voltage, wherein the third electronic switch is activated using the first voltage to permit a third electrical current flow that maintains the second electronic switch in an activated state;

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 rectify the electrical response.

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 activation of the first electronic switch using the rectified electrical response.

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 activation of the first electronic switch.

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

6. The wellbore tool of claim 1, wherein the switching system comprises a power switching portion configured to transition between an active power switching state and an inactive power switching state and wherein the switching system comprises a power disconnection portion configured to transition the power switching portion from the active power switching state to the inactive power switching state.

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

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

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

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

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

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

13. A wellbore servicing system comprising:

a stationary receiving well tool disposed within a wellbore comprising a power supply, an electrical load, and a circuit for connecting the power supply to the electrical load, and a first electronic switch, a second electronic switch and a third electronic switch coupled to the circuit;

wherein the stationary receiving well tool comprises a receiver system, wherein the receiver system comprises a receiving unit, wherein the receiving unit is configured to passively receive a triggering signal using a device not electrically coupled to a source of electrical power, to convert the triggering signal to an electrical response, and to activate the first electronic switch using the electrical response to permit a first electrical current flow and to activate the second electronic switch using the first electrical current flow to permit a second current flow, wherein a portion of the second current flow is diverted to generate a first voltage, wherein a third electronic switch is activated using the first voltage to permit a third electrical current flow that maintains the second electronic switch in an activated state, and wherein the receiving unit is electrically coupled to a signal conditioning filter, and wherein the signal conditioning filter removes signals received by the receiving unit having a frequency outside of a determined frequency range;

wherein the stationary receiving well tool is configured to selectively transition from an inactive state to an active state in response to activating the electronic switch, from the active state to the inactive state in response to activating the electronic switch, or combinations thereof;

wherein in the inactive state the 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 the stationary receiving well tool.

14. The wellbore servicing system of claim 13, wherein the stationary receiving well tool is configured to perform one or more wellbore servicing operations in response to transitioning to the active state.

15. A wellbore servicing method comprising:

positioning a stationary receiving well tool within a wellbore, the stationary receiving well tool comprising a receiving unit, a power supply, an electrical load, a circuit for connecting the power supply to the electrical load, and a first electronic switch electrically coupled to the circuit;

communicating a transitory transmitting well tool through the wellbore such that the transitory transmitting well tool comes into signal communication with the stationary receiving well tool;

transmitting a triggering signal from the transitory transmitting well tool to the stationary receiving well tool;

passively receiving the triggering signal by the receiving unit using a device not electrically coupled to a source of electrical power;

converting the triggering signal to an electrical response, wherein a signal conditioning filter electrically coupled to the receiving unit removes signals received by the receiving unit having a frequency outside of a determined frequency range;

activating the first electronic switch using the electrical response;

transitioning the stationary receiving well tool from an inactive state to an active state in response to activating the first electronic switch, from the active state to the inactive state in response to activating the first electronic switch, or combinations thereof;

wherein in the inactive state the 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;

rectifying the electrical response, wherein the first electronic switch is activated using the rectified electrical response and wherein activating the first electronic switch permits a first electrical current flow;

activating a second electronic switch using the first electrical current flow, wherein activating the second electronic switch permits a second current flow between the power supply and the electrical load;

diverting at least a portion of the second current flow to generate a first voltage;

activating a third electronic switch by applying the first voltage to the third electronic switch, wherein activating the third electronic switch permits a third current flow; and

maintaining the second electronic switch in an activated state using the third current flow.

16. The wellbore servicing method of claim 15, further comprising performing one or more wellbore servicing operations in response to transitioning to the active state.

17. The wellbore servicing method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

activating a fourth electronic switch by applying a second voltage to the fourth electronic switch;

wherein activating the fourth electronic switch permits a fourth current flow that deactivates the third electronic switch.