Structure for wellbore intervention tool to thermally insulate electronic components from the environment and from each other

Abstract

A well intervention tool includes a pressure resistant housing. A housing coupling has a first connector at one longitudinal end adapted to make pressure sealed connection to the housing. The housing coupling has a second connector at another longitudinal end adapted to make pressure sealed connection to another part of the well intervention tool. The housing coupling has an outer surface disposed between the one longitudinal end and the other longitudinal end exposed to an external environment. First electronic circuits are in thermal communication with the one longitudinal end of the housing coupling and second electronic circuits are in thermal communication with the other longitudinal end of the housing coupling. A geometry and material composition of the housing coupling are chosen to limit heat transfer between the first electronic circuits and the second electronic circuits to at most a selected threshold.

Description

STRUCTURE FOR WEUUBORE INTERVENTION TOOU TO THERMALLY INSULATE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FROM THE ENVIRONMENT AND FROM EACH OTHERBackground

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of well intervention tools. More specifically, the disclosure relates to thermally separated zones, compartments and containers for use in such well intervention tools to enable the tools to operate at elevated temperatures for extended periods of time, or more generally, at temperatures different from those existing in wells into which the tools are deployed.

[0002] The term “well intervention tools” as used herein includes, without limitation, any instrument conveyed along the interior of a subsurface well for performing tasks related to drilling, completion, remediation and abandonment of the well. Conveyance may be performed using, for example, deploying the tool at the end of an armored electrical cable, at the end of a coiled tubing, by drill pipe or completion pipe. In the case of conveyance by coiled tubing or drill pipe, the tool may be deployed during drilling the well.

[0003] Some well intervention tools comprise electronic circuitry in order to control various functions performed by the tool, and / or to make measurements about the well and / or the earthen formations adjacent to the well Those skilled in the art are aware that many wells, in particular very deep wells and / or wells used to recover geothermal energy expose the electronic circuits to high temperatures, and in the case of while-drilling operations, expose the circuits to high amplitude shock and vibration. Furthermore, whiledrilling well intervention tools may be subjected to high temperature and shock for extended periods of time, e.g., several weeks.

[0004] It is known in the art to enclose electronic circuits in well intervention tools within a vacuum-insulated container (e g., Dewar flask). Notwithstanding their effectiveness, and notwithstanding improvements to the insulating capability of such vacuum insulatedcontainers, the amount of time that such containers can maintain an interior temperature different than the ambient environment is limited.

[0005] There exists a need for improved well intervention tool structure to enable longer use time in wells at high differential temperatures with respect to survivable temperatures of various electronic circuits.Summary

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a well intervention tool. A well intervention tool according to this aspect includes a pressure resistant housing. A housing coupling has a first connector at one longitudinal end adapted to make pressure sealed connection to the housing. The housing coupling has a second connector at another longitudinal end adapted to make pressure sealed connection to another part of the well intervention tool. The housing coupling has at least one outer surface disposed between the one longitudinal end and the other longitudinal end exposed to an external environment. First electronic circuits are in thermal communication with the one longitudinal end of the housing coupling and second electronic circuits in thermal communication with the other longitudinal end of the housing coupling. A geometry and material composition of the housing coupling are chosen to limit heat transfer between the first electronic circuits and the second electronic circuits to at most a selected threshold.

[0007] In some implementations, the housing coupling comprises a first adapter connectable to the housing at one longitudinal and connectable to a spacer sleeve at another longitudinal end. The first adapter comprises a surface exposed to the external environment between the one longitudinal and the other longitudinal end. A second adapter is connectable to the spacer sleeve at one longitudinal end and to a well tool component at another longitudinal end. The second adapter comprises a surface exposed to an external environment between the one longitudinal and the other longitudinal end. A length of the first adapter and the second adapter engageable with the spacer sleeve, and a length of the spacer sleeve selected to provide an enclosed volume between the first adapter and the second adapter inside the spacer sleeve when the first and second adapters are connected to the spacer sleeve.

