Electro-Mechanical-Hydraulic Instrument Bus

Abstract

A downhole string having a series of downhole tools, where the tools are powered by different energy sources. The different energy sources include electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical. Connections between adjacent downhole tools provide for electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical communication between adjacent tools. Thus energy in one part of the downhole string can be converted into another form of energy and communicated for use in another part of the downhole string.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole string for use in a wellbore comprising:
 an electrically powered tool;   a hydraulically powered tool;   a mechanically powered tool;   a sub between the electrically powered tool and the hydraulically powered tool comprising,
 an electrical connection system having an end in electrical communication with the electrically powered tool and an opposing end in electrical communication the hydraulically powered tool, and 
 a hydraulic connection system having an end in hydraulic communication with the electrically powered tool and an opposing end in hydraulic communication the hydraulically powered tool; and 
   a sub between the mechanically powered tool and the electrically powered tool comprising,
 a mechanical connection system having an end mechanically coupled with the mechanically powered tool and an opposing end mechanically coupled with the hydraulically powered tool, and 
 an electrical connection system having art end in electrical communication with the electrically powered tool and an opposing end in electrical communication the mechanically powered tool. 
   
     
     
         2 . The downhole string of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically powered tool comprises a first electrically powered tool the downhole tool further comprising a second electrically powered tool and a sub between the second electrically powered tool and the mechanically powered tool. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole string of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically powered tool comprises a device that operates on electricity. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole string of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanically powered tool comprises a device that operates on a mechanical force. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole string of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulically powered tool comprises a device that operates on a supply of hydraulic fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole string of  claim 1 , wherein the sub between the electrically powered tool and the hydraulically powered tool comprises a housing, a means for connecting the housing to the electrically powered tool, a means for connecting the housing to the hydraulically powered tool,
 wherein the opposing ends of the electrical connection system comprise electrical connectors that selectively connect to electrical connectors in the electrically powered tool and the hydraulically powered tool, and the electrical connectors are in electrical communication via an electrically conducting medium that is disposed in the housing, and   wherein the opposing ends of the hydraulic connection system comprise hydraulic connectors that selectively connect to hydraulic connectors in the electrically powered tool and the hydraulically powered tool and the hydraulic connectors are in hydraulic communication via a hydraulic How conduit that is disposed in the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The downhole string of  claim 1 , wherein the sub between the electrically powered tool and the mechanically powered tool comprises a housing, a means for connecting the housing to the electrically powered tool, a means for connecting the housing to the mechanically powered tool
 wherein the opposing ends of the electrical connection system comprise electrical connectors that selectively connect to electrical connectors in the electrically powered tool and the Mechanically powered tool, and the electrical connectors are in electrical communication via an electrically conducting medium that is disposed in the housing, and   wherein the opposing ends of the mechanical connection system comprise mechanical couplings that selectively connect to mechanical couplings in the electrically powered tool and the mechanically powered tool, and the mechanical connectors are mechanically coupled via a mechanical element that is disposed in the housing.   
     
     
         8 . The downhole string of  claim 1 , wherein the sub is attached to adjacent ones of the tools with a spin collar that is selectively rotatable with respect to the sub and threading affixed to the adjacent ones of the tools. 
     
     
         9 . A downhole string for use in a wellbore comprising:
 a pair of downhole tools; and   a sub connected between the downhole tools that comprises two or more of:
 an electrical connection system through which the pair of downhole tools are in electrical communication, 
 a mechanical connection system through which the pair of downhole tools are mechanically coupled, and 
 a hydraulic connection system through which the pair of downhole tools are in hydraulic communication. 
   
     
     
         10 . The downhole string of  claim 9 , further comprising another downhole tool, wherein the pair of downhole tools and the another downhole tool comprise an electrically powered tool, a hydraulically powered tool and a mechanically powered tool. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole string of  claim 10 , wherein the sub comprises a first sub, wherein the downhole string further comprises a second sub, and wherein a one of the first and second sub is disposed between the pair of downhole tools, and wherein the other one of the first and second sub is disposed between the pair of downhole tools and the another downhole tool. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole string of  claim 11 , wherein the first sub comprises the electrical connection system and the mechanical connection system, so that when the first sub is connected between the electrically powered tool and the mechanically powered tool, electrical and mechanical power is transferred between the electrically powered tool and the mechanically powered tool via the first sub. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole string of  claim 11 , wherein the first sub comprises the electrical connection system and the hydraulic connection system, so that when the first sub is connected between the electrically powered tool and the hydraulically powered tool, electrical and hydraulic power is transferred between the electrically powered tool and the hydraulically powered tool via the first sub. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using a downhole string in a wellbore comprising:
 providing a first fours of energy to the downhole string in the wellbore;   operating a downhole tool in the downhole string with the first source of energy; and   converting the first form of energy to a second form of energy and operating another downhole tool in the downhole string with the second form of energy.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a first downhole tool and the another downhole tool comprises a second downhole tool the method further comprising converting one of the first form of energy or the second form of energy to a third form of energy, and operating a third tool in the downhole string with the third form of energy. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein connectors are provided in the downhole string for communicating forms of energy between adjacent downhole tools. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the forms of energy communicated between the downhole toots comprise two of more of electrical energy, hydraulic energy, and mechanical energy. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the downhole tool and the another downhole tool are operated simultaneously. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the another downhole tool is operated a time that is different than a time when the downhole tool is operated. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the downhole tool and the another downhole tool are coupled to one another proximate the wellbore.