Fiber optic well logging cable
First Claim
1. A cable comprising:
- (a) an optical fiber;
(b) an enclosure comprising a corrugated-wall tube having a plurality of maximum diameter portions surrounding said optical fiber, said corrugations enabling an actual length of the enclosure to be greater than an axial length of the optical fiber, said enclosure being pressure sealed to exclude fluids from entering said enclosure under a hydrostatic pressure;
(c) a substantially toroidally shaped ring within each maximum diameter portion of corrugations in the wall of the tube; and
(d) armor wires wound around said enclosure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cable includes an optical fiber and a pressure sealed enclosure surrounding the fiber. The enclosure is adapted to be able to be elongated to the maximum expected axial strain on the cable without permanent deformation. In one embodiment, the enclosure is corrugated-wall tube surrounding the optical fiber. The tube contains toroidally shaped rings within the maximum diameter portions of the corrugations in tube wall. The cable includes armor wires wound around the corrugated wall tube. In the preferred embodiment, the tube is surrounded by an elastomeric jacket, and is filled with hydraulic oil or the like to prevent entry of wellbore fluids into the tube under hydrostatic pressure. The cable may be used for well logging operations or for seismic data acquisition.
68 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A cable comprising:
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(a) an optical fiber;
(b) an enclosure comprising a corrugated-wall tube having a plurality of maximum diameter portions surrounding said optical fiber, said corrugations enabling an actual length of the enclosure to be greater than an axial length of the optical fiber, said enclosure being pressure sealed to exclude fluids from entering said enclosure under a hydrostatic pressure;
(c) a substantially toroidally shaped ring within each maximum diameter portion of corrugations in the wall of the tube; and
(d) armor wires wound around said enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A cable comprising:
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(a) an optical fiber;
(b) an enclosure including (i) a wire helically wound around said optical fiber, said helical winding enabling an actual length of the enclosure to be greater than an axial length of the optical fiber said wire resistant to crushing thereof under a lateral force on said well logging cable, and (ii) an outer elastomeric jacket disposed on an exterior surface of said wire;
said enclosure being pressure sealed to exclude fluids from entering said enclosure under a hydrostatic pressure; and
(c) armor wires wound around said enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification