Electro-optic cablehead and methods for oilwell applications

• US 7,699,114 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Hogan, Daniel, Morrison, Montie W., Ullah, Kalim
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell; David J
• Assistant Examiner(s): FULLER, ROBERT EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US11/468,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20080053654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 166/66.5, 166/66, 385/100, 385/101, 385/102, 385/103, 385/104, 385/105, 385/106, 385/138, 367/25, 367/81, 367/69, 439/190, 439/191, 439/192, 439/193, 439/194, 439/195
• US Class Current: 166/385
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B

Abstract

An oil and gas well assembly is provided that includes a wireline cable having at least one optical fiber; a downhole tool having at least one optical fiber; and a cablehead having a first end connected to the wireline cable, a second end connected to the downhole tool. The cablehead further includes at least one optical fiber which transmits data between the at least one downhole tool optical fiber and the at least one wireline cable optical fiber.

Claims

1. An oil and gas well assembly comprising:

a wireline cable comprising at least one optical fiber;

a downhole tool comprising at least one optical fiber; and

a cablehead comprising a first end connected to the wireline cable, a second end connected to the downhole tool, and at least one optical fiber extending therethrough which transmits data between the at least one downhole tool optical fiber and the at least one wireline cable optical fiber; and

a lower bulkhead assembly which seals off pressure therepast, and wherein the at least one cablehead optical fiber is precisely aligned with the at least one downhole tool optical fiber past the lower bulkhead assembly to allow communication therebetween.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one cablehead optical fiber also transmits power from the wireline cable to the downhole tool.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an electrically conductive covering encased around the at least one wireline cable optical fiber, which extends across the cablehead to transmit data and power from the wireline cable to the downhole tool.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cablehead further comprises at least one electrical transmission line, which transmits data and power from the wireline cable to the downhole tool.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cablehead further comprises a housing, and first and second bulkheads connected to the housing such that a pressure sealed area is formed between the first and second bulkheads.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one wireline cable optical fiber is connected to the at least one cablehead optical fiber within the pressure sealed area.

7. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one wireline cable optical fiber is encased in an electrically conductive and an insulation covering, and wherein the at least one wireline cable optical fiber is connected to the first bulkhead by a crimp seal assembly which comprises a tube which receives the at least one wireline cable optical fiber and its coverings and comprises a crimped area that crimps or deforms the outer metal tube and thereby seals and compresses the insulation covering around the underlying conductive covering and the at least one wireline cable optical fiber.

8. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one cablehead optical fiber is connected to the second bulkhead by an optical feedthru which comprises a tube which receives the at least one cablehead optical fiber and a sealed area between the tube and the fiber for preventing fluids from entering past the seal.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the precise alignment of the at least one cablehead optical fiber and the at least one downhole tool optical fiber is through matable optical connectors.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the lower bulkhead assembly is connected to a connector assembly having a spaced apart area allowing a radial positioning of the at least one cablehead optical fiber to be changed in moving from the lower bulkhead assembly to the connector assembly prior to alignment with the at least one downhole tool optical fiber.

11. An oil and gas well assembly comprising:

a wireline cable comprising at least one optical fiber;

a downhole tool comprising at least one optical fiber; and

a cablehead comprising;

a housing comprising a first end connected to the wireline cable, and a second end connected to the downhole tool,

first and second bulkheads connected to the housing such that a pressure sealed area is formed between the first and second bulkheads,

at least one optical fiber which transmits data between the at least one downhole tool optical fiber and the at least one wireline cable optical fiber, wherein the at least one wireline cable optical fiber is connected to the at least one cablehead optical fiber within the pressure sealed area, and

a lower bulkhead assembly connected to the housing which seals off pressure therepast, and wherein the at least one cablehead optical fiber is precisely aligned with the at least one downhole tool optical fiber past the lower bulkhead assembly to allow communication therebetween.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one cablehead optical fiber also transmits power from the wireline cable to the downhole tool.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the cablehead further comprises at least one electrical transmission line, which transmits data and power from the wireline cable to the downhole tool.

14. The assembly of claim 13, further comprising an electrically conductive covering encasing the at least one wireline cable optical fiber, which transmits data and power between the wireline cable to the downhole tool.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the electrically conductive covering is separated from its corresponding wireline cable optical fiber within the pressure sealed area.

16. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one wireline cable optical fiber is encased in an electrically conductive and an insulation covering, and wherein the at least one wireline cable optical fiber is connected to the first bulkhead by a crimp seal assembly which comprises a tube which receives the at least one wireline cable optical fiber and its coverings and comprises a crimped area that crimps or deforms the outer metal tube and thereby seals and compresses the insulation covering around the underlying conductive covering and the at least one wireline cable optical fiber.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the at least one cablehead optical fiber is connected to the second bulkhead by an optical feedthru which comprises a tube which receives the at least one cablehead optical fiber and a sealed area between the tube and the fiber for preventing fluids from entering past the seal.

18. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the lower bulkhead assembly is connected to a connector assembly having a spaced apart area allowing a radial positioning of the at least one cablehead optical fiber to be changed in moving from the lower bulkhead assembly to the connector assembly prior to alignment with the at least one downhole tool optical fiber.

19. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the downhole tool is a logging tool.

20. A method of transmitting data in an oil and gas well assembly comprising:

providing a wireline cable with at least one optical fiber;

providing a downhole tool with at least one optical fiber;

providing a cablehead with a housing, first and second upper bulkheads, a lower bulkhead, and at least one optical fiber;

forming a first pressure sealed area between the first and second upper bulkheads,

forming a second pressure sealed area past the lower bulkhead;

connecting the at least one wireline cable optical fiber to the at least one cablehead optical fiber in the first pressure sealed area;

connecting the at least one cablehead optical fiber to the at least one downhole tool optical fiber in the second pressure sealed area; and

transmitting data between the at least one downhole tool optical fiber and the at least one wireline cable optical fiber through the at least one cablehead optical fiber.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting power from the wireline cable to the downhole tool through the at least one cablehead optical fