Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Baker Hughes Corporation

California Institute of Technology

Weatherford/lamb, Inc.

Namhyo Kim

Antonio Lazo

Michael H Johnson

Alvaro Jose Arrazola

Yang Xu

James Benjamin Bloys

Elaine Lange

Steve Rosenblatt

Thomas Gary Corbett

Lale Korkmaz

Kai Sun

Bennett M Richard

Richard YingQing Xu

Ronnie D Russell

Stewart Sherrit

Hyeong Jae Lee

Krystian K Maskos

Luis Phillipe Costa Ferreira Tosi

Perry Batson

Tim Colonius

Nelson P Nguyen

Phillip E Walkemeyer

Jeffrey L Hall

Phillipe Tosi

Earl B Claiborne, Jr

Dexter G Pazziuagan

Parul Patel Anderson

A sand control screen assembly includes a base pipe having multiple first openings through a thickness of the base pipe, where at least one of the first openings is characterized by a non-uniform cross-section, where each first opening has a first portion and a second portion adjacent to the first portion, where the first portion is disposed adjacent to an inner surface of the base pipe, where the second portion is disposed adjacent to an outer surface of the base pipe, where the second portion includes multiple channels, where each channel extends outward and upward relative to the first portion, where each channel includes a wall having a side wall edge and a base wall edge, where an interface surface between the side wall edge and the base wall edge is a planar surface.

Base pipes for sand control screen assemblies

A sand control screen assembly having a protective shroud or jacket that provides a controlled offset between the shroud and a filter medium. The sand control screen assembly also includes a base pipe having a drainage layer positioned therearound for preventing the flow of particulate material of a predetermined size therethrough and allowing the flow of production fluids therethrough.

Protective shrouds for sand control screen assemblies

A sand control screen assembly having a drainage layer that provides a controlled offset between the drainage layer and a filter medium and/or a base pipe. The sand control screen assembly also includes a protective shroud or jacket positioned about the filter medium. The sand control screen assembly can be utilized for preventing the flow of particulate material of a predetermined size therethrough and allowing the flow of production fluids therethrough.

Drainage layers for sand control screen assemblies

An autonomous downhole power generation system includes a power generation device configured to be disposed in an annular space around a portion of a production tubing. The power generation device is switchable between a power generation mode and a bypass mode. The system further includes a power storage device electrically coupled to the power generation device and configured to store power generated by the power generation device, and a control processor communicatively coupled to the power generation device. The control processor switches the power generation device between the power generation mode and the bypass mode based on a preprogrammed operational protocol.

System and method for autonomous downhole power generation

A sand control screen assembly includes a base pipe having openings having non-uniform cross-section. The sand control screen assembly can also include a drainage layer positioned about the base pipe, a filter medium, and a protective shroud. The sand control screen assembly prevents the flow of particulate material of a predetermined size therethrough and allows the flow of production fluids therethrough.

A piezoelectric power generation system includes a housing defining an opening therethrough and a support structure disposed within the housing, the support structure comprising a plurality of portions. The piezoelectric power generation system also includes one or more piezoelectric elements disposed between two of the plurality of portions of the support structure within the housing. Movement or vibration in the support structure compresses the one or more piezoelectric elements, wherein the one or more piezoelectric elements generate electric energy when compressed. The piezoelectric power generation system further includes one or more exciters coupled to the support structure, wherein the exciters move or vibrate when acted on by a flow of fluid, wherein the motion of vibration of the one or more exciters is translated to the support structure and ultimately to the one or more piezoelectric elements.

System and method for electric power generation using structured stacked piezoelectric arrays

A piezoelectric power generation device includes a stator, a rotor, and one or more piezoelectric power generation elements. The stator comprises an internal surface which defines an internal orifice. The one or more piezoelectric power generation elements are disposed on the internal surface of the stator. The rotor is disposed within the internal orifice comprising one or more lobes formed on an outside surface of the rotor. The rotor is configured to rotate with respect to the stator and the one or more piezoelectric power generation elements. The one or more lobes contact the one or more piezoelectric power generation elements as the one or more lobes rotate past the one or more piezoelectric power generation elements. The one or more piezoelectric power generation elements generate energy when contacted by the one or more lobes.

