Power generation via drillstring pipe reciprocation

#Well logging instruments are devices configured to move through a wellbore extending into one or more subterranean formations. Such instruments include sensors and other devices that measure properties of the formations and/or perform certain mechanical acts on the formations, such as obtaining liquid, gaseous and/or solid samples of the formations. Many well logging instruments are wireline configurable and are thus conveyed within the wellbore via armored electrical cable known as “wireline”. Such conveyance relies on gravity to move the instruments within the wellbore. However, some wellbores include one or more lateral or other non-vertical sections, such that conveyance via wireline may be impractical due to friction between the wellbore wall and the wireline and/or the instruments coupled to the wireline. Consequently, a drillstring or similar string of threadedly coupled pipe segments may instead be utilized to convey the wireline configurable instruments. However, because the wireline configurable instruments are not connected by a wireline to an electrical power source at surface, the wireline configurable instruments cannot be powered by wireline.

#The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view of apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic view of apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

#It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of various embodiments. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. Moreover, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact.

#In FIG. 1, a drilling rig 24 or similar lifting device moves a tubular string 20 within a wellbore 18 that has been drilled into a subterranean formation 11. The tubular string 20 comprises a string of threadedly coupled segments or joints 22 of drill pipe, wired drill pipe and/or other substantially rigid tubulars. Wired drill pipe is structurally similar to ordinary drill pipe but includes a signal communication channel extending along the length of each pipe segment, such as a cable or an optical fiber. The signal communication channel may comprise a conduit extending partially or substantially within the interior of each joint. At each end of the joint, a signal-coupling device may be utilized to communicate signals along the channel between joints when the joints are coupled end-to-end as shown in FIG. 1.

#A wireline configurable toolstring 13 is coupled at or near a lower end of the tubular string 20. The wireline configurable toolstring 13 comprises a string of well logging instruments 10 threadedly or otherwise coupled end-to-end, wherein at least one of the instruments 10 is wireline configurable. In the context of the present disclosure, wireline configurable instruments are well logging instruments that are usually conveyed within the wellbore via wireline, and which usually cannot be used in a drillstring for conducting drilling operations. Wireline configurable instruments are thus distinguishable from LWD instruments. That is, LWD instruments are specifically configured to be utilized during drilling operations, and can therefore form part of the drillstring itself.