Downhole Power Generation

Abstract

A gas lift valve (GLV) is described herein. The GLV includes a power generation device that uses a fluid flowing through the GLV to generate power.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for generating power within a wellbore, the method comprising:
 passing an injection fluid into a wellbore in fluid communication with a subsurface formation;   mixing the injection fluid with formation fluids to form a produced fluid;   flowing the produced fluid through the wellbore to a wellhead;   generating power by passing a power generation fluid through a gas lift valve (GLV); and   wherein the power generation fluid is one of a portion of the injection fluid, a portion of the produced fluid or combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the injection fluid is a compressed gas and is passed into an annulus within the wellbore between a well casing and a production tubing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising determining an amount of power to be generated by the GLV. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GLV is a valve configured to control flow of the injection fluid and is associated gas lift operations. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating from the GLV to a control unit at the surface of the wellbore. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating power further comprising rotating a rotary assembly in the power generation device to generate current in an electrical generator. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising disconnecting a power storage device from the power generation device using a switch when power storage within the power storage device is maximized. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing well optimization from the power generated by the GLV to power a device, wherein performing well optimization comprises:
 obtaining data from a sensor within the wellbore;   storing the data from the sensor in a memory device; and   transmitting the data from the senor to a data transmitter to a data receiver.   
     
     
         9 . A hydrocarbon system comprising:
 a wellhead;   a wellbore in fluid communication with the wellhead and a subsurface formation;   well casing disposed within the wellbore, wherein the well casing provides one or more fluid flow paths from the subsurface formation to the wellhead;   a production tubing disposed within the wellbore and in fluid communication with the wellbore;   a gas lift valve (GLV) associated with the production tubing within the wellbore, wherein the GLV comprises a power generation device that uses a fluid flowing through the GLV to generate power.   
     
     
         10 . The hydrocarbon system of  claim 9  further comprising a coupling configured to inject a compressed gas into the wellbore, wherein the compressed gas is passed through the GLV to generate power. 
     
     
         11 . The hydrocarbon system of  claim 9 , wherein the production tubing includes one or more mandrels and a production packer, wherein one of the one or more mandrels includes the GLV. 
     
     
         12 . The hydrocarbon system of  claim 9 , wherein the GLV comprises:
 a power generation device configured to use the fluid flowing through the GLV to generate power;   a power storage device configured to store the power generated by the power generation device; and   a well optimization device configured to use the power stored within the power storage device, to collect data from one or more sensors associated with the wellbore operations, to store the data from the sensor, and transmit the data from the sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The hydrocarbon system of  claim 12 , wherein the power generation device comprises a rotary assembly and an electrical generator. 
     
     
         14 . The hydrocarbon system of  claim 12 , wherein the well optimization device comprises at least one of a sensor, a memory device, or a data transmitter. 
     
     
         15 . A gas lift valve (GLV), comprising a power generation device that uses a fluid flowing through the GLV to generate power. 
     
     
         16 . The GLV of  claim 15 , wherein the power generation device is located within an internal chamber of the GLV. 
     
     
         17 . The GLV of  claim 15 , wherein the GLV is configured to open and to close at pressures in the tubing or annulus, depending on the specific application and wherein an open position of the GLV corresponds to a power generation mode of the GLV. 
     
     
         18 . The GLV of  claim 15 , wherein the GLV comprises:
 a housing enclosing an internal chamber;   an internal nozzle;   a power generation device disposed in the internal chamber, wherein the power generation device is configured to convert energy from a compressed gas flowing through the GLV into electricity; and   a power storage device configured to store the power generated by the power generation device; and   a well optimization device configured to use the power stored within the power storage device, to collect data from one or more sensors associated with the wellbore operations, to store the data from the sensor, and to transmit the data from the sensor.   
     
     
         19 . The GLV of  claim 18 , wherein the power generation device comprises a rotary assembly and an electrical generator. 
     
     
         20 . The GLV of  claim 19 , wherein the rotary assembly comprises a paddlewheel or a turbine.