Rotary pulser with regenerative control
AssigneeAPS Tech LLC
InventorsDaniel E. Burgess, Jason R. Barbely
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drill string device configured to operate at a down hole location in a well bore toward a location proximate the surface of an earthen formation includes one or more motors and/or a capacitor bank. The drill string device may be in fluidic communication with a drilling fluid. A first motor of the one or more motors may be operated as part of processing the drilling fluid. A first electrical energy may be provided to the first motor at least as the first motor is operating. A signal to stop the first motor may be received and/or the first motor may be stopped. A second electrical energy may be received from the first motor at least as the first motor is stopping. At least some of the second electrical energy may be directed to the capacitor bank.
Claims20
A method for operating a pulser at a down hole location in a well bore in an earthen formation, the pulser being in fluidic communication with a drilling fluid, the method comprising:
- operating a first motor of one or more motors of the pulser in order to rotate at least one rotatable element of the pulser, wherein rotation of the at least one rotatable element generates a pressure pulse in the drilling fluid;
- supplying a first electrical energy to the first motor to rotate the at least one rotatable element as the first motor is operating;
- taking a measurement to determine a position of the at least one rotatable element and sending the measurement to a control processor of the pulser, wherein determined position of the at least one rotatable element is used to determine opening and closing of at least one switch to a battery module or a capacitor bank of the pulser;
- initiating a signal to stop the first motor in order to stop rotation of the at least one rotatable element of the pulser;
- in response to receiving the signal, stopping the first motor to stop rotation of the at least one rotatable element;
- receiving a second electrical energy from the first motor as the first motor is stopping the rotation of the at least one rotatable element;
- and
- directing with the control processor of the pulser at least some of the second electrical energy to the capacitor bank of the pulser.
A pulser configured to operate at a down hole location in a well bore, the pulser comprising:
- a pulser assembly having a housing, at least one rotatable element in the housing, and at least one passage, wherein the at least one rotatable element is configured to rotate to inhibit fluid flowing through the at least one passage to generate a pressure pulse in the fluid;
- one or more motors coupled to the at least one rotatable element and configured to cause the at least one rotatable element to rotate;
- a capacitor bank electronically coupled to the one or more motors;
- and
- a control processor electronically coupled to the one or more motors and the capacitor bank, the control processor configured to:
- control operation of a first motor of the one or more motors to rotate the at least one rotatable element in order to generate a pressure pulse as fluid flows through the pulser assembly;
- provide a first electrical energy to the first motor at least as the first motor operates;
- receive a measurement of a determined position of the at least one rotatable element, wherein determined position of the at least one rotatable element is used to determine opening and closing of at least one switch to a battery module or a capacitor bank of the pulser;
- receive a signal to stop the first motor;
- stop the first motor so that the at least one rotatable element stops;
- control receipt of a second electrical energy from the first motor at least as the first motor stops and the at least one rotatable element stops;
- direct at least some of the second electrical energy to the capacitor bank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.