Downhole On-Demand Power Source System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current downhole battery systems have a short shelf life and reduced durability in high-temperature environments, making them unsuitable for long-term deployment in subterranean operations where extended reliability is needed.
Innovation Solution
A downhole on-demand power source system that stores reactive components separately and activates them only when needed, using triggers to mix the components and generate power, thereby extending the system's operational life in harsh conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional downhole batteries are used in high-temperature environments, then they can provide power to downhole equipment, but their shelf life is limited to a few weeks to a couple of months
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into separate functional components: an inactive battery that maintains long-term stability and a trigger mechanism that activates power generation only when needed. This segmentation allows the battery to remain stable for extended periods (5+ years) in high-temperature storage while still providing power when activated, resolving the contradiction between temperature tolerance and shelf life.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery is prepared in advance in an inactive state with all components in place but not yet activated. The trigger mechanism is pre-positioned to initiate power generation only when specific conditions are met. This preliminary preparation allows the system to maintain stability for years while ensuring immediate power availability when needed, addressing both the temperature durability and shelf life requirements.
2Reliability
If downhole batteries operate at elevated temperatures of 100°C-250°C, then they can function in permanent downhole sensors, but their lifetime is reduced to a few weeks to a couple of months
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the battery into an inactive storage state and an active power-generation state. During the inactive state, the battery maintains reliability for 5+ years in high-temperature environments without degradation. When activated by the trigger mechanism, it provides power for the operational duration needed. This resolves the contradiction by allowing long-term reliability in storage while providing adequate operational lifetime when activated.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery operates in periodic cycles: long periods of inactive storage (years) followed by brief periods of active power generation. This periodic operation pattern allows the battery to maintain high reliability during extended inactive periods in high-temperature environments while still providing sufficient power duration during brief activation periods, thus resolving the contradiction between operational reliability and operational lifetime.
3Ease of operation
If the battery is activated continuously, then it can provide immediate power to electrical loads, but it cannot maintain long-term stability in high-temperature environments
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism is pre-positioned and ready to activate the battery immediately when needed, ensuring ease of operation and immediate power availability. Meanwhile, the battery remains in a stable inactive state for long-term storage (5+ years) in high-temperature environments. The preliminary preparation of both the battery and trigger system allows the system to switch between storage stability and immediate power availability as needed, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
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 enables long-term power storage and reliable power supply in high-temperature and high-pressure environments, significantly extending the system's shelf life and operational duration.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first energy storage device located within a wellbore disposed in a subterranean formation in a first inactive state
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole on-demand power source system can include at least one first energy storage device located within a wellbore disposed in a subterranean formation in a first inactive state. The system can also include at least one first trigger that initiates the at least one first energy storage device from the first inactive state to a first active state. The at least one first energy storage device, once initiated, can provide a first power to an electrical load disposed in the wellbore proximate to the at least one first energy storage device. The at least one first energy storage device, when in the first inactive state, is incapable of providing the first power.