EP-4735732-A1 - HIGH FREQUENCY INJECTION FOR BREAKING ENERGY DISSIPATION

Abstract

A method of operating a downhole motor on a downhole tool includes generating an electrical energy output with the downhole motor. The electrical energy output flows to an electronics system of the downhole tool. The method further includes applying an electrical energy input to the downhole motor with the electronics system. The method further includes reducing the electrical energy output based on the applied electrical energy input in order to maintain the electrical energy output below an operational threshold of the electronics system.

Inventors

• SOK, David
• MIZZON, Federico
• ZORIC, Ivan

Assignees

• Services Pétroliers Schlumberger
• Schlumberger Technology B.V.

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20230731

Claims (20)

1. 1. A method of operating a downhole motor on a downhole tool, comprising: generating an electrical energy output with the downhole motor, wherein the electrical energy output flows to an electronics system of the downhole tool; applying an electrical energy input to the downhole motor with the electronics system; and reducing the electrical energy output based on the applied electrical energy input in order to maintain the electrical energy output below an operational threshold of the electronics system.
2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy input is a high frequency harmonic of the electrical energy output.
3. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy input is a harmonic of the electrical energy output of a 9 th order or greater.
4. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy input has an electrical frequency that is different than a rotational frequency of the downhole motor.
5. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy input is modulated by a motor drive of the downhole motor.
6. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the electrical energy input is modulated by one or more insulated-gate bipolar transistors (TGBTs) of the motor drive.
7. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy input results in a torque ripple of no more than 15%.
8. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: preventing the electrical energy output from flowing to a DC link of the downhole tool.
9. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy output is dissipated by a brake resistor, and wherein reducing the electrical energy output includes reducing an excess portion of the electrical energy output that is not dissipated by the brake resistor.
10. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronics system does not include a brake resistor.
11. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy input does not increase an average torque generated by the downhole motor.
12. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy input does not affect an average speed of the downhole motor.
13. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the downhole motor is a 3-phase AC motor.
14. 14. A method of operating a downhole motor of a downhole tool, comprising: generating an electrical energy output with the downhole motor, wherein the electrical energy output flows to an electronics system of the downhole tool; while generating the electrical energy output, selectively decreasing an efficiency of the downhole motor to generate the electrical energy output; and reducing the electrical energy output based on decreasing the efficiency in order to maintain the electrical energy output below an operational threshold of the electronics system.
15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein decreasing the efficiency of the downhole motor includes increasing a total harmonic distortion of an electrical current in an armature of the downhole motor.
16. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein decreasing the efficiency of the downhole motor includes modifying one or more of a frequency, magnitude, phase, and harmonic distortion of a current in an armature of the downhole motor.
17. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein decreasing the efficiency of the downhole motor includes increasing a joule loss and/or an eddy current loss of the downhole motor.
18. 18. A method of dissipating electrical energy, comprising: identifying a regeneration mode of a downhole motor in a downhole tool, wherein, in the regeneration mode, the downhole motor generates an electrical energy output; upon identifying the regeneration mode, applying an electrical energy input to an armature of the downhole motor; and based on applying the electrical energy input; causing at least a portion of the electrical energy output to dissipate as heat through the downhole motor.
19. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least a portion of the electrical energy output is dissipated as heat through one or more of the armature of the downhole motor and an iron core of the downhole motor.
20. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the electrical energy input results in a net decrease in the electrical energy output.

Description

HIGH FREQUENCY INJECTION FOR BREAKING ENERGY DISSIPATION BACKGROUND [0001] Wellbores may be drilled into a surface location or seabed for a variety of exploratory or extraction purposes. For example, a wellbore may be drilled to access fluids, such as liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons, stored in subterranean formations and to extract the fluids from the formations. Wellbores used to produce or extract fluids may be formed in earthen formations using earth-boring tools such as drill bits for drilling wellbores and reamers for enlarging the diameters of wellbores. [0002] In downhole drilling, electric motors are often implemented to drive various components of the drilling system. These motors typically operate at high power levels (e.g., high current and/or voltage), which can subject one or more electrical components of the motor’s electrical system to excess levels and/or prolonged durations of high power when the motors operate in a regeneration mode. This excess power is often dissipated as heat through one or more power dissipating features of the motor system, but such power dissipating components are often limited in their ability to withstand power at elevated levels and/or for longer durations. Additionally, these power dissipating components can typically become damaged or worn from overheat, overcurrent, and/or overvoltage conditions and as such are prone to failure, which may present a risk of damage to one or more other components of the motor system. Therefore, improved techniques for effectively dissipating unwanted quantities of electrical power generated by downhole motors may be advantageous over conventional methods. SUMMARY [0003] In some embodiments, a method of operating a downhole motor includes generating an electrical energy output with the downhole motor. The electrical energy output flows to an electronics system of the downhole tool. The method includes applying an electrical energy input to the downhole motor with the electronics system. The method includes reducing the electrical energy output based on the applied electrical energy input in order to maintain the electrical energy output below an operational threshold of the electronics system. [0004] In some embodiments, a method of operating a downhole motor of a downhole tool includes generating an electrical energy output with the downhole motor. The electrical energy output flows to an electronics system of the downhole tool. The method includes, while generating the electrical energy output, selectively decreasing an efficiency of the downhole motor to generate the electrical energy output. The method includes reducing the electrical energy output based on decreasing the efficiency in order to maintain the electrical energy output below an operational threshold of the electronics system. [0005] In some embodiments, a method of dissipating electrical energy includes identifying a regeneration mode of a downhole motor in a downhole tool. While in the regeneration mode, the downhole motor generates an electrical energy output. The method includes, upon identifying the regeneration mode, applying an electrical energy input to an armature of the downhole motor. The method includes, based on applying the electrical energy input, causing at least a portion of the electrical energy output to dissipate as heat through the downhole motor. [0006] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. Additional features and aspects of embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth herein, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. For better understanding, the like elements have been designated by like reference numbers throughout the various accompanying figures. While some of the drawings may be schematic or exaggerated representations of concepts, at least some of the drawings may be drawn to scale. Understanding that the drawings depict some example embodiments, the embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: [0008] FIG. 1 shows an example of a drilling system, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; [0009] FIGS. 2-1 to 2-3 show an example implementation of a downhole motor system, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; [0010] FIG. 3 shows an example implementation of a downhole moto