Piezoelectric power generation system

A piezoelectric power generation system includes a housing, the housing defining an opening therethrough. The piezoelectric power generation system further includes a support structure disposed within the housing, and one or more piezoelectric elements disposed on a surface of the support structure within the housing. Movement or vibration in the support structure is translated to the one or more piezoelectric elements, which actuates the one or more piezoelectric elements. The one or more piezoelectric elements generate power when actuated. The piezoelectric power generation system further includes one or more exciters coupled to the support structure. The exciters move or vibrate when acted on by a flow of fluid, wherein the motion of vibration of the one or more exciters is translated to the support structure and ultimately to the one or more piezoelectric elements.

System and method for electric power generation using structured piezoelectric arrays

A piezoelectric power generation system includes a housing and one or more piezoelectric modules disposed within the housing. Each of the one or more piezoelectric modules include a support structure, one or more piezoelectric components, and one or more exciters. The one or more piezoelectric components are disposed on or within the support structure, wherein at least a portion of vibrational motion in the support structure is transferred to the one or more piezoelectric components. The one or more exciters are coupled to the support structure and extend outside of the housing. When the exciters are actuated, they transfer vibrational motion to the one or more piezoelectric components through the support structure.

System and method for electric power generation using piezoelectric modules

An autonomous active flow control valve system for regulating and controlling flow across well segments is disclosed. In one example embodiment, the valve system includes a central control unit and one or more flow control devices communicatively coupled to the central control unit. Each flow control device includes at least one valve and at least one sensor for sensing various well or flow parameters. The central control unit receives sensor data from the sensor and controls the valve according to a pre-programmed control protocol. The valve may be opened, closed, and adjusted in response to detected well or flow parameters in order to maintain a desirable flow profile across well segments either in production or injection well.

Autonomous active flow control valve system

A downhole power generation system includes a tubular power generation device configured to be disposed in an annular space around a portion of a production tubing, wherein the power generation device is switchable between a power generation mode and a bypass mode. The system also includes a power storage device electrically coupled to the tubular power generation device and configured to store power generated by the power generation device. The power generation device comprises at least one power generation path and at least one bypass path. The at least one power generation path comprises at least one power generation mechanism which generates power when traversed by fluid. The at least one power generation path is open in the power generation mode and closed in the bypass mode.

Downhole power generation system and method

A downhole power generation device includes a tubular housing configured to be disposed within an annular space and around a portion of production tubing. The housing includes a flow compartment configured to receive a flow of fluid therethrough when the power generation device is in a power generation mode, and an electronics compartment comprising a controller and a power generation unit. The downhole power generation device further includes a turbomachinery system comprising a rotor disposed within the flow compartment and comprising a rotor hub and a plurality of rotor blades, wherein the rotor rotates when the flow of fluid traverses the flow compartment. The downhole power generation device also includes a port coupled to the flow compartment, through which fluid enters the flow compartment.

Downhole power generation system with alternate flow paths

An autonomous downhole power generation system includes a power generation device configured to be disposed in an annular space around a portion of a production tubing, wherein the power generation device is switchable between a power generation mode and a bypass mode. The system further includes a power storage device electrically coupled to the power generation device and configured to store power generated by the power generation device. The system also includes a control processor communicatively coupled to the power storage device and the power generation device, wherein the control processor receives a measure of power stored in the power storage device and switches the power generation device between the power generation mode and the bypass mode based on the measure of power or an preprogrammed operational protocol.

A flow energy harvesting device having a harvester pipe includes a flow inlet that receives flow from a primary pipe, a flow outlet that returns the flow into the primary pipe, and a flow diverter within the harvester pipe having an inlet section coupled to the flow inlet, a flow constriction section coupled to the inlet section and positioned at a midpoint of the harvester pipe and having a spline shape with a substantially reduced flow opening size at a constriction point along the spline shape, and an outlet section coupled to the constriction section. The harvester pipe may further include a piezoelectric structure extending from the inlet section through the constriction section and point such that the fluid flow past the constriction point results in oscillatory pressure amplitude inducing vibrations in the piezoelectric structure sufficient to cause a direct piezoelectric effect and to generate electrical power for harvesting.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Namhyo Kim