Optical Fiber Cable for Transmission of High Power Laser Energy Over Great Distances

• US 20100215326A1
• Filed: 02/16/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Faircloth, Brian O., Rinzler, Charles C., Moxley, Joel F., Zediker, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,347,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/100
• 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:

an optical fiber cable having a length that is greater than about 0.5 km;

the cable comprising;

a core;

a cladding;

a coating;

a first protective layer; and

, a second protective layer;

wherein, the cable is capable of transmitting laser energy having a power greater than or equal to about 5 kW over the length of the cable with a power loss of less than about 2 dB/km and without the presence of a stimulated Raman scattering spectral band.

2. The cable of claim 1, having a length greater than about 1 km.

3. The cable of claim 1, having a length greater than about 2 km.

4. The cable of claim 1, having a length greater than about 3 km.

5. The cable of claim 1, having a length greater than about 1 km;

and wherein the power is greater than about 10 kW.

6. The cable of claim 5, having a length greater than about 2 km.

7. The cable of claim 5, having a length greater than about 3 km.

8. The cable of claim 1, wherein the second protective layer is longer than the core.

9. The cable of claim 1, wherein the core has a diameter of at least about 500 microns.

10. 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 and a means for protection;

d. the core having a diameter of at least about 500 microns;

e. the cable input end configured to receive high power laser energy from a laser having a power greater than or equal to about 5 kW; and

,

f. the cable output end configured to deliver at least about 70% of the received laser energy.

11. The cable of claim 10, wherein the length is at least about 2 km.

12. The cable of claim 10, wherein the core is longer than the means for protection.

13. The cable of claim 10, where the delivered laser energy has a spectrum that is substantially free from stimulated Raman scattering.

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

the cable having a length that is at least about 1 km;

the cable comprising;

a fiber core and an outer protective layer;

wherein, the cable is capable of transmitting laser energy having a power greater than or equal to about 5 kW over the length of the cable with a power transmission of at least about 60% and without the presence of a stimulated Raman scattering spectral band.

15. A system for delivering high power laser energy to a tool, the system comprising:

a. a high power laser having a power of at least about 1 kW;

b. an optical fiber cable comprising;

i. a core;

ii. a cladding;

iii. a coating; and

,

iv. a protective layer;

c. a tool;

d. the cable having a first and second end and a length between the first and second end;

e. the length of the cable being greater than 2 km;

f. the first end of the cable optically associated with the laser and the second end of the cable optically associated with the tool;

g. a laser beam transmitted in the cable and having a power of at least about 1 kW at the first end of the cable; and

,

h. the power loss of the laser beam in the cable from the first end to the second end being less than about 2 dB/km.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the laser beam power at the first end is greater than or equal to about 5 kW.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the laser beam power at the first end is greater than or equal to about 10 kW.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the power loss is less than about 1 dB/km.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the power loss is less than about 0.5 dB/km.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the cable comprises a second protective layer.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the cable comprises a second cladding.

22. A coil of optical fiber cable for transmitting laser energy over great distances comprising:

a. a cable comprising;

a core;

a cladding;

a coating;

a first protective layer; and

, a second protective layer;

b. the cable having a length greater than about 2 km.

c. the cable capable of transmitting high power laser energy for its length with a power loss of less than about 2 dB/km.

d. the cable wound in a coil; and

,

e. the outer diameter of the wound coil being less than about 6 m.

23. The coil of claim 22, wherein the coil is on a spool, wherein the high power laser energy is greater than or equal to about 5 kW, the length is greater than about 1 km and the power loss is less than about 1 dB/km.

24. The coil of claim 22, wherein the cable length is greater than about 2 km.

25. The coil of claim 22, wherein the cable length is greater than about 3 km.

26. A system for delivering high power laser energy to a tool, the system comprising:

a. a high power laser having a power of at least about 1 kW;

b. an optical fiber cable comprising;

i. a core;

ii. a cladding;

iii. a coating; and

,

iv. a first protective layer;

c. a tool;

d. the cable having a first and second end and a length between the first and second end;

e. the length of the cable being greater than 0.5 km;

f. the first end of the cable optically associated with the laser and the second end of the cable optically associated with the tool;

g. a laser beam having a wavelength in the range of from about 800 nm to about 2000 nm transmitted in the cable and having a power of at least about 1 kW at the first end of the cable;

h. the power loss of the laser beam in the cable from the first end to the second end being less than about 2 dB/km; and

,

i. where the delivered laser energy has a spectrum that is substantially free from stimulated Raman scattering.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the laser beam has a wavelength of about 1080 nm.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the laser beam has a wavelength of about 1550 nm.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the laser beam has a wavelength of about 1490 nm

30. The system of claims 26, wherein the power loss is less than about 1 dB/km.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the power loss is less than about 0.5 dB/km.

32. A system for delivering high power laser energy to a tool, the system comprising:

a. a high power laser having a power of at least about 5 kW;

b. an optical fiber cable comprising;

i. a core; and

,

ii. a protective layer;

c. a tool;

d. the cable having a first and second end and a length between the first and second end;

e. the length of the cable being greater than 2 km;

f. the first end of the cable optically associated with the laser and the second end of the cable optically associated with the tool;

g. a laser beam having a wavelength in the range of from about 800 nm to about 2000 nm transmitted in the cable and having a power of at least about 5 kW at the first end of the cable; and

,

h. the power loss of the laser beam in the cable from the first end to the second end being less than about 0.8 dB/km.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the power loss is less than about 0.3 dB/km.

34. 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; and

a means for protection;

d. the cable core having a diameter of at least about 300 microns;

e. the cable input end configured to receive high power laser energy from a laser having a power greater than or equal to about 10 kW; and

,

f. the cable output end configured to deliver from the at least about 70% of the received laser energy.