HIGH TEMPERATURE POTHEAD

• US 20120052721A1
• Filed: 06/26/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Watson, Arthur I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,398,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/519
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/025 Side entry subs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/533 Bases, cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure H01R13/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A technique enables protection of electrical conductors in a submerged environment, such as a wellbore environment. A connector system is employed to connect a submersible component with an electrical cable. The connector employs redundant seal systems designed to maintain functionality during the life of the system when utilized in high temperature environments. For example, the high temperature, redundant seal systems enable continued operation of the submersible component in a submerged environment of at least 600 degrees Fahrenheit.

Claims

1. A system to create electrical connectivity in a submerged environment, comprising:

a submersible component;

a cable to provide electrical communication with the submersible component; and

a connector coupled to the cable and to the submersible component to enable flow of electricity between the cable and the submersible component, the connector having redundant seal systems, wherein the redundant seal systems enable continued operation of the submersible component in a submerged io environment and at temperatures up to at least 600 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the redundant seal systems comprise a solder joint between a housing of the connector and a lead jacket of the cable.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the redundant seal systems comprise an O-ring.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the redundant seal systems comprise an elastomer seal which seals against a phase of the cable and an interior surface of the housing.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the elastomer seal is compressed by a compression block driven by a ring that engages a recess in the housing.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the connector further comprises an intervening spring stack between the ring and the elastomer seal.

7. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the connector further comprises a plurality of insulating shrouds, each insulating shroud being placed over a corresponding phase of a plurality of phases within the housing.

8. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the solder joint is covered in an encapsulating material.

9. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the connector further comprises a plurality of phase spring stacks, each phase spring stack being disposed about a corresponding phase of the plurality of phases.

10. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the elastomer seal comprises a lip seal having an outer skin which is softer than an internal support material.

11. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the redundant seal systems further comprise a plurality of individual lip seals.

12. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the insulation layer of the cable comprises an extruded layer.

13. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the insulation layer of the cable comprises a lapped tape insulation.

14. A system to create electrical connectivity in a submerged environment, comprising:

a connector for coupling an electric cable to a submersible component, the connector comprising;

a housing having openings for receiving phases of the electric cable; and

a plurality of redundant seal systems to form a sealed connection between the electric cable and the submersible component, the redundant seal systems engaging the housing and comprising;

a metal seal system;

an O-ring seal system; and

a lip seal system to seal between the housing and the individual phases of the electric cable.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the metal seal system comprises solder located to seal between the housing and an external lead jacket of the electric cable.

16. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the O-ring seal system comprises an O-ring located around the housing.

17. A method for creating an electrical and mechanical connection in a submerged environment, comprising:

forming a plurality of redundant seal systems capable of operating in a submerged environment at a temperature of up to at least 600 degrees Fahrenheit;

locating the plurality of redundant seal systems along a pothead; and

using the pothead to sealingly couple an electric cable with a submersible component.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein forming comprises forming a solder seal, an O-ring seal, and a lip seal along the pothead.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising loading the lip seal via at least one spring stack.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising placing an insulating shroud around each phase of the electric cable within the pothead.