Vented optical tube

• US 10,133,017 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geospace Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: PGS Geophysical As (PGS ASA)
• Inventors: Segsworth, Matthew, Smith, Jeremy, Fernihough, Robert Alexis Peregrin, Bowlus, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Vonch, Jeffrey A
• Application Number:
  US15/169,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20170038545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 1/08 Tubular products
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/30 Iron, e.g. steel
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2323/10 Polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2327/12 containing fluorine
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2597/00 Tubular articles, e.g. hoses, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/266 characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/001 for underwater installation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/113 using electrical indications; using light radiations
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/201 Constructional details of seismic cables, e.g. streamers integrated optoseismic systems G01V1/226; line connectors in general H01R, transducer mountings in general G10K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/226 Optoseismic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3843 Deployment of seismic devices, e.g. of streamers equipment for marine deployment in general B63B
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/52 Structural details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2558 Reinforcement of splice joint
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4413 Helical structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4427 Pressure resistant cables, e.g. undersea cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4429 Means specially adapted for strengthening or protecting the cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/443 Protective covering
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4431 with provision in the protective covering, e.g. weak line, for gaining access to one or more fibres, e.g. for branching or tapping break-out terminations G02B6/4471
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4434 Central member to take up tensile loads
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/506 Underwater installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/801 : using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 : Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1355 : Elemental metal containing [e.g., substrate, foil, film, coating, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/139 : Open-ended, self-supporting conduit, cylinder, or tube-type article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1393 : Multilayer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1397 : Single layer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 : including aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24322 : Composite web or sheet

Abstract

Vented optical tube. At least some illustrative embodiments are conduits comprising a tube having a wall defining an interior volume of the tube. One or more optical fibers are disposed within the interior volume. The wall includes a plurality of vents passing from an outer surface of the wall to the interior volume, the plurality of vents disposed along a length of the tube, and wherein the vents are configured to convey a fluid in contact with the outer surface into the interior volume of the tube.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a conduit including;

a tube having a water defining an interior volume of the tube;

one or more optical fibers disposed within the interior volume of the tube, wherein;

the wall of the tube includes a plurality of vents, each vent passing between an outer surface of the wall of the tube and the interior volume, the plurality of vents disposed along a length of the tube and having a distance therebetween;

wherein the vents are configured to establish fluid communication between the interior volume of the outer jacket and the interior volume of the tube;

wherein the vents have a population and size configured to provide a flow rate into the interior volume of the tube equal to or greater than 1000 cubic millimeters/sec; and

wherein the distance between adjacent vents along the length of the tube is in a range of 25 meters to 250 meters.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vents have a diameter equal to or greater than about 20 micrometers.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the diameter of the vents is greater than or equal to about 1 millimeter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tube comprises a plastic selected from the group consisting of:

polypropylene; and

polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tube comprises a metal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the metal comprises stainless steel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more optical fibers comprise a buffer layer disposed on an outer surface of a primary polymer coating of the optical fiber.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conduit is a sensor cable defining a central axis:

and

wherein the tube is helicoidally disposed about the central axis of the sensor cable.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tube includes an end defining an opening to convey fluid into the interior volume of the tube surrounding the one or more optical fibers.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further including a sensor module having an outer shell defining an interior volume;

and

wherein the end of the tube is disposed within the interior volume of the sensor module providing fluid communication between the interior volume of the tube and the interior volume of the sensor module.

11. The apparatus a claim 10 wherein the outer shell defines a plurality of ports providing fluid communication between the interior body of the sensor module and a body of water with the sensor module submerged in the body of water.

12. A cable comprising:

an outer jacket having an outer surface and an inner surface and defining an interior volume bounded by the inner surface, the interior volume configured to be in fluid communication with a water body;

a tube having a wall defining an interior volume of the tube and disposed within the interior volume of the outer jacket; and

one or more optical fibers disposed within the interior volume of the tube, wherein;

the wall of the tube includes a plurality of vents, each vent passing between an outer surface of the wall of the tube and the interior volume of the tube, the plurality of vents disposed along a length of the tube and having a distance therebetween;

wherein each vent is configured to provide fluid communication between the interior volume of the outer jacket and the interior volume of the tube;

wherein the vents have a population and size configured to provide a flow rate into the interior volume of the tube equal to or greater than 1000 cubic millimeters/sec; and

wherein the distance between adjacent vents along the length of the tube is in a range of 25 meters to 250 meters.

13. The cable of claim 12 wherein the vents have a cross-sectional area equivalent to an area of a circle having a diameter equal to or greater than about 20 micrometers.

14. The cable of claim 13 wherein the vents have a cross-sectional area equivalent to an area of a circle having a diameter greater than about 1 millimeter.

15. The cable of claim 12 further comprising:

at least one strength member defining a central axis of the cable and wherein the tube comprises a helicoid disposed about the strength member.

16. The cable of claim 12 wherein the optical fibers comprise a buffer layer disposed on an outer surface of a primary polymer coating of the optical fiber.

17. The cable of claim 12 wherein the outer jacket comprises a plurality of vents between the outer surface of the outer jacket and the interior volume of the outer jacket, the vents configured to provide fluid communication between the interior volume of the outer jacket and a water body in fluid communication with the outer surface of the outer jacket.

18. The cable of claim 12 wherein the outer jacket includes an end defining an opening to convey fluid into the interior volume of the outer jacket surrounding the tube.

19. A method comprising:

providing a fiber optic cable having seismic sensors connected to optical fibers, the fiber optic cable comprising;

an outer jacket having an outer surface and an inner surface and defining an interior volume bounded by the inner surface, the interior volume configured to be in fluid communication with a water body;

a tube having a wall defining an interior volume of the tube and disposed within the interior volume of the outer jacket;

one or more optical fibers disposed within the interior volume of the tube, wherein;

the wall of the tube includes a plurality of vents, each vent passing between an outer surface of the wall of the tube and the interior volume of the tube, the plurality of vents disposed along the length of the tube and having a distance therebetween;

wherein each vent is configured to provide fluid communication between the interior volume of the outer jacket and the interior volume of the tube;

wherein the vents have a population and size configured to provide a flow rate into the interior volume of the tube is equal to or greater than 1000 cubic millimeters/sec; and

wherein the distance between adjacent vents along the length of the tube is in a range of 25 meters to 250 meters;

submerging the fiber optic cable in the water body;

flooding an interior volume of the tube with water; and

communicating a signal generated by seismic sensors in response to a seismic event through one or more of the optical fibers.