Removable Equipment Housing for Downhole Measurements

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a removable sealed housing for equipment that may be employed in obtaining downhole measurement data and methods for making same. In one illustrative embodiment, the apparatus comprises a component adapted to be positioned in a subterranean wellbore, the component having a recess formed therein, a detachable sealed housing removably coupled to the component, at least a portion of the detachable sealed housing being positioned in the recess, the housing having at least one cavity formed therein, and at least one device positioned in the cavity. In one illustrative embodiment, the method comprises positioning a detachable sealed housing at least partially in a recess formed in a component adapted to be positioned in a subterranean wellbore, removably coupling the detachable sealed housing to the component wherein at least a portion of the detachable housing is positioned in the recess formed in the component, the detachable sealed housing having at least one cavity formed therein and at least one device positioned within the cavity, positioning the component and the detachable sealed housing in the subterranean wellbore, and acquiring data using the at least one device after the detachable sealed housing is positioned within the subterranean wellbore.

1 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a component adapted to be positioned in a subterranean wellbore, said component having a recess formed therein;    a detachable sealed housing removably coupled to said component, at least a portion of said detachable sealed housing being positioned in said recess, said detachable sealed housing having at least one cavity formed therein; and    at least one device positioned in said cavity.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one device is comprised of a sensor.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one device is comprised of an electrical component.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one device is comprised of at least one sensor and at least one electrical component.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein substantially all of said detachable sealed housing is positioned in said recess.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said detachable sealed housing is threadingly coupled to said recess.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said detachable sealed housing is removably coupled to said housing by a split ring.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a threaded retaining member that is threadingly coupled to said component, said threaded retaining member adapted to engage at least a portion of said detachable sealed housing to secure said portion of said detachable sealed housing in said recess.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate positioned over said detachable sealed housing, said cover plate being removably coupled to said component by at least one threaded fastener.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said housing has a plurality of cavities formed therein.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one sensor is positioned in each of said plurality of cavities.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one electrical component is positioned in each of said cavities.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one sensor and at least one electrical component is positioned in each of said plurality of cavities.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said recess is formed in an exterior surface of said component.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said detachable sealed housing comprises; 
 a body;    a cover plate coupled to said body; and    a seal positioned between said body and said cover plate.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said detachable sealed housing has at least one of a generally cylindrical configuration and a generally rectangular configuration.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said detachable sealed housing has a configuration of a partial ring segment.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said detachable sealed housing is coupled to said component by at least one hinged connection.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one passageway extending from said at least one cavity to an external surface of said detachable sealed housing.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising an internal passageway formed in said detachable sealed housing that connects at least two of said plurality of cavities to one another.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one sensor is comprised of at least one of a thermometer, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a strain gauge, a barometer, a pressure sensor, a pH sensor, an oxygen sensor, a NOx, a carbon monoxide sensor, and a hall effect switch.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one electrical component comprises at least one of a battery, a microprocessor, a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, a circuit board, an analog-to-digital converter, a communications port and a memory chip.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said component comprises at least one of a drill bit, a pipe, a motor, a rotary steerable device, and a downhole sub.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one indicator light coupled to said detachable sealed housing.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one display panel coupled to said detachable sealed housing.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said detachable sealed housing defines a nozzle that is coupled to a drill bit.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said device is operatively coupled to a sensor positioned within an opening defined in said component or another component.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a component adapted to be positioned in a subterranean wellbore, said component having a recess formed therein;    a detachable sealed housing threadingly coupled to said component, at least a portion of said detachable sealed housing being positioned in said recess, said detachable sealed housing having at least one cavity formed therein; and    at least one of a sensor and an electrical component positioned in said cavity.    
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a cover plate positioned over said detachable sealed housing, said cover plate being removably coupled to said component by at least one threaded fastener.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said detachable sealed housing comprises; 
 a body;    a cover plate coupled to said body; and    a seal positioned between said body and said cover plate.    
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said detachable sealed housing has a plurality of cavities formed therein.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein at least one sensor is positioned in each of said plurality of cavities.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein at least one electrical component is positioned in each of said cavities.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein at least one sensor and at least one electrical component is positioned in each of said plurality of cavities.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one passageway extending from said at least one cavity to an external surface of said detachable sealed housing.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising an internal passageway formed in said housing that connects at least two of said plurality of cavities to one another.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one indicator light coupled to said detachable detachable sealed housing.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one display panel coupled to said detachable detachable sealed housing.  
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein at least a portion of said detachable sealed housing defines a nozzle that is coupled to a drill bit.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said device is operatively coupled to a sensor positioned within an opening defined in said component or another component.  
   
