Expro North Sea Limited

Daniel Joinson

Steven Martin Hudson

A method of operating a downhole component (for example a battery pack) comprising at least one electrolyte based element. The method comprising the steps of locating the component in a downhole environment and whilst the component is in the downhole environment subjecting the element to a pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure to suppress at least one of boiling and evaporation of electrolyte in the element. The component may then be operated at a temperature in excess of that which would be tolerated by the electrolyte based element if not subjected to a pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure.

Operating electrolyte based components

Method systems and apparatus for signalling within pipelines. The systems methods and apparatus make use of a unit locatable within a tubular piece of metallic structure for the transmission and/or reception of signals. The unit includes a magnetic material core () which provides a path for magnetic flux through the unit (). A coil () is wound around a portion of the magnetic material core () to allow the detection and/or application of magnetic flux in the magnetic core (). At each end of the core () there is pair of arms () which are arranged for location adjacent the inside surface of the tubular structure. In use magnetic signals flowing in the tubular structure pass through the core () and can be detected via the coil () in receive mode and similarly signals flowing in the coil () can cause magnetic flux to flow through the core () and into the metallic structure in transmit mode.

Magnetic signalling in pipelines

Data transmission in pipeline systems A first set of apparatus is arranged for transmitting data from a point in a cased section of a wellto a remote location. The apparatus may be used as a relay stationto increase operational depth. Signals are applied to and received from the stringat the relay stationand a selected length of the stringis provided with insulating spacer meanson either side of the relay station to ensure that the stringand casingare effectively isolated for a selected minimum distance. This enables potential differences to be both applied to and detected from the string, thus allowing data transmission and reception. A second set of apparatus is arranged for transmitting from an internal unitinside a cased section of the wellto the immediate surrounding area outside the casing. The internal unitinjects current into the string. A toroidwhich surrounds the casingis provided to pick up signals. Spaced connections between the stringand casingare provided by conductive packers. A mismatch in the current flowing in the stringand casingis generated so that a non-zero flux is seen by the toroid and hence a signal can be received.

Growing community of inventors

Carterton, United Kingdom

Daniel Joinson