Pes Limited

Steve Owens

Brett W Bouldin

Gary Elliott

Napoleon Arizmendi

An apparatus for transmitting electricity between downhole well tools and the well surface. The apparatus incorporates a surface controller in combination with a conductor and a downhole receiver module. A choke prevents electricity from the controller from entering a high voltage DC power source, and a downhole regulator converts high voltage, low current power into high current, low voltage power. This feature of the invention permits a single wire to transmit sufficient power to operate multiple downhole well tools. The controller also includes a transmitter and a modulator operable to generate an electric signal representating at least two states, wherein a first state is represented by a signal, and wherein a second state is represented by the absence of an electric signal. A receiver module receives the electric signals and selectively transmits commands to the associated well tool or to the surface controller. In a two conductor wire, the conductors are evenly spaced so that attenuation of the signals is reduced. The controller can transmit a signal unique to a well tool which is selectively identified by the receiver module for operation of a specific well tool.

Downhole power and communication system

An apparatus and method for communicating electricity from a well surface to a downhole well tool. An electrical conductor is positioned within a sheath, and fluid is placed within a passage extending through the sheath. Electricity is transmitted to the well tool through the conductor, and the fluid prevents well fluid intrusion into the sheath interior. The fluid can be pressurized from the well surface to communicate hydraulic fluid pressure to the well tool and to provide structural rigidity to the cable system. A diverter between the sheath and the well tool can selectively direct electricity or hydraulic fluid pressure to selected portions of the well tool, or to other tools positioned in the well.

Multi-functional downhole cable system

A system for providing large quantities of power at a selected voltage to a downhole well tool. A conductor extends between a surface regulator and the well tool. The voltage is continuously measured downhole at the well tool, and a signal proportional to such downhole voltage is transmitted to the surface regulator. The power transmitted by the surface regulator to the conductor is increased or decreased depending on fluctuations in the tool requirements and the downhole voltage. The downhole voltage signal can be modulated through the conductor to the surface regulator or can be transmitted through another conductor.

Downhole power transmission system

A system for extending the life span of electronic components in a high temperature well. A thermal electric cooler is located in a position thermally communicating with the electronic component in the well. The thermal electric cooler lowers the temperature of the electronic component to a temperature that retards the deterioration of the electronic component, and is particularly useful in well completion tools requiring an extended life. A vacuum is maintained about the thermal electric cooler or the electronic components to reduce convection energy losses.

Vacuum insulated converter for extending the life span of electronic

A system for extending the life span of electronic components in a high temperature well. A thermal electric cooler is located in a position thermally communicating with the electronic component in the well. The thermal electric cooler lowers the temperature of the electronic component to a temperature that retards the deterioration of the electronic component, and is particularly useful in well completion tools requiring an extended life. The cold side of the thermal electric cooler can comprise a multi chip module directly bonded to the electric component to reduce the mass and size of a packaged electronic component or integrated circuit formed with more than one electronic component.

Integrated converter for extending the life span of electronic components

A well apparatus for detecting the position of a moving element in a well. Downhole well tools normally comprise a magnetically permeable material which forms a Faraday Shield to interrupt the flux of a magnet positioned within the well tool. The invention attaches a magnet to a moving element surrounded by a magnetically permeable second element, and a magnetic sensor is positioned within a recess in the second element. The magnetic sensor detects the proximate position of the magnet and generates a signal. The signal can be transmitted to a surface controller for display or for generating a command signal to displace the moving element within the second element. A single wire can transmit signals from multiple sensors in a sensor array, and the absolute position and movement rate of the moving element can be identified by the sensor array. The magnet can comprise a permanent magnet or can comprise an electromagnet. The signal from the magnetic source can be modulated to communicate the signal through the second element.

Downhole magnetic position sensor

An apparatus and method for protecting downhole electronic components and for monitoring the deterioration of such components. The electronic components are positioned within a tool recess, and a vacuum is drawn on the recess to remove oxygen, water vapor, and other contaminants from contact with the electronic components. In one embodiment of the invention, insulating fluid or an inert gas can be placed in the recess to isolate the electronic components. The seal integrity of the recess can be tested before the tool is run into the well or before the tool is set in the well. A pressure sensor monitors the deterioration of the vacuum, or fluctuations in the pressure of the insulating fluid or inert gas, to detect leakage of well fluids into the recess, leakage of gas away from the recess, or to detect gases formed from corrosion of the electronic components.

Containment of downhole electronic systems

An apparatus and method for selectively restricting fluid flow in a well or well conduit. A dissolvable core material is positioned in the well and is isolated from the well fluids with an inpermeable sheath. The sheath is punctured with a control mechanism or other device so that the sheath is breached. The fluid dissolves the core material and permits fluid flow through the well or well conduit. The sheath can be punctured by pressurizing the well fluid, or by controlling the fluid pressure to activate a pressure sensitive control mechanism.

Dissolvable well plug

A system for extending the life span of electronic components in a high temperature well. A thermal electric cooler is located in a position thermally communicating with the electronic component in the well. The thermal electric cooler lowers the temperature of the electronic component to a temperature that retards the deterioration of the electronic component, and is particularly useful in well completion tools requiring an extended life. One or more thermal electric coolers or other electrical equipment may be connected to a common electric wire, and a surface controller may selectively adjust the power supplied to each thermal electric cooler to prevent the electric wire from being overloaded. The power to each component can be controlled to produce the lowest attainable temperature for each thermal electric cooler, which reduces the deterioration of electronic components to the greatest extent possible.

Growing community of inventors

The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Steve Owens