Harvesting Vibration for Downhole Power Generation

Abstract

A system that is usable with a subterranean well includes a winding, a member and a circuit. The winding is located downhole in the well, and the member moves relative to the winding in response to vibration occurring in the well to cause a signal to be generated on the winding. The circuit is coupled to the winding to respond to the signal to provide power to operate a component located downhole in the well.

1 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a winding located downhole in the well;    a member to move relative to the winding in response to vibration occurring in the well to cause a signal to be generated on the winding; and    a circuit coupled to the winding to respond to the signal to provide power to operate a component located downhole in the well.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the member comprises a magnetic material.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the winding is attached to a tubular string extending into the well, and the coil moves relative to the string.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coil is attached to a tubular string extending into the well, and the winding moves relative to the string.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the relative motion occurs along a direction generally traverse to a longitudinal axis of a tubular string that extends into the well.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the relative motion occurs along a direction generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of a tubular string that extends into the well.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit comprises a voltage regulator to generate a regulated voltage to power the component in response to the signal.  
   
   
       8 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a tubular string comprising a central passageway and a flow diverter located in the central passageway to enhance vibrational energy in the tubular string in response to a flow contacting the flow diverter; and    a power generator located downhole in proximity to the flow diverter to respond to the vibrational energy to generate power for a downhole component.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the flow diverter comprises a wedge-shaped member.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the flow diverter comprises a blind T.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the flow diverter comprises a cantilevered member extending from an interior sidewall of the tubular member.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the flow diverter is located within approximately ten feet of the power generator.  
   
   
       13 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a tubular string comprising a central passageway having a varying cross-section to enhance vibrational energy in the tubular string in response to a flow through the cross-section; and    a power generator located downhole in proximity to the varying cross-section to respond to the vibrational energy to generate power for a downhole component.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the varying cross-section maintains an approximate circular shape.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the varying cross-section comprises a Venturi-type cross-section.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the varying cross-section is located within approximately ten feet of the power generator.  
   
   
       17 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a chamber located downhole in the well, the chamber comprising at least one opening to receive an inlet fluid flow and at least one opening to provide an outlet fluid flow;    an untethered member to move freely in the chamber in response to the inlet fluid flow to generate vibrational energy; and    a power generator located downhole in proximity to the chamber to respond to the vibrational energy to generate power for a downhole component.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the untethered member comprises a ball.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the untethered member is located within approximately ten feet of the power generator.  
   
   
       20 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a tubular string extending into the well, the string comprising a passageway to receive a fluid flow;    a flexible member comprising a first end attached to the tubular string and a second free end located in the passageway to generate vibrational energy; and    a power generator separate from the flexible member and located downhole in proximity to the flexible member to respond to the vibrational energy to generate power for a downhole component.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the flexible member comprises a spring.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the spring is located within approximately ten feet of the power generator.  
   
   
       23 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a downhole component located in the subterranean well to receive power and perform a downhole function in response to the received power; and    a power generator located downhole in proximity to the downhole component to respond to vibrational energy from the downhole component to generate the power received by the downhole component.    
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the downhole component comprises at least one of an electrical submersible pump, a rod-type pump and a beam-type pump.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the downhole component is located within approximately ten feet of the power generator.  
   
   
       26 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a tubular string extending into the well, the tubular string comprising a wall defining a passageway through the string and having a varying thickness to amplify a fundamental mode of vibration of the tubular string; and    a power generator located downhole and coupled to the tubular string to respond to vibrational energy from the tubular string to generate power for a downhole component.    
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the wall comprises thinner regions separated from each other by approximately ninety degrees about a longitudinal axis of the tubular string.  
   
   
       28 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a multiphase fluid mixer located in the subterranean well; and    a power generator located downhole in proximity to the mixer to respond to vibrational energy from the mixer to generate power for a downhole component.    
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the downhole component is located within approximately ten feet of the power generator.  
   
   
       30 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a tubular member located downhole in the subterranean well, the tubular member comprising a wall defining a passageway to receive a fluid flow and a groove formed in the wall to enhance vibrational energy produced by the fluid flow; and    a power generator located downhole in proximity to the groove to respond to vibrational energy from the mixer to generate power for a downhole component.    
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the groove comprises a spiral groove formed along a longitudinal axis of the passageway.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the groove is formed on an interior surface of the wall.  
   
   
       33 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a sandscreen; and    a power generator mounted to the sandscreen to respond to vibrational energy from the sandscreen to generate power for a downhole component.    
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the power generator is mounted to an exterior of the sandscreen.  
   
   
       35 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a tubular member comprises a side pocket eccentric to a central passageway of the tubular member; and    a power generator located in the side pocket to respond to vibrational energy to generate power for a downhole component.    
   
   
       36 . A method usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 deploying wireless tags in the well to measure properties of the well as the tags flow through the well; and    using vibrational energy transferred to the tags during the flowing through the well to activate the tags.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 for each tag, deploying the tag in an unpowered state into the well and converting vibrational energy transferred to the tag during the flowing into electrical power to power circuitry of the tag.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein at least one of the tags measures at least one of a pressure and a temperature in the well.  
   
   
       39 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a plurality of generators located downhole in the well, each of the generators independently generating power in response to vibrational energy,    wherein the generators are electrically coupled together to each contribute to a stored energy.    
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein output terminals of the generators are coupled in parallel.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 a battery, wherein the generators are each adapted to store energy in the battery.    
   
   
       42 . A method usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 initiating a flow from a surface of the well; and    using vibrational energy from the flow to power a downhole component.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising: 
 adding vibrational energy at the surface to increase power production downhole.    
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the adding comprises: 
 pulsing the flow.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the flow comprises a gravel slurry used in a gravel packing operation.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the flow comprises a cement flow used in a cementing operation.  
   
   
       47 . A method usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 detecting vibrational energy downhole in the well; and    using the detected vibrational energy to evaluate possible blockage in a downhole tubular member.    
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 using the vibrational energy to generate power for a downhole component.    
   
   
       49 . A method usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 detecting vibrational energy generated downhole;    identifying one of a plurality of downhole tools capable of generating the vibrational energy;    using the identification to acknowledge operation of said identified tool.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising: 
 constructing each of the downhole tools to have a different vibrational frequency during operation.    
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the downhole tools comprise gas lift valves.  
   
   
       52 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a downhole component; and    a controller to operate the component independently from a command from the surface of the well in response to a sensed characteristic downhole,    wherein at least one of the downhole component and controller receive power generated downhole from vibrational energy.    
   
   
       53 . A system usable with a subterranean well, comprising: 
 a drilling string comprising a drill bit and a motor to operate the drill bit; and    a sensor to sense a drilling characteristic,    wherein the motor is located between the sensor and the motor, and sensor is powered by electrical power generated from vibrational energy downhole.    
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the sensor does not receive power from any power cable extending across the motor.