Multiple Use Termination System

• US 20140335712A1
• Filed: 05/08/2014
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Semple, Ryan P., Frey, Jeffrey G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,458,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/271
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/128 Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5205 Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet H01R13/5221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

Systems and methods for electrically connecting conductors of a downhole electric system using connector bodies that includes an outer housing, one or more inner conductors and an inorganic insulating material such as a glass-ceramic material which forms a fluid-tight seal between the outer housing and the inner conductor. The insulating material may be bonded to the outer housing and to the inner conductor. The insulating material may alternatively have an interference fit with the outer housing and the inner conductor. The connector bodies may have standardized connector interfaces to facilitate connection to complementary standardized connector interfaces on cable-end connectors, etc. Connector bodies may be formed as motor heads, mandrels for cable splices, penetrators, etc.

Claims

1. An electrical connector body adapted for use in a piece of downhole equipment, the electrical connector body comprising:

an outer housing;

one or more inner conductors;

an inorganic insulating material positioned between the outer housing and the inner conductors;

wherein the insulating material electrically insulates the outer housing from the inner conductors;

wherein the insulating material provides a fluid seal that prevents fluids from passing between the outer housing and the inner conductors.

2. The electrical connector body of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector body is installed in an electric submersible pump (ESP) motor, wherein the outer housing is installed in a motor head of the ESP motor, wherein the inner conductors extend from an interior of the ESP motor to an exterior of the ESP motor, wherein the fluid seal provided by the insulating material prevents oil in the interior of the ESP motor from passing through the electrical connector to the exterior of the ESP motor and prevents well fluids at the exterior of the ESP motor from passing through the electrical connector to the interior of the ESP motor.

3. The electrical connector body of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector body comprises an elongated mandrel, wherein the mandrel has a first end and a second end, wherein each of the first and second ends has an identical standardized first type of connector interface, wherein the type of connector interface is adapted to mate with and be secured to a complimentary second type of connector interface.

4. The electrical connector body of claim 1, wherein the insulating material is bonded to the outer housing and to the inner conductors.

5. The electrical connector body of claim 4, wherein the insulating material comprises a glass-ceramic matrix.

6. The electrical connector body of claim 4, wherein the insulating material comprises glass.

7. The electrical connector body of claim 4, wherein the insulating material comprises a ceramic.

8. The electrical connector body of claim 1, wherein each of the outer housing and the inner conductors is metal.

9. A downhole electric equipment system having multi-use electrical connectors, the system comprising:

a plurality of electrical cables, wherein each of the electrical cables includes one or more insulated electrical conductors therein;

a plurality of electrical connector bodies;

wherein each of the electrical connector bodies includes an outer housing, one or more inner conductors, and an inorganic insulating material positioned between the outer housing and the inner conductors, wherein the insulating material electrically insulates the outer housing from the inner conductors and provides a fluid seal that prevents fluids from passing between the outer housing and the inner conductors; and

wherein each electrical connector body has at least one of a connector interface of a first type, wherein each electrical cable has at least one of a connector interface of a second type, wherein the connector interface of the first type is adapted to mate with the connector interface of the second type.

10. The downhole electric equipment system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of electrical connector bodies have a plurality of connector interfaces of the first type and wherein the plurality of connector interfaces of the first type are identical;

and wherein the plurality of electrical cables have a plurality of connector interfaces of the second type and wherein the plurality of connector interfaces of the second type are identical;

wherein each of the connector interfaces of the first type is adapted to mate with each of the connector interfaces of the second type.

11. The downhole electric equipment system of claim 9, wherein a first one of the plurality of electrical connector bodies is installed in a motor head of the ESP motor, wherein the inner conductors extend from an interior of the ESP motor to an exterior of the ESP motor, wherein the fluid seal provided by the insulating material prevents oil in the interior of the ESP motor from passing through the electrical connector to the exterior of the ESP motor and prevents well fluids at the exterior of the ESP motor from passing through the electrical connector to the interior of the ESP motor.

12. The downhole electric equipment system of claim 11, wherein the motor head of the ESP motor comprises the outer housing of the first one of the plurality of electrical connector bodies.

13. The downhole electric equipment system of claim 9, wherein one or more of the plurality of electrical connector bodies comprises an elongated mandrel, wherein the mandrel has a first end and a second end, wherein each of the first and second ends has an identical connector interface of the first type.

14. The downhole electric equipment system of claim 9, wherein the insulating material is bonded to the outer housing and to the inner conductors.

15. The downhole electric equipment system of claim 14, wherein the insulating material comprises a glass-ceramic matrix.

16. The downhole electric equipment system of claim 14, wherein the insulating material comprises glass.

17. The downhole electric equipment system of claim 14, wherein the insulating material comprises a ceramic.

18. The downhole electric equipment system of claim 9, wherein each of the outer housing and the inner conductors is metal.

19. The downhole electric equipment system of claim 9, wherein one or more of the plurality of electrical cables comprises a tubing encapsulated conductor.

20. A method for connecting components of a downhole electric equipment system using multi-use electrical connectors, the method comprising:

providing one or more an electrical connector bodies, each of the electrical connector bodies including an outer housing, one or more inner conductors and an inorganic insulating material positioned between the outer housing and the inner conductors, wherein the insulating material electrically insulates the outer housing from the inner conductors and provides a fluid seal that prevents fluids from passing between the outer housing and the inner conductors, and wherein each electrical connector body has at least one of a connector interface of a first type, wherein all of the connector interfaces of the first type are identical;

providing one or more electrical cables, wherein each of the electrical cables includes one or more insulated electrical conductors therein, and wherein each of the electrical cables has at least one of a connector interface of a second type, which is adapted to mate with the connector interface of the first type, wherein all of the connector interfaces of the second type are identical; and

for each of the one or more an electrical connector bodies, electrically coupling the inner conductors to the insulated electrical conductors of a corresponding one of the one or more electrical cables by mating the connector interface of the electrical connector body to the connector interface of the electrical cable, wherein the coupled inner conductors and insulated electrical conductors form a continuous electrical pathway.