Downhole apparatus
AssigneeTotal E&P Danmark A/S
InventorsWilhelmus Hubertus Paulus Maria Heijnen, Robert Bouke Peters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus (100) for operation in a tubular channel (199), the apparatus comprising a first part and a second part connected to the first part, wherein the second part comprises a first electronic device adapted to generate a data signal and a first communications device for wirelessly transmitting the generated data signal via a wireless communications channel, wherein the first part comprises a second communications device for wirelessly receiving the transmitted data signal via said radio-frequency communications channel.
Claims21
A downhole apparatus configured to move through a well in rock for operation in a drilled bore, the downhole apparatus configured to be installed temporarily or permanently in the drilled bore, the apparatus comprising:
- a first part and a second part movably connected to the first part, wherein the first and second parts are configured to move independently of one another through the well in a coordinated manner to facilitate movement of the apparatus through the well, wherein the second part comprises:
- a first electronic device configured to generate a data signal;
- and
- a first communications device for wirelessly transmitting the generated data signal via a wireless communications channel;
- wherein the first part comprises:
- a second communications device for wirelessly receiving the transmitted data signal via the wireless communications channel;
- and
- a second electronic device configured to process the received data signal, wherein the second electronic device is a control unit for generating a control signal for controlling a controllable function of the apparatus, wherein the controllable function includes a relative movement of the second part relative to the first part.
A downhole apparatus configured to move through a well in rock for operation in a drilled bore, the downhole apparatus configured to be installed temporarily or permanently in the drilled bore, the apparatus comprising:
- a first part and a second part movably connected to the first part, wherein the first and second parts are configured to move independently of one another through the well in a coordinated manner to facilitate movement of the apparatus through the well, wherein the second part comprises:
- a first electronic device configured to generate a data signal;
- and
- a first communications device for wirelessly transmitting the generated data signal via a wireless communications channel;
- wherein the first part comprises:
- a second communications device for wirelessly receiving the transmitted data signal via the wireless communications channel;
- and
- a reservoir comprising a fluid and sealed from a pressure chamber comprising a fluid and a piston dividing the pressure chamber into a first and a second piston pressure chamber fluidly coupled via a pump, wherein the second part is attached to the first part via a hollow tubular member extending from the reservoir through the pressure chamber;
- and
- wherein the hollow tubular member is attached to the piston such that translation of the piston via a pressure difference between the first and the second piston pressure chamber established by the pump results in translation of the hollow tubular member and the second part;
- and
- a first gripping means attached to the first part and a second gripping means attached to the second part and wherein the two gripping means are fluidly coupled via the pump;
- wherein the first gripping means comprises a fluid;
- wherein the pump is configured to inflate the second gripping means by pumping the fluid from the first gripping means to the second gripping means;
- and
- wherein the first gripping means comprises a flexible member contained in a woven member, wherein the flexible member provides fluid-tightness and the woven member provides the shape of the first gripping means.
A downhole apparatus configured to move through a well in rock for operation in a drilled bore, the downhole apparatus configured to be installed temporarily or permanently in the drilled bore, the apparatus comprising:
- a first part and a second part movably connected to the first part, wherein the first and second parts are configured to move independently of one another through the well in a coordinated manner to facilitate movement of the apparatus through the well, wherein the second part comprises:
- a first electronic device configured to generate a data signal;
- and
- a first communications device for wirelessly transmitting the generated data signal via a wireless communications channel;
- wherein the first part comprises:
- a second communications device for wirelessly receiving the transmitted data signal via the wireless communications channel;
- at least one sensor communicatively coupled via the wireless communications channel to a control unit contained in the first part, and wherein the control unit is configured to generate a control signal for controlling the pump based on data from the at least one sensor;
- and
- an acoustic modem communicatively coupled to the control unit such that the control unit is configured to transmit data received from the at least one sensor to a receiver at an entrance of the drilled bore.
A downhole apparatus configured to move through a well in rock for operation in a drilled bore, the downhole apparatus configured to be installed temporarily or permanently in the drilled bore, the apparatus comprising:
- a first part and a second part movably connected to the first part, wherein the first and second parts are configured to move independently of one another through the well in a coordinated manner to facilitate movement of the apparatus through the well, wherein the second part comprises:
- a first electronic device configured to generate a data signal;
- and
- a first communications device for wirelessly transmitting the generated data signal via a wireless communications channel;
- wherein the first part comprises:
- a second communications device for wirelessly receiving the transmitted data signal via the wireless communications channel;
- and
- at least one directional means comprising a lever attached at one end to an outer side of the apparatus and activated by an actuator attached at one end to the outer side of the apparatus and the other end to the lever.
A downhole apparatus configured to move through a well in rock for operation in a drilled bore, the downhole apparatus configured to be installed temporarily or permanently in the drilled bore, the apparatus comprising:
- a first part and a second part movably connected to the first part, wherein the first and second parts are configured to move independently of one another through the well in a coordinated manner to facilitate movement of the apparatus through the well, wherein the second part comprises:
- a first electronic device configured to generate a data signal;
- and
- a first communications device for wirelessly transmitting the generated data signal via a wireless communications channel;
- wherein the first part comprises:
- a second communications device for wirelessly receiving the transmitted data signal via the wireless communications channel;
- and
- a three-way valve, buoyancy means, pressure means, a vent line, at least one sensor and computation means;
- wherein the three-way valve is configured to control the fluid flow between the pressure means and the buoyancy means and between the buoyancy means and the vent line;
- wherein the computation means are communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to generate a control signal based on data received from the at least one sensor;
- and
- wherein the pressure means are fluidly coupled to the buoyancy means via the three-way valve such that a fluid may flow from the pressure means to the buoyancy means or from the buoyancy means to surroundings of the device via the vent line;
- and
- wherein the computation means are communicatively coupled to the three-way valve and controls said three-way valve via the control signal;
- wherein the computation means are communicatively coupled to at least one of the three-way valve and the at least one sensor via the wireless communications channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.