Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Satish Rajagopalan

Jonathan Peter Zacharko

Richard Thomas Hay

Daniel Winslow

Hugh Douglas

Christian Menger

Jaya Deepti Dasika

Heiko Schmirgel

Rick Hay

The disclosed embodiments include a rotating survey tool. The rotating survey tool includes a first sensor array that in operation collects a first set of survey measurements during a downhole drilling operation. Additionally, the rotating survey tool includes a second sensor array directly coupled to the first sensor array that in operation collects a second set of survey measurements while a drill bit drills during the downhole drilling operation. Further, the second set of survey measurements has a greater base accuracy than the first set of survey measurements.

System and method for improving rotating survey accuracy

A system for and method of use with a downhole tool that includes a tubular with a fluid flow path therethrough for flowing a fluid and a housing coupleable to a downhole portion of the tubular. A fluid-driven motor assembly is included and has a drive shaft rotatable to output rotational drive forces. An electric generator is coupled to the drive shaft to convert the rotational drive forces into electrical power. There is also an electric motor electrically coupled to the electric generator to convert electrical output of the electric generator into a rotational drive force to control the downhole tool. A controller is electrically coupled to the electric motor and the electric generator to conduct electrical power output from the electric motor to the electric generator and dissipate excess energy produced by the electric motor to the fluid-driven motor assembly as hydraulic energy.

Systems and methods for recycling excess energy

An example method may include generating an alternating current (AC) output at a power source within a borehole in a subterranean formation. An electrical component may receive a direct current (DC) output from a converter circuit coupled to the power source and the electrical component. One or more measurements corresponding to the power source, the converter circuit, the electrical component, or a protection circuit coupled to the converter circuit may be received. Blocking devices within the protection circuit may be selectively caused to block current flow in the converter circuit based, at least in part, on the one or more received measurements.

Solid state protection circuits for a converter circuit

A power generation system for a drilling tool includes a turbine, an alternator, a converter and a first active rectifier control (ARC). The turbine is adapted to be driven by a fluid flow in a well. The alternator is coupled to the turbine and generates an alternative current (AC). The converter converts the AC to direct current (DC) and carries out active rectification. The first active rectifier control (ARC) controls the active rectification of the converter.

Dynamic generator voltage control for high power drilling and logging-while-drilling

A Rotary Steerable System (RSS) includes a flexible collar coupled therein that reduces the stiffness of the RSS and permits a tighter turning radius to be achieved. The positioning of the flexible collar between the steering section and the controller of the RSS further improves the turning radius, and may permit a push-the-bit system to operate similar to a point-the bit system. The flexible collar permits communication therethrough between controller and the steering sections of the RSS. The RSS may be arranged as a modular system to receive various configurations of a flexible collar and may operate with no flexible collar installed. The modularity enables tuning of the stiffness of an RSS to achieve different steering objectives.

Flexible collar for a rotary steerable system

The disclosed embodiments include a method to protect a downhole generator from overvoltage. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a speed of an alternator. The method also includes activating overvoltage protection mode if the speed of the alternator is greater than a threshold speed, where activating the overvoltage protection mode includes converting an alternating current measured at the alternator into a first component and a second component of a direct current. Activating the overvoltage protection mode also includes determining a first current threshold based on at least one component of the downhole generator. Activating the overvoltage protection mode also includes shutting down the downhole generator if the first component of the direct current is greater than the first current threshold and decreasing a magnetic flux of the downhole generator if the first component of the direct current is not greater than the first current threshold.

Overvoltage protection of downhole generators

An example downhole power generation apparatus may include a turbine and a drive shaft coupled to the turbine. A plurality of alternators may be coupled to the drive shaft and electrically connected in parallel. When the drive shaft rotates, the plurality of alternators may generate phase-offset alternating current (AC) power signals. AC-to-direct current (DC) conversion circuitry may be coupled to the plurality of alternators.

Growing community of inventors

Tomball, TX, United States of America

Satish Rajagopalan