   
       41 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a component adapted to be positioned in a subterranean wellbore, said component having a surface;    a detachable sealed housing removably coupled to said surface of said component, said housing having at least one cavity formed therein; and    at least one device positioned in said cavity.    
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said at least one device is comprised of a sensor.  
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said at least one device is comprised of an electrical component.  
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said at least one device is comprised of at least one sensor and at least one electrical component.  
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said detachable sealed housing is threadingly coupled to said surface of said component by at least one threaded fastener.  
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said surface of said component is an exterior surface.  
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said detachable sealed housing comprises; 
 a body;    a cover plate coupled to said body; and    a seal positioned between said body and said cover plate.    
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said surface is an exterior cylindrical surface.  
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said detachable sealed housing has a plurality of cavities formed therein.  
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein at least one sensor and at least one electrical component is positioned in each of said plurality of cavities.  
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising at least one indicator light coupled to said detachable sealed housing.  
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising at least one display panel coupled to said detachable sealed housing.  
   
   
       53 . A method, comprising: 
 positioning a detachable sealed housing at least partially in a recess formed in a component adapted to be positioned in a subterranean wellbore;    removably coupling said detachable sealed housing to said component wherein at least a portion of said detachable sealed housing is positioned in said recess formed in said component, said detachable sealed housing having at least one cavity formed therein and at least one device positioned within said at least one cavity;    positioning said component and said housing in said subterranean wellbore; and    acquiring data using said at least one device after said detachable sealed housing is positioned within said subterranean wellbore.    
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein substantially all of said detachable sealed housing is positioned within said recess.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said at least one device is comprised of a sensor.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said at least one device is comprised of an electrical component.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said at least one device is comprised of at least one sensor and at least one electrical component.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said detachable sealed housing is removably coupled to said component by a threaded connection.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said detachable sealed housing is removably coupled to said component by a retaining clip.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising a threaded retaining member that is threadingly coupled to said component, said threaded retaining member adapted to engage at least a portion of said detachable sealed housing to removably couple said detachable sealed housing to said component.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein removably coupling said detachable sealed housing to said component comprises positioning a cover plate over said detachable sealed housing, said cover plate being removably coupled to said component by at least one threaded fastener.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said housing has a plurality of cavities formed therein.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said recess is formed in an exterior surface of said component.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said recess is formed in an interior surface of said component.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said component comprises at least one of a drill bit, a pipe, a motor, a rotary steerable device, and a downhole sub.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising withdrawing said detachable sealed housing from said wellbore and observing at least one indicator light operatively coupled to said detachable sealed housing.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising withdrawing said detachable sealed housing from said wellbore and observing at least one display panel operatively coupled to said detachable sealed housing.  
   
   
       68 . A method, comprising: 
 positioning a detachable sealed housing adjacent a surface of a component adapted to be positioned in a subterranean wellbore;    removably coupling a detachable sealed housing to said surface of said component, the housing having at least one cavity formed therein and at least one device positioned within said at least one cavity;    positioning said component and said detachable sealed housing in said subterranean wellbore; and    acquiring data using said at least one device after said detachable sealed housing is positioned within said subterranean wellbore.    
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said at least one device is comprised of a sensor.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said at least one device is comprised of an electrical component.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said at least one device is comprised of at least one sensor and at least one electrical component.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said detachable sealed housing is removably coupled to said surface of said component by at least one threaded fastener.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said detachable sealed housing has a plurality of cavities formed therein.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said detachable sealed housing is removably coupled to an exterior surface of said component.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said detachable sealed housing is removably coupled to an interior surface of said component.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said component comprises at least one of a drill bit, a pipe, a motor, a rotary steerable device, and a downhole sub.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising withdrawing said detachable sealed housing from said wellbore and observing at least one indicator light operatively coupled to said detachable sealed housing.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising withdrawing said detachable sealed housing from said wellbore and observing at least one display panel operatively coupled to said detachable sealed housing.