DOWNHOLE POWER GENERATION USING HYDRAULIC FLOW REGULATION

摘要

Systems and methods of downhole power generation are disclosed, which provide for the generation of electrical power in a downhole environment by the use of an electrical generator coupled to a hydraulic circuit that receives energy from a source in the downhole environment. The hydraulic circuit can receive energy from flowing drilling fluid and/or from kinetic energy of one or more portions of the drill string. A direct or indirect coupling can be used to transfer energy from the downhole environment to a pump in the hydraulic circuit, which can act as a hydraulic flow source, providing flow through a flow regulation device or control circuit. The hydraulic fluid under such control can then be used to turn a hydraulic motor, which is used to turn an electric generator for the generation of electricity for downhole tools such as logging tools, related telemetry, and the like.

主权项

1. A downhole power generation system comprising:
an energy source that provides input energy; a hydraulic circuit communicably coupled to the energy source to receive the input energy at a hydraulic pump arranged within the hydraulic circuit, wherein the hydraulic pump circulates hydraulic fluid throughout the hydraulic circuit; a hydraulic motor arranged in the hydraulic circuit; a flow regulation device interposing the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor within the hydraulic circuit, wherein the flow regulating device receives hydraulic fluid flow from the hydraulic pump and provides a regulated hydraulic fluid flow directly to an inlet of the hydraulic motor which converts the regulated hydraulic fluid flow into a power input; and an electrical generator communicably coupled to the hydraulic motor, wherein the electrical generator receives the power input and generates electrical power.