# US 2024/0200427 A1 · Energy generation device for a pigging tool in a pipeline > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0200427 A1 - Document ID: US20240200427A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/083,192 - Filed: 2022-12-16 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-16 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Philippe Quero; David Bennett; Jeremy C. Nicholson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240200427A1 ## CPC - E21B 41/0085: {Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes} - E21B 23/08: Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems - E21B 23/10: Tools specially adapted therefor - F16L 55/26: Pigs or moles, i.e. devices movable in a pipe or conduit with or without self-contained propulsion means - F16L 55/38: driven by fluid pressure - F16L 55/46: Launching or retrieval of pigs or moles - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A pigging tool may include a housing positionable in a pipeline. The housing may define a bypass channel that extends along an axis that is nonparallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing. An energy generation device can be positioned in the bypass channel of the housing such that fluid is receivable by the energy generation device to generate energy for the pigging tool. Further, an energy storage device may store energy generated from the energy generation device. The energy storage device may provide the pigging tool with energy to perform one or more operations in the pipeline. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pigging tool comprising: a housing positionable in a pipeline and defining a bypass channel that extends along an axis that is nonparallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing; an energy generation device positionable in the bypass channel of the housing such that fluid is receivable by the energy generation device to generate energy for the pigging tool; an energy storage device for storing energy generated from the energy generation device and for providing the pigging tool with energy to perform one or more operations in the pipeline; and at least one pair of cups or baffles positionable on an external surface of the pigging tool to control fluid flow to the energy generation device to generate energy, wherein the at least one pair of cups or baffles comprises a second bypass channel that extends through at least one cup or baffle of the at least one pair of cups or baffles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pigging tool of claim 1: wherein the second bypass channel extends along an axis that is nonparallel to a longitudinal axis of the at least one pair of cups or baffles for directing fluid to the bypass channel of the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pigging tool of claim 2, wherein the at least one pair of cups are adjustable with respect to the housing of the pigging tool to alter an amount of fluid flowing through the second bypass channel, and wherein an amount of fluid flowing to the bypass channel of the housing correlates to an amount of energy generated by the energy generation device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pigging tool of claim 1, wherein the energy generation device is a turbine comprising a shaft that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing, and wherein the turbine is at least electrically coupled to an inverter to generate energy from a fluid directed from an at least one pair of cups. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pigging tool of claim 4, wherein the energy generation device is electrically coupled to the energy storage device that comprises a battery pack, wherein the battery pack is chargeable by energy generated from the energy generation device, and wherein the battery pack is useable to provide usable power to the pigging tool. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pigging tool of claim 1, wherein the housing is a first module, wherein the pigging tool further comprises a second module that includes a diagnostic tool for collecting and storing pipeline health information. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pigging tool of claim 6, further comprising a third module comprising a braking module, wherein a velocity of the pigging tool is controllable by the braking module through additional cups, wheels, or braking pads, and wherein friction generated from the braking module is usable for charging a battery pack to power the pigging tool. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: deploying, into a pipeline, a pigging tool comprising: a housing positionable in the pipeline and defining a bypass channel that extends along an axis that is nonparallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing; an energy generation device positionable in the bypass channel of the housing such that fluid is receivable by the energy generation device to generate energy for the pigging tool; an energy storage device for storing energy generated from the energy generation device and for providing the pigging tool with energy to perform one or more operations in the pipeline; generating energy with the energy generation device by directing a fluid to the energy generation device using at least one pair of cups or baffles positioned on an external surface of the pigging tool, wherein the at least one pair of cups or baffles comprises a second bypass channel that extends through at least one cup or baffle of the at least one pair of cups or baffles; and performing a pipeline operation with the pigging tool. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: storing generated energy, by a battery pack, within an energy storage device coupled electrically to the energy generation device; collecting and storing pipeline health information by an at least one data collecting module; and transmitting pipeline health information electronically to a receiving module external to the pipeline. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: adjusting the at least one pair of cups directionally with respect to the housing to alter an amount of fluid flowing through the at least one pair of cups wherein altering the amount of fluid flowing correlates to an amount of energy generated by the energy generation device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the generated energy charges a battery pack in the storage energy device, and wherein the battery pack provides power to the pigging tool. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the energy generation device is a turbine comprising a shaft that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing, and wherein the turbine is at least electrically coupled to an inverter to generate energy from a fluid directed from an at least one pair of cups. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the housing is a first module, wherein the pigging tool further comprises a second module that includes a diagnostic tool for collecting and storing pipeline health information. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: braking, by a braking module such that a velocity of the pigging tool is controlled by the braking module through additional cups, wheels, or braking pads, and wherein friction generated from the braking module is used for charging a battery pack to power the pigging tool. ### Claim 15 A system comprising: a pigging tool comprising: a housing positionable in a pipeline and defining a bypass channel that extends along an axis that is nonparallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing; an energy generation device positionable in the bypass channel of the housing such that fluid is receivable by the energy generation device to generate energy for the pigging tool; an energy storage device for storing energy generated from the energy generation device and for providing the pigging tool with energy to perform one or more operations in the pipeline; and at least one pair of cups or baffles positionable on an external surface of the pigging tool to control fluid flow to the energy generation device to generate energy, wherein the at least one pair of cups or baffles comprises a second bypass channel that extends through at least one cup or baffle of the at least one pair of cups or baffles; and a receiving module positioned external to the pipeline, the receiving module usable for providing operating instructions to the pigging tool and receiving pipeline health information from the pigging tool. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the second bypass channel extends along an axis that is nonparallel to a longitudinal axis of the at least one pair of cups. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one pair of cups are adjustable with respect to the housing of the pigging tool to alter an amount of fluid flowing through the second bypass channel, and wherein an amount of fluid flowing to the bypass channel of the housing correlates to an amount of energy generated by the energy generation device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the energy generation device is a turbine comprising a shaft that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing, and wherein the turbine is at least electrically coupled to an inverter to generate energy from a fluid directed from an at least one pair of cups. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the energy generation device is electrically coupled to the energy storage device that comprises a battery pack, wherein the battery pack is chargeable by energy generated from the energy generation device, and wherein the battery pack is useable to provide usable power to the pigging tool. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the housing is a first module, wherein the pigging tool further comprises a second module that includes a diagnostic tool for collecting and storing pipeline health information, wherein the pigging tool further comprises a third module that includes a braking module, wherein a velocity of the pigging tool is controllable by the braking module through additional cups, wheels, or braking pads, and wherein friction generated from the braking module is usable for charging a battery pack to power the pigging tool.