Optical fiber cable for transmission of high power laser energy over great distances

• US 10,001,612 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2016
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Zediker, Mark S., Rinzler, Charles C., Faircloth, Brian O., Moxley, Joel F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kianni, Kaveh C
• Application Number:
  US15/154,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20160299304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 385102
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/60 characterised by conduits or nozzles for drilling fluids for roller bits E21B10/18; for percussion drill bits E21B10/38
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/00 Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/14 Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/15 of electrically generated heat
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02395 Glass optical fibre with a protective coating, e.g. two layer polymer coating deposited directly on a silica cladding surface during fibre manufacture G02B6/02052, G02B6/02057, G02B6/024, G02B6/032, G02B6/105, G02B6/14 take precedence; coating on fibre gratings G02B6/02104; multilayer core or cladding G02B6/036; reinforcing splice joints G02B6/2558; optical cables, i.e. comprising protective structures external to the protective coating such as a jacket or plural coated optical fibres G02B6/44; coating of glass to obtain optical fibres C03C25/104
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4296 coupling with sources of high radiant energy, e.g. high power lasers, high temperature light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4415 Cables for special applications G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/443 Protective covering
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4436 Heat resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44382 the means comprising hydrogen absorbing materials G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence

Abstract

There is provided a system and apparatus for the transmission of high power laser energy over great distances without substantial power loss and without the presence of stimulated Raman scattering. There is further provided systems and optical fiber cable configurations and optical fiber structures for the delivering high power laser energy over great distances to a tool or surface to perform an operation or work with the tool or upon the surface.

Claims

1. An optical fiber cable for transmitting high power laser energy over great distances comprising:

a. a cable having an input end for receiving laser energy and an output end of delivering laser energy to a tool or surface;

b. the cable having a length between the input end and the output end that is at least about 1 km;

c. the cable comprising;

a core;

a cladding;

a coating over the cladding; and

a means for protection over the coating;

d. the cable core having a diameter of at least about 400 microns;

e. the cable input end configured to receive high power laser energy having an input wavelength from a laser having about 15 kW to 50 kW of power; and

,

f. the cable output end configured to deliver the high power laser energy, wherein at least about 70% of the received laser energy is delivered at the input laser wavelength.