Open loop cooling system and method for downhole tools
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorAnupam Singh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A downhole tool (100) including an open loop cooling system (110) having a pressurized container (120) disposed within a tool string, and has a refrigerant (122). The cooling system further includes a tank (150) in fluid communication with the pressurized container (120), and a heat exchanger (160) associated with tank (150), where the heat exchanger exchanges heat between the refrigerant (122) and a downhole payload (164). The cooling system further includes a low pressure apparatus that creates a low pressure region proximate the pressurized container. The low pressure apparatus can include a venturi (180). The venturi has a drilling mud passage (188) therethrough, and drilling mud flowing through a convergence (186) creates a low pressure adjacent the tank (150).
Claims23
A downhole tool comprising:
- an elongate tool string;
- a pressurized container disposed within the tool string, the pressurized container having a refrigerant therein;
- a tank in fluid communication with the pressurized container;
- a heat exchanger associated with tank, where the heat exchanger exchanges heat between the refrigerant and a downhole payload;
- and
- a low pressure apparatus located proximate the pressurized container to create a low pressure region adjacent the tank.
A method comprises:
- pressurizing a container having refrigerant therein;
- disposing a pressurized container within a downhole tool string;
- disposing the downhole tool string downhole in a wellbore,
- maintaining pressure of the pressurized container;
- exchanging heat with downhole ambient temperature and preventing the refrigerant from raising above downhole ambient temperature;
- decreasing pressure of the drilling mud near the pressurized container within the downhole tool with flow of drilling mud;
- flashing the refrigerant to a lower pressure, where the temperature of the refrigerant drops below the downhole ambient temperature;
- and
- cooling a payload of the downhole tool string to a temperature lower than the downhole ambient temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.