Downhole mud motor and method of improving durabilty thereof

Abstract

A downhole mud motor includes, a stator, a rotor in operable communication with the stator, and a plurality of nanoparticles embedded in at least a portion of the stator

1 . A downhole mud motor, comprising
 a stator;   a rotor in operable communication with the stator; and   a plurality of nanoparticles embedded in at least a portion of the stator.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole mud motor of  claim 1 , wherein the stator includes a polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole mud motor of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer is positioned between the stator and the rotor. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole mud motor of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles are configured to increase heat transfer through the polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole mud motor of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles are configured to increase heat transfer from the polymer to matter that comes into contact therewith. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole mud motor of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles interface with a surface of the polymer to reduce friction between the polymer and matter engagable therewith. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole mud motor of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles decreases heat generated related to deformation of the polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole mud motor of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles allows the downhole mud motor to have a greater power density. 
     
     
         9 . A method of improving durability of a mud motor stator, comprising:
 dissipating heat through the mud motor stator with nanoparticles embedded in at least a portion of the stator; and   maintaining temperature of the mud motor stator below a threshold temperature.   
     
     
         10 . The method of improving durability of a mud motor stator of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 interfacing a surface of at least a portion of the mud motor stator with the nanoparticles; and   decreasing friction between the surface and matter in contact therewith.   
     
     
         11 . The method of improving durability of a mud motor stator of  claim 9 , further comprising decreasing heat generated in relation to deformation of at least a portion of the mud motor stator with the nanoparticles embedded therein. 
     
     
         12 . The method of improving durability of a mud motor elastomer of  claim 9 , wherein the at least a portion of the stator is an elastomer. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole mud motor of  claim 2 , wherein the nanoparticles are embedded in the polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole mud motor of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer is an elastomer. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole mud motor of  claim 2 , wherein the nanoparticles have higher thermal conductivity than the polymer. 
     
     
         16 . The downhole mud motor of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles include carbon nanotubes (CNT), single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNT), graphenes, fullerenes, diamonds, copper, silver, aluminum, boron nitride (BN), aluminum nitride (AlN), and combinations thereof.