[0008] In some implementations, at least one of the first adapter or the second adapter comprises a longitudinal through bore.

[0009] In some implementations, an external diameter of the spacer sleeve is a same as an external diameter of the housing.

[0010] In some implementations, at least one of the first adapter or the second adapter comprises a threaded connector at at least the one longitudinal end or the other longitudinal end.

[0011] In some implementations, threaded connectors on both longitudinal ends of the first adapter and the second adapter are a same diameter.

[0012] In some implementations, a threaded connector on one longitudinal end of each of the first and the second adapters is smaller than a threaded connector on an opposed longitudinal end, wherein the spacer sleeve comprises a greater wall thickness than the housing and the well tool component.

[0013] In some implementations, the spacer sleeve comprises a composite plastic material.

[0014] In some implementations, the surface on at least one of the first adapter or the second adapter comprises features to increase a surface area of the surface.

[0015] In some implementations, the feature comprises fins.

[0016] In some implementations, the first electronic circuits have different heat output than the second electronic circuits.

[0017] In some implementations, at least one of the first electronic circuits or the second electronic circuits are disposed in an annular ring shaped heat sink, the heat sink in thermal contact with a respective one of the first adapter and the second adapter.

[0018] In some implementations, the heat sink comprises a plurality of axially stacked annular rings.

[0019] In some implementations, the enclosed volume comprises a thermal insulating material therein or is evacuated.

[0020] Some implementations further comprise a thermally insulated enclosure disposed within the housing.

[0021] In some implementations, the thermally insulated container comprises a Dewar flask.

[0022] Some implementations further comprise third electronic circuits disposed within the thermally insulated container.

[0023] Some implementations further comprise a thermoelectric cooler disposed in the thermally insulated container.

[0024] Some implementations further comprise a heat sink disposed in the thermally insulated container and in thermal contact with a heat discharge of the thermoelectric cooler.

[0025] Some implementations further comprise fourth electronic circuits disposed in the thermally insulated container and in thermal contact with a heat input of the thermoelectric cooler.

[0026] In some implementations, the third electronic circuits are thermally separated from the fourth electronic circuits, the third electronic circuits in thermal contact with an annular ring shaped heat sink.

[0027] In some implementations, the heat sink comprises a plurality of axially stacked annular rings.

[0028] In some implementations, the third electronic circuits and the fourth electronic circuits have different maximum rated operating temperatures.

[0029] In some implementations, the housing coupling comprises a longitudinal through bore.

[0030] In some implementations, the longitudinal through bore comprises a contact diameter.

[0031] In some implementations, the longitudinal through bore comprises a plurality of different diameter segments.

[0032] In some implementations, the plurality of different diameter segments comprises a maximum internal diameter segment and at least two intermediate diameter segments on opposed sides of the maximum internal diameter segment, wherein a diameter of the intermediate diameter segments comprises at least a minimum wall thickness to support an associated one of the connectors, and wherein the maximum internal diameter segment comprises a wall thickness at least sufficient to support expected axial and torsional loads on the housing coupling and at most to minimize heat transfer between the first and second electronic circuits.

[0033] In some implementations, an external diameter of the outer surface of the housing coupling is a same as an external diameter of the housing.

[0034] In some implementations, at least one longitudinal end of the housing coupling comprises a threaded connector.

[0035] In some implementations, both longitudinal ends of the housing coupling comprise a threaded connector.

