Transportable Energy Storage Devices

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure can relate to transportable energy storage devices for furnishing power to down-hole electrical devices of a drill string. In embodiments, a system for furnishing electrical power includes a vessel that can be transported through a drill pipe (e.g., from the surface) towards a down-hole tool coupled to an end of the drill pipe. An energy storage device can be disposed within or defined by the vessel. The energy storage device can have an output terminal that can be operably coupled with an input terminal of the down-hole tool or operably coupled with an input terminal of a second energy storage device that directly or indirectly furnishes power to the down-hole tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for furnishing electrical power to down-hole electrically powered devices of a drill string, comprising:
 a vessel transportable through a drill pipe towards a down-hole tool of the drill pipe;   an energy storage device disposed within or defined by the vessel, the energy storage device including an output terminal configured to be operably coupled with an input terminal of the down-hole tool or an input terminal of a second energy storage device.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the output terminal is configured to be inductively coupled with the input terminal of the down-hole tool or the input terminal of the second energy storage device. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the output terminal of the energy storage device comprises a first conductive coil, wherein the first conductive coil is configured to at least partially surround or be surrounded by a second conductive coil. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the output terminal is configured to be directly coupled with the input terminal of the down-hole tool or the input terminal of the second energy storage device. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises an annular body allowing fluid flow through an inner cavity of the annular body. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a substantially cylindrical body. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the vessel includes a centralizer at least partially surrounding the substantially cylindrical body, the centralizer being structured to align the substantially cylindrical body with the down-hole tool or the second energy storage device. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the centralizer includes one or more wheels or bearings to reduce friction between the vessel and an inner surface of the pipe while the vessel is transported therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is transportable by at least one of gravitational force or flow of drilling fluid. 
     
     
         10 . A system for furnishing electrical power to electrically powered devices, comprising:
 a vessel transportable through a passage towards an electrically powered device located at an end of the passage;   an energy storage device disposed within or defined by the vessel, the energy storage device including an output terminal configured to be operably coupled with an input terminal of the electrically powered device or an input terminal of a second energy storage device.   
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the output terminal is configured to be inductively coupled with the input terminal of the electrically powered device or the input terminal of the second energy storage device. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the output terminal of the energy storage device comprises a first conductive coil, wherein the first conductive coil is configured to at least partially surround or be surrounded by a second conductive coil. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the output terminal is configured to be directly coupled with the input terminal of the electrically powered device or the input terminal of the second energy storage device. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the vessel comprises an annular body allowing fluid flow through an inner cavity of the annular body. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the vessel comprises a substantially cylindrical body. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the vessel includes a centralizer at least partially surrounding the substantially cylindrical body, the centralizer being structured to align the substantially cylindrical body with the electrically powered device or the second energy storage device. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the centralizer includes one or more wheels or bearings to reduce friction between the vessel and an inner surface of the pipe while the vessel is transported therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for furnishing energy to electrically powered devices, comprising:
 a transportable vessel having a substantially cylindrical body configured to transport through a tubular passage;   a centralizer at least partially surrounding the substantially cylindrical body, the centralizer being structured to maintain the substantially cylindrical body aligned with a longitudinal axis of the tubular passage;   an energy storage device disposed within or defined by the vessel; and   an output connector coupled to the energy storage device, the output connector being located at an end of the substantially cylindrical body and being configured to at least partially fit within an input socket of an electrically powered device or a second energy storage device.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the centralizer includes openings or spaced apart elements that allow fluid to flow around the substantially cylindrical body. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the tubular passage comprises at least one of: a drill pipe, a testing string pipe, a completion pipe, a stimulation string, a formation evaluation string, or a monitoring string.