# US 11,078,780 B2 · Systems and methods for actuating downhole devices and enabling drilling workflows from the surface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,780 B2 - Document ID: US11078780B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/720,159 - Filed: 2019-12-19 - Published: 2021-06-24 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-19 - Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Inventors: Chinthaka Pasan Gooneratne; Jothibasu Ramasamy; Bodong Li; Mohammad Saud Al-Badran; Timothy Eric Moellendick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078780B2 ## CPC - E21B 34/066: {electrically actuated} - E21B 47/13: by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency - E21B 33/1208: {characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means (E21B33/1277 takes precedence)} - E21B 33/122: Multiple string packers - E21B 41/0085: {Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes} - G08C 25/04: by recording transmitted signals - H02N 2/18: producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators (for measurement devices G01) - H10N 30/30: with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors - H10N 35/101: {with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. generators, sensors} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Systems and methods for actuation of downhole devices are disclosed. The system includes a first cylindrical pipe having one or more first materials attached to an outer surface of the first cylindrical pipe, a second cylindrical pipe co-axial with the first cylindrical pipe and having a diameter greater than the first cylindrical pipe, the second cylindrical pipe comprising one or more second materials disposed on an inner surface of the second cylindrical pipe, wherein the first materials generate one or more signals when the first materials come in contact with the second materials, and a digital logic circuit configured to receive the one or more signals as input, and generate an output based on the input, the output configured for actuation of the downhole devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for actuation of downhole devices, the system comprising: a first cylindrical pipe having one or more first materials attached to an outer surface of the first cylindrical pipe; a second cylindrical pipe co-axial with the first cylindrical pipe and having a diameter greater than the first cylindrical pipe, the second cylindrical pipe comprising one or more second materials disposed on an inner surface of the second cylindrical pipe, wherein the one or more first materials generate one or more signals when the one or more first materials come in contact with the one or more second materials, wherein the one or more first materials and the one or more second materials are of opposite polarity, and comprise a material that causes static electricity; and one or more downhole devices placed along a drill string inside a well for being activated, deactivated, or configured by the system for actuation of downhole devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a digital logic circuit configured to receive the one or more signals as input, and generate an output based on the input, the output configured for actuation of the one or more downhole devices placed along the drill string. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the digital logic circuit comprises a synchronous sequential circuit or an asynchronous sequential circuit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical pipe is disposed within a drill string assembly in a drilling rig. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical pipe is disposed outside of a drill string assembly in a drilling rig. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the second cylindrical pipe forms part of a drill pipe in a drill string assembly, and the one or more first materials come in contact with the one or more second materials when the drill pipe is rotated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more second materials comprise a ball bearing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the ball bearing is disposed in a latch slot. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein the latch slot further comprises a cylindrical roller bearing that acts as a unique identifier. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more first materials comprise a coated segment having a predetermined pattern. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the actuation of downhole devices comprises at least one of opening or closing valves, expanding or contracting casing scrapers, expanding or contracting contract reamers, expanding or contracting packers, and opening or closing of circulation subs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The system according to claim 5, further comprising: a sleeve formed on an outer surface of the second cylindrical pipe, the sleeve configured to contain the one or more second materials. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more first materials and the one or more second materials are selected from the a group consisting of Copper, Aluminum, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyimide, Lead, Elastomer, Polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA), Nylon, and Polyester. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more first materials comprise a piezoelectric material or a magnetostrictive material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more support structures configured to support the first cylindrical pipe. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system according to claim 15, further comprising: a plurality of ball bearings between a top surface of the first cylindrical pipe and a top support structure; and a plurality of ball bearings between a bottom surface of the first cylindrical pipe and a bottom support structure. ### Claim 17 A method for actuation of downhole devices, the method comprising: providing a first cylindrical pipe having one or more first materials attached to an outer surface of the first cylindrical pipe; providing a second cylindrical pipe co-axial with the first cylindrical pipe and having a diameter greater than the first cylindrical pipe, the second cylindrical pipe comprising one or more second materials disposed on an inner surface of the second cylindrical pipe, wherein the one or more first materials generate one or more signals when the one or more first materials come in contact with the one or more second materials, wherein the one or more first materials and the one or more second materials are of opposite polarity, and comprise a material that causes static electricity; and placing one or more downhole devices along a drill string inside a well for being activated, deactivated, or configured by the one or more signals. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, further comprising: receiving, by a digital logic circuit, the one or more signals as input; and generating an output based on the input, the output configured for actuation of the one or more downhole devices along the drill string. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the digital logic circuit comprises a synchronous sequential circuit or an asynchronous sequential circuit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the first cylindrical pipe is disposed within a drill string assembly in a drilling rig. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the first cylindrical pipe is disposed outside of a drill string assembly in a drilling rig. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the second cylindrical pipe forms part of a drill pipe in a drill string assembly, and the one or more first materials corneas in contact with the one or more second materials when the drill pipe is rotated. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the one or more second materials comprise a ball bearing. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, wherein the ball bearing is disposed in a latch slot. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein the latch slot further comprises a cylindrical roller bearing that acts as a unique identifier. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the one or more first materials comprise a coated segment having a predetermined pattern. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the actuation of downhole devices comprises at least one of opening or closing valves, expanding or contracting casing scrapers, expanding or contracting contract reamers, expanding or contracting packers, and opening or closing of circulation subs. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27, further comprising: providing a sleeve on an outer surface of the second cylindrical pipe, the sleeve configured to contain the one or more second materials. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the one or more first materials and the one or more second materials are selected from a group consisting of Copper, Aluminum, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyimide, Lead, Elastomer, Polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA), Nylon, and Polyester. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the one or more first materials comprise a piezoelectric material or a magnetostrictive material. ### Claim 31 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, further comprising providing one or more support structures configured to support the first cylindrical pipe. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method according to claim 31, further comprising: providing a plurality of ball bearings between a top surface of the first cylindrical pipe and a top support structure; and providing a plurality of ball bearings between a bottom surface of the first cylindrical pipe and a bottom support structure.