US2006191682A1PendingUtilityA1

Heating and cooling electrical components in a downhole operation

41
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Dec 3, 2004Filed: Dec 2, 2005Published: Aug 31, 2006
Est. expiryDec 3, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Bruce H. Storm, Jr.Roger SchultzMichael Linley Fripp
E21B 47/017E21B 36/00E21B 47/0175
41
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Claims

Abstract

In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tool for a downhole operation. The tool includes a downhole power source to generate power. The tool also includes a cooler module to lower temperature based on the power.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a tool for a downhole operation, the tool including, 
 a downhole power source to generate power; and  
 a cooler module to lower temperature based on the power.  
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tool further comprises an electrical component not operable at a high temperature and coupled to the cooler module.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole power source is operable at a high temperature.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole power source comprises a flow-driven generator.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a tool for a downhole operation, the tool including, 
 a component not operable at a high temperature;  
 a cooler module to lower the temperature of the component; and  
 a power source operable at a high temperature, the power source to supply power to the cooler module.  
   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the power source comprises a flow-driven generator to supply power based on a flow of fluid downhole.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the tool further comprises a variable speed clutch configured to supply a substantially constant rotation rate of a turbine blade of the flow-driven generator to the cooler module.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the tool further comprises a thermal insulator at least partially surrounding the component.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the tool further comprises a sensor having a different component operable at a high temperature and coupled to the component  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a resistivity sensor, a directional sensor, a pressure temperature, a temperature sensor and a gamma detector.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the high temperature is above 175 degrees Celsius.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the low temperature is below 150 degrees Celsius.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the downhole operation comprises a Measurement While Drilling operation.  
   
   
       14 . A system comprising: 
 an oilfield tubular; and    a downhole tool coupled to the oilfield tubular, the downhole tool comprising, 
 a thermal insulator at least partially surrounding a first electrical component that is inoperable at a high temperature;  
 a cooler module coupled to the first electrical component, the cooler module to lower the temperature of the first electrical component; and  
 a power source to generate power, the power source to include a second electrical component operable at a high temperature, the power source to power at least in part the first electrical component.  
   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the power source is to power at least in part to the cooler module.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein a flow of mud down a borehole where the drill string is to be located is to supply power at least in part to the cooler module.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the downhole tool further comprises a sensor to collect data related to formation evaluation, the sensor to include a third electrical component operable at a high temperature, wherein the power source is to power at least in part the third electrical component.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a resistivity sensor, a directional sensor, a pressure temperature, a temperature sensor and a gamma detector.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second electrical component is part of electronics to process the data related to the formation evaluation.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the downhole tool further comprises a telemetry module having a fourth electrical component operable at a high temperature.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the power source comprises a flow-driven generator.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the downhole tool further comprises a battery to supplement the power from the power source.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the high temperature is in above 200 degrees Celsius.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the power source is to be actively cooled by the cooler module.  
   
   
       25 . A method comprising: 
 operating a tool downhole, the operating comprising, 
 generating power from a power source of the tool which has a first electrical component operable at a high temperature; and  
 cooling a component, which is inoperable at a high temperature, to a temperature using a cooling system that is powered at least in part by the power from the power source.  
   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein operating the tool downhole further comprises measuring a downhole parameter with a sensor having a second electrical component operable at a high temperature and is coupled to the component.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein generating power from the power source comprises generating power using a flow-driven generator driven by a mud flow downhole.  
   
   
       28 . A method comprising: 
 operating a tool downhole, the operating comprising, 
 generating power from a turbine generator that is operable at a high temperature; and  
 lowering a temperature using a cooler module of the tool based on the power from the turbine generator.  
   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein lowering the temperature comprises lowering the temperature of an electrical component that is not operable at a high temperature.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the high temperature at which the electrical component is not operable is above 150 degrees Celsius.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the high temperature at which the turbine generator is operable is above 175 degrees Celsius.

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