[0036] Other aspects and possible advantages will be apparent from the description and claims that follow.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an example implementation of part of a well intervention tool according to the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a cross section of an example implementation of a housing coupling according to the present disclosure.Detailed Description

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of part 10 of a well intervention tool (tool part; the entire tool is not shown in the figures) in accordance with the present disclosure. Although the present description is made with reference to part of a well intervention tool, the example tool structures explained herein may comprise essentially all of a well intervention tool in some implementations; the described structures therefore do not limitthe scope of the present disclosure to parts of a larger well intervention tool. The tool part 10 may house electronic circuits, to be further explained below, that have different forms of temperature maintenance with respect to the exterior environment and the type of circuits. The tool part 10 may comprise a pressure resistant housing (housing) 32 that defines an interior chamber 33. The longitudinal ends 32A, 32B of the housing 32 may comprise connectors for coupling the housing 32 to other parts of the well intervention tool (not shown), e.g., threaded connectors. The example implementation of the housing 32 shown in FIG. 1 may comprise female (box) connectors at each longitudinal end, however, the specific form and / or gender of the connector is not a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure. The housing 32 may be made from steel, e g., non-magnetic alloy such as stainless steel; beryllium copper; titanium or from other materials known in the art for making well intervention tool pressure-resistant housings. Components that may be disposed in the housing 32 will be further explained below.

[0040] A tool part according to the present disclosure may comprise one or more forms of housing coupling, shown generally at 11. The housing coupling 11 makes pressure sealed connection between the housing 32 and another part of the well intervention tool, shown generally at 34. Various examples of the housing coupling 11 will be explained in more detail below. The housing coupling 11 may be in thermal contact with separate electronic circuits (explained in more detail below) disposed on or proximate each longitudinal end of the housing coupling 11. The housing coupling 11 may have at least one outer surface exposed to the external environment disposed between the longitudinal ends of the housing coupling 11, whereby heat generated by the separate electronic circuits is generally directed to the external environment and heat transfer between the separate electronic circuits is substantially reduced. A length, internal structure and material composition of the housing coupling 11 may be chosen to provide the foregoing functionality to the housing coupling 11, as well as to provide the housing coupling 11 with sufficient mechanical strength to endure expected axial and torsional loading and external fluid pressure to be exerted on the well intervention tool. In some implementations, the length and material composition of the housing coupling 11 may be chosen to limit heat transfer to at most a selected thresholdwith reference to a difference between heat generated by the separate electronics on opposed sides of the housing coupling 11.

[0041] Having explained in general terms the desired properties and functionality of the housing coupling 11, various example implementations will be explained in more detail. In the present example implementation shown in FIG. 1, an adapter, herein a first pressure housing adapter 12B may be attached to, e.g., by threaded connection at one longitudinal end, to one longitudinal end of the pressure housing 32. The first pressure housing adapter 12B may be made from a high strength, high thermal conductivity, non-magnetic material such as stainless steel. The first pressure housing adapter 12B may define within its crosssection a longitudinal through-bore 12B1 to act as a wireway or passageway for hydraulic lines. The other longitudinal end of the first pressure housing adapter 12B may be connected, e.g., by a threaded connector 12B2, to a spacer sleeve 12C. The spacer sleeve 12C may have a same exterior diameter as the housing 32 such that the entire tool part 10 may have a single external diameter. The spacer sleeve 12C may also be made from high strength, non-magnetic material such as stainless steel, beryllium copper, titanium or from other materials known in the art for making well intervention tool pressure-resistant housings.

[0042] The spacer sleeve 12C may comprise female threaded connectors on each longitudinal end as shown in FIG. 1. The opposed longitudinal end of the spacer sleeve 12C to the end connected to the first pressure housing adapter 12B may be connected to an adapter, herein a second pressure housing adapter 12A, e.g., by a threaded connector 12A2. The second pressure housing adapter 12A may also comprise a through bore 12A1 to act as a wireway. Lengths of the spacer sleeve 12C and the threaded connectors 12A2, 12B2 on each of the pressure housing adapters 12A, 12B may be selected such that when the pressure housing adapters 12A, 12B and the spacer sleeve 12C are fully assembled as shown in FIG. 1, a cavity 14 is defined between the facing longitudinal ends of the first 12B and second 12A pressure housing adapters. The cavity 14 may provide reduced heat transfer between the first pressure housing adapter 12B and the second pressure housing adapter 12A. The cavity 14 may, for example and without limitation, be filled with a thermally insulating material, or may be evacuated if suitable pressure sealing devices (notshown) are provided, e.g., in the respective wireways (or passageways) 12A1, 12B1. A respective section or portion between the opposed longitudinal ends 12A2, 12B2 of each pressure housing adapter 12A, 12B may comprise a surface 12A3, 12B3 that is exposed to the external environment in which the tool part 10 is disposed. While shown as smooth and having an external diameter approximately the same as that of the housing 32 and the spacer sleeve 12C, the surfaces 12A3, 12B3 may be shaped to increase thermally radiating surface area, e.g., may comprise fins or grooves to increase heat transfer between the pressure housing adapters 12A, 12B and the external environment.

[0043] In the present example implementation, the spacer sleeve 12C may be made from a metal or metal alloy as explained above, and may have threaded connectors of equal diameter to the threaded connectors on the housing 32. In the present example implementation, the threaded connectors 12B1, 12A2 on both longitudinal ends of the pressure housing adapters 12A, 12B may be the same diameter. In some implementations, the threaded connectors 12A2, 12B2 on one longitudinal end of each pressure housing adapter 12A, 12B, i.e., the longitudinal end to be threadedly coupled to the spacer sleeve 12C, may comprise a smaller diameter than the threaded connector on the opposed longitudinal end. The spacer sleeve 12C may in such cases have a much greater wall thickness so as to enable making the spacer sleeve 12C from a composite material such as glass or carbon (or other) fiber reinforced plastic. Using such material for the spacer sleeve 12C may further reduce heat transfer between the first pressure housing adapter 12B and the second pressure housing adapter 12 A, and as a result, reduce heat transfer between heat generating electronic components to be explained further below. Heat flow in such cases may be more completely directed through the surfaces 12A3, 12B3 to the external environment from such heat generating components.

[0044] The second pressure housing adapter 12A may couple at its other longitudinal end to another part of the well intervention tool, shown at 34 in FIG. 4. While the present example implementation may comprise a pin (male) threaded connection at such longitudinal and the other part 34 of the well intervention tool may comprise a box (female) threaded connection to engage the second pressure housing adapter 12A, the scope of thepresent disclosure is not so limited. It is only required that the second pressure housing adapter 12A make pressure sealed mechanical connection to the other tool part 34.

[0045] In the present example implementation, first electronic circuits 16 may be disposed so as to thermally contact a longitudinal end of the second pressure housing adapter 12A. The first electronic circuits 16 may comprise components expected to generate larger amounts of heat than other electronic circuits to be explained further herein. For example, the first electronic circuits 16 may comprise power handling devices such as a driver for a pulser (not shown) used to generate fluid flow telemetry signals in some types of well intervention tools or rectifiers to provide DC for other electronic devices wherein input power is obtained, e.g., from a fluid drive turbine (not shown) elsewhere in the well intervention tool. In the example implementation shown in FIG. 1, the first electronic circuits 16 may have electronic components disposed on one or more circuit boards (not shown) attached within one or more annular ring-shaped heat sinks 16A, however, the type and shape of any heat sink associated with the first electronic circuits 16 are not limitations on the scope of the present disclosure. It is only necessary for purposes of the present disclosure for heat generated by the first electronic circuits 16 to have a conductive path to the second pressure housing adapter 12A, at a location opposed to the longitudinal end 12A2 of the second pressure housing adapter 12A coupled to the spacer sleeve 12C.

