Fiber optic cable for use in harsh environments

• US 7,024,081 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Dowd, Edward M., Ives, Milton E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ERIC K
• Application Number:
  US10/422,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20040213529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 385100-113, 166/351, 367/25, 367/35
• US Class Current: 385/109
• 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 6/44382 the means comprising hydrogen absorbing materials G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence

Abstract

Fiber optic cables suitable for use in harsh environments such as down hole oil and gas well applications and methods for fabricating the same have been provided. In one embodiment, an optic cable suitable for down hole oil field applications comprises one or more optical fibers disposed in an inner tube and a corrosion resistant metal outer tube disposed over the inner tube, where the inner and outer tubes make intermittent contact. In another embodiment, an optic cable suitable for down hole oil field applications comprise one or more optical fibers disposed in a polymer tube having fins extending therefrom.

Claims

1. An optic cable suitable for down hole oil field applications, comprising:

an inner tube comprising a polymer sheath disposed over a metal tube;

one or more optical fibers disposed in the inner tube; and

a corrosion resistant metal outer tube disposed over the inner tube and making intermittent contact therewith, wherein the intermittent contact mechanically retains the inner tube relative to the outer tube due to frictional contact.

2. The optic cable of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the inner tube has a different geometrical shape than an inner diameter the outer tube.

3. The optic cable of claim 1 further comprising:

a filler material disposed between the one or more optical fibers and the inner tube.

4. The optic cable of claim 3, wherein the filler material disposed between the one or more optical fibers and the inner tube further comprises:

a viscous material; and

at least one of a hydrogen absorbing or hydrogen scavenging material intermixed in the viscous material.

5. The optic cable of claim 1 further comprising:

a low hydrogen permeable coating disposed on the inner tube.

6. The optic cable of claim 5, wherein the low hydrogen permeable coating further comprises:

a nickel seed layer disposed on the inner tube;

a layer of low hydrogen permeable material disposed on the seed layer; and

a nickel layer disposed over the low hydrogen permeable material layer.

7. The optic cable of claim 5, wherein the low hydrogen permeable coating further comprises at least one of tin, gold or carbon.

8. The optic cable of claim 5 further comprising:

a polymer layer disposed on the low hydrogen permeable coating.

9. The optic cable of claim 1, wherein the polymer sheath further comprises a plurality of fins extending outwardly therefrom.

10. The optic cable of claim 1, wherein the outer tube has a diameter less than about 3/16 inch.

11. The optic fiber of claim 1 further comprising a radially compressed polymer disposed between the inner tube and the outer tube.

12. An optic cable suitable for down hole oil field applications, comprising:

a metal outer tube;

a polymer tube disposed within the outer tube and having a plurality of fins extending outwardly therefrom and mechanically coupling with the metal outer tube to substantially prevent movement of the polymer tube within the metal outer tube; and

one or more optical fibers disposed in the polymer tube, wherein the cable includes a greater length of optical fibers per unit length of polymer tube.

13. The optic cable of claim 12 further comprising:

a filler material disposed between the one or more optical fibers and the polymer tube.

14. The optic cable of claim 13, wherein the filler material disposed between the one or more optical fibers and the inner tube further comprises:

a viscous material; and

at least one of a hydrogen absorbing or hydrogen scavenging material intermixed in the viscous material.

15. The optic cable of claim 12 further comprising:

a low hydrogen permeable coating disposed on the polymer tube.

16. The optic cable of claim 15, wherein the low hydrogen permeable coating further comprises:

a nickel seed layer disposed on the inner tube;

a layer of low hydrogen permeable material disposed on the seed layer; and

a nickel layer disposed over the low hydrogen permeable material layer.

17. The optic cable of claim 15, wherein the low hydrogen permeable coating further comprises at least one of tin, gold or carbon.

18. The optic cable of claim 12 further comprising:

a seam welded corrosion resistant metal tube disposed between the polymer tube and the one or more optical fibers.

19. The optic cable of claim 18, wherein the metal tube further comprises:

a low hydrogen permeable coating disposed thereon.

20. The optic cable of claim 12, wherein the fins extend form the polymer tube to a diameter less than about 3/16 inch.

21. An optic cable suitable for down hole oil field applications, comprising:

a metal outer tube;

a polymer tube disposed within the outer tube and having a different shape than an inner diameter of the metal outer tube, wherein a perimeter of the polymer tube lying in a cross sectional plane of the polymer tube intermittently contacts the inner diameter of the metal outer tube to mechanically engage the metal outer tube and secure the polymer tube and the outer tube relative to one another;

one or more optical fibers disposed in the polymer tube, wherein the cable includes a greater length of optical fibers per unit length of polymer tube; and

a viscous filler material disposed between the one or more optical fibers and the inner tube, wherein a hydrogen absorbing material is intermixed in the filler material.