Back to results
US 6,672,382 B2Granted
Downhole electrical power system
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsRoger L. Schultz, Brock Watson, Michael L. Fripp, Juanita M. Cassidy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A downhole electrical power system provides long term electrical power in a downhole environment. In a described embodiment, a downhole electrical power system includes a power source which supplies electrical power to a well tool interconnected in a tubular string. The power source includes a voltaic cell.
Claims23
A downhole electrical power system, comprising:
- an electrical power-consuming well tool interconnected in a tubular string;
- and
- a power source providing the well tool with electrical power, the power source including at least one voltaic cell having an anode and a cathode, each of the anode and cathode being exposed to an electrolyte, and the electrolyte being isolated from well fluid proximate the power source by at least one pressure transmitting fluid barrier.
A downhole electrical power system, comprising:
- an electrical power-consuming well tool interconnected in a tubular string;
- and
- a power source providing the well tool with electrical power, the power source including at least one voltaic cell having an anode and a cathode, each of the anode and cathode being exposed to an electrolyte, and wherein the electrolyte is a salt solution.
A downhole electrical power system, comprising:
- an electrical power-consuming well tool interconnected in a tubular string;
- and
- a power source providing the well tool with electrical power, the power source including at least one voltaic cell having an anode and a cathode, each of the anode and cathode being exposed to an electrolyte, and wherein the cathode comprises a material which is a selected one of copper and silver.
A downhole electrical power system, comprising:
- an electrical power-consuming well tool interconnected in a tubular string;
- and
- a power source providing the well tool with electrical power, the power source including at least one voltaic cell having an anode and a cathode, each of the anode and cathode being exposed to an electrolyte, and wherein the anode comprises a material which is a selected one of aluminum and an alloy of zinc and magnesium.
A downhole electrical power system, comprising:
- an electrical power-consuming well tool interconnected in a tubular string;
- and
- a power source providing the well tool with electrical power, the power source including at least one voltaic cell having an anode and a cathode, each of the anode and cathode being exposed to an electrolyte, and wherein the voltaic cell is at least partially enclosed by a gas-permeable barrier.
A downhole electrical power system, comprising:
- an electrical power-consuming well tool interconnected in a tubular string;
- and
- a power source providing the well tool with electrical power, the power source including at least one voltaic cell having an anode and a cathode, each of the anode and cathode being exposed to an electrolyte, the electrolyte being maintained at a pressure substantially equal to well fluid pressure proximate the power system, and wherein a barrier isolates the electrolyte from the wellbore fluid, while transmitting pressure between the well fluid and the electrolyte.
A downhole electrical power system, comprising:
- an electrical power-consuming well tool interconnected in a tubular string;
- and
- a power source providing the well tool with electrical power, the power source including at least one voltaic cell having an anode and a cathode, each of the anode and cathode being exposed to an electrolyte, the electrolyte being maintained at a pressure substantially equal to well fluid pressure proximate the power system, and an electrically insulating fluid being disposed between the well fluid and the electrolyte.
A downhole electrical power system, comprising:
- an inner housing having a flow passage formed therethrough, the inner housing being interconnected to a tubular string in a well, so that the flow passage is in communication with the interior of the tubular string;
- an outer housing at least partially spaced apart from the inner housing, so that a chamber is formed therebetween;
- and
- at least one voltaic cell disposed in the chamber, the voltaic cell supplying electrical power to operate a well tool.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.