[0046] Second electronic circuits 18 may be disposed on a longitudinal end 12B2 of the first pressure housing adapter 12B opposed to that coupled to the spacer sleeve 12C. In the present example implementation, the second electronic circuits 18 may be disposed in one or more annular ring-shaped heat sinks 18 A. As with the first electronic circuits 16, the type and shape of such heat sinks are not limitations on the scope of the present disclosure. The second electronic circuits 18 may also comprise components expected to generate substantial amounts of heat. In some implementations, the second electronic circuits 18 may comprise components that generate less heat than those in the first electronic circuits 16, wherein other components of the tool part 10, to be further explained below, may have adjacent thereto the lower heat generating components between the first 16 and second 18 electronic circuits. In some implementations, the components in thesecond electronic circuits 18 may have a lower temperature limit than the first electronic circuits 16.

[0047] A thermally insulating container 20, e.g., a vacuum insulated container (Dewar flask) may be disposed within the housing 32 on a side of the first pressure housing adapter 12B opposed to the longitudinal end 12B3 thereof coupled to the spacer sleeve 12C. The thermally insulating container 20 may comprise a thermal barrier plug 20A disposed in one longitudinal end of the thermally insulating container 20 to enable insertion and removal of components to be explained further below. The thermal barrier plug 20A may comprise various features such as an electromagnetic power and / or signal coupling, an optical window and any other devices to enable communication between the outside and the inside of the thermally insulating container 20.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows an example implementation of the housing coupling 11. The housing coupling 11 in FIG. 2 may be used instead of the housing coupling shown in and explained with reference to FIG. 1 including all of the first pressure housing adapter 12B, the spacer sleeve 12C and the second pressure housing adapter 12A. The housing coupling 11 may comprise a coupling body 110 of thermally conductive, high strength material such as metal. The coupling body 110 may comprise a connector 34A at one longitudinal end for connecting the coupling body 110 to the other tool part 34. In the present example implementation, the connector 34A may comprise a threaded connector, such as a pin (male) threaded connector. The other longitudinal end of the coupling body 110 may also comprise a connector 32A for connecting the coupling body 110 to the pressure resistant housing 32. Such connector 32A may comprise a pin threaded connector. First electronic circuits 16 may be in thermal contact with the coupling body 110 at or proximate the one longitudinal end, and second electronic circuits 22 may be in thermal contact with the coupling body 110 at the other longitudinal end. The electronic circuits 16, 22 may be disposed on respective annular ring heat sinks 16A, 22A in some implementations as explained with reference to FIG. 1. The coupling body 110 may comprise an exterior surface 113 that is exposed to the external environment when the other tool part 34 and the housing 32 are assembled to the housing coupling 11.

[0049] In some implementations, a geometry, which term includes length of the coupling body 110 and its material composition may be chosen such that heat transfer between the first electronic circuits 16 and the second electronic circuits 22 is below a selected threshold. Another component of the geometry, the internal structure of the coupling body 110, may be as simple as a fully filled, solid cross section. However, certain internal structural features may be provided in some implementations to improve heat flow isolation between the first 16 and second 22 electronic circuits. In the present example implementation, a through bore on each longitudinal side 114, 116, respectively, of the coupling body 110 may be provided to act as a wireway. The through bores 114, 116 may join directly with each other within the coupling body 110 as a constant diameter bore through the entire length of the coupling body 110, or as in the present example implementation, may include increasing internal diameter toward the longitudinal center of the coupling body 110. In the present example implementation, the through bores 114, 116 may comprise a respective intermediate diameter segment 118, 120, and a maximum internal diameter segment 112. The diameter of the intermediate diameter segments 118, 120 may be chosen to provide sufficient wall thickness to the coupling body 110 for the connectors 34A, 32A to resist thread parting when the housing coupling 11 is fully assembled, while minimizing heat transfer across the maximum internal diameter segment 112. The diameter of the maximum internal diameter segment 112 may be chosen to provide sufficient mechanical strength to the coupling body to resist axial and torsional loads on the coupling body 110 when in use, while minimizing heat flow between the electronic circuits 16, 22. Any part or all of the internal structure of the coupling body 110 may be evacuated or may have disposed therein a thermally insulating material. The respective diameters of the segments may have step-like transitions between them, may have curved transition of may have tapered transition as shown in FIG. 2. The particular transition between the segments is not a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure.

