Crystal Sensor Ion Implantation for Downhole Fluid Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Crystal sensors used in the earth drilling industry face reliability issues due to exposure to high temperatures and chemicals, which can damage the electrodes and thin protection layers, leading to failure in characterizing downhole fluids effectively.
Innovation Solution
The method involves implanting ions in a crystal to create conductive regions within the crystal, which are embedded internally to prevent surface damage and provide a signal for sensing fluid properties, using ion-implantation to enhance the crystal sensor's durability and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrodes are deposited on the surface of the piezoelectric crystal, then the crystal sensor can function to sense fluid properties, but the electrodes are vulnerable to damage from high temperatures and chemicals
Solution Approach 1:
The electrodes are embedded within the crystal structure rather than being placed on the surface. The crystal material surrounds and protects the conductive regions, creating a nested configuration where the protective crystal layer encases the vulnerable electrodes, eliminating exposure to harsh downhole environments
Solution Approach 2:
The crystal material serves as an intermediary protective layer between the electrodes and the harsh external environment. This intermediate crystal structure transmits mechanical vibrations to the electrodes while blocking direct contact with high temperatures, pressures, and chemicals
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a thin protection layer of dielectric material is added over the electrodes, then some protection is provided, but the protection layer itself can fail leading to electrode exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The vulnerable electrodes are extracted from the surface location and embedded within the crystal interior. This removes the need for a separate protection layer, as the crystal structure itself provides the protective function, eliminating the intermediate failure point that a separate dielectric layer would represent
Solution Approach 2:
The protective function and the sensing function are merged into a single integrated structure. The crystal material simultaneously provides mechanical protection and transmits vibrational energy to the electrodes, combining structural integrity with sensing capability in one element
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach improves the reliability of crystal sensors by embedding conductive regions within the crystal, protecting them from high-temperature and chemical damage, allowing for accurate sensing of fluid properties in harsh downhole environments.
Implementation Method 1
implanting ions in the crystal using ion-implantation to produce a conductive region within the crystal
Implementation Method 2
a flexural mechanical resonator is made of a piezoelectric crystal in the shape of a tuning fork having two or more electrodes. By applying an alternating voltage to the electrodes at one or more frequencies, the flexural mechanical resonator resonates in a fluid of interest with an electrical impedance related a fluid characteristic
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method for producing a crystal sensor. The method includes selecting a crystal configured to sense a property of interest. The method further includes implanting ions in the crystal using ion-implantation to produce a conductive region within the crystal where the conductive region is capable of providing a signal to sense the property of interest. Also disclosed is a method and apparatus for estimating a property of interest using the crystal sensor in a borehole penetrating the earth.