[0050] The coupling body 110 may be made using, for example and without limitation, 3D printing, or may be made from two separate sections that are internally machined or cast to have the features described herein and welded together.

[0051] Referring once again to FIG. 1, in some implementations, third electronic circuits 22 may be disposed inside the thermally insulating container, e.g., proximate the thermal barrier plug 20A. The third electronic circuits 22 may be disposed on one or more annular ring-shaped heat sinks 22A, although the type and structure of such heat sinks 22A are not limitations on the scope of the present disclosure. In some implementations, the components of the third electronic circuits 22 may generate less heat than the components in the first 16 and second 18 electronic circuits. In some implementations, the third electronic circuits 22 may comprise components having a lower temperature limit than that of either or both the first 16 and second 18 electronic circuits.

[0052] Some implementations may comprise fourth electronic circuits 25 disposed within the thermally insulated container 20. The fourth electronic circuits 25 may comprise components limited to use in a lower temperature environment than the third electronic circuits 22. A cold material (pre-cooled to a selected temperature) heat sink 30 may be disposed in the thermally insulating container 20 on a side of the fourth electronic circuits 25 opposed to that on which the third electronic circuits 22 are disposed. The fourth electronic circuits 25 in the present example implementation may be in thermal communication with a thermoelectric cooler 24, which may transfer heat from the fourth electronic components 25 to the cold material heat sink 30. In some implementations, the thermally insulated container 20 may be disposed within the housing 32 inside a support sleeve 28, made for example from a low thermal conductivity material to both mechanically support the thermally insulated container 20, insulate it from mechanical shock and vibration from the housing 32, and to reduce heat transfer between the housing 32 and the thermally insulated container 20. In some implementations, the fourth electronic circuits 25 may comprise components having a lower temperature limit than those of any of the first 16, second 18 and third 22 electronic circuits.

[0053] In a tool part according to the present disclosure, by thermally separating electronic circuits having different temperature ratings and different heat outputs from each other, better use of available thermal isolation structures and thermal containment times in a wellbore intervention tool may be maintained. In particular, by thermally separating high heat generation (e.g., power handling) components from other components, it may bepossible to preserve an interior temperature of a thermally insulated container (e.g., Dewar flask) for a longer time than may otherwise be possible.

[0054] In light of the principles and example implementations described and illustrated herein, it will be recognized that the example implementations can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. The foregoing discussion has focused on specific implementations, but other configurations are also contemplated. In particular, even though expressions such as in “an implementation," or the like are used herein, these phrases are meant to generally reference implementation possibilities, and are not intended to limit the disclosure to particular implementation configurations. As used herein, these terms may reference the same or different implementations that are combinable into other implementations. As a rule, any implementation referenced herein is freely combinable with any one or more of the other implementations referenced herein, and any number of features of different implementations are combinable with one another, unless indicated otherwise. Although only a few examples have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible within the scope of the described examples. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. A well intervention tool, comprising: a pressure resistant housing; a housing coupling having a first connector at one longitudinal end adapted to make pressure sealed connection to the housing, the housing coupling having a second connector at another longitudinal end adapted to make pressure sealed connection to another part of the well intervention tool, the housing coupling having at least one outer surface disposed between the one longitudinal end and the other longitudinal end exposed to an external environment; first electronic circuits in thermal communication with the one longitudinal end of the housing coupling; second electronic circuits in thermal communication with the other longitudinal end of the housing coupling; and wherein a geometry and material composition of the housing coupling are chosen to limit heat transfer between the first electronic circuits and the second electronic circuits to at most a selected threshold.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the pressure resistant housing coupling comprises: a first adapter connectable to the housing at one longitudinal end and connectable to a spacer sleeve at another longitudinal end of the first adapter, the first adapter comprising a surface exposed to an external environment between the one longitudinal end and the other longitudinal end; and a second adapter connectable to the spacer sleeve at one longitudinal end and to a well tool component at another longitudinal end of the second adapter, the second adapter comprising a surface exposed to an external environment between the one longitudinal end of the second adapter and the other longitudinal end of the second adapter, a length of each of the first adapter and of the second adapter that is engageable with the spacer sleeve and a length of the spacer sleeve selected to provide an enclosed volume between the first adapter and the second adapter insidethe spacer sleeve when the first and second adapters are connected to the spacer sleeve.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first adapter or the second adapter comprises a longitudinal through bore.

4. The tool of claim 2 wherein an external diameter of the spacer sleeve is a same as an external diameter of the housing.

5. The tool of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first adapter or the second adapter comprises a threaded connector at at least the one longitudinal end of the first adapter or the other longitudinal end of the first adapter.

6. The tool of claim 5 wherein threaded connectors on both longitudinal ends of the first adapter and of the second adapter are a same diameter.

7. The tool of claim 5 wherein a threaded connector on one longitudinal end of each of the first and the second adapters is smaller than a threaded connector on an opposed longitudinal end, wherein the spacer sleeve comprises a greater wall thickness than the housing and the well tool component.

8. The tool of claim 7 wherein the spacer sleeve comprises a composite plastic material.

9. The tool of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface comprises features to increase a surface area of the surface.

10. The tool of claim 9 wherein the feature comprises fins.

11. The tool of claim 1 wherein the first electronic circuits have different heat output than the second electronic circuits.

12. The tool of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first electronic circuits or the second electronic circuits are disposed in an annular ring shaped heat sink, the heat sink in thermal contact with a respective one of the first adapter and the second adapter.

13. The tool of claim 12 wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of axially stacked annular rings.

14. The tool of claim 2 wherein the enclosed volume comprises a thermal insulating material therein or is evacuated.

15. The tool of claim 1 further comprising a thermally insulated enclosure disposed within the housing.

16. The tool of claim 15 wherein the thermally insulated container comprises a Dewar flask.

17. The tool of claim 15 further comprising third electronic circuits disposed within the thermally insulated container.

18. The tool of claim 17 further comprising a thermoelectric cooler disposed in the thermally insulated container.

19. The tool of claim 18 further comprising a heat sink disposed in the thermally insulated container and in thermal contact with a heat discharge of the thermoelectric cooler.

20. The tool of claim 17 further comprising fourth electronic circuits disposed in the thermally insulated container and in thermal contact with a heat input of the thermoelectric cooler.

21. The tool of claim 20 wherein the third electronic circuits are thermally separated from the fourth electronic circuits, the third electronic circuits in thermal contact with an annular ring shaped heat sink.

22. The tool of claim 21 wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of axially stacked annular rings.

23. The tool of claim 20 wherein the third electronic circuits and the fourth electronic circuits have different maximum rated operating temperatures.

24. The tool of claim 1 wherein the housing coupling comprises a longitudinal through bore.

25. The tool of claim 24 wherein the longitudinal through bore comprises a contact diameter.

26. The tool of claim 24 wherein the longitudinal through bore comprises a plurality of different diameter segments.

27. The tool of claim 26 wherein the plurality of different diameter segments comprises a maximum internal diameter segment and at least two intermediate diameter segments on opposed sides of the maximum internal diameter segment, wherein a diameter of the intermediate diameter segments comprises at least a minimum wall thickness to support an associated one of the connectors, and wherein the maximum internal diameter segment comprises a wall thickness at least sufficient to support expected axial and torsional loads on the housing coupling and at most to minimize heat transfer between the first and second electronic circuits.

28. The tool of claim 1 wherein an external diameter of the outer surface of the housing coupling is a same as an external diameter of the housing.

29. The tool of claim 1 wherein at least one longitudinal end of the housing coupling comprises a threaded connector.

30. The tool of claim 29 wherein both longitudinal ends of the housing coupling comprise a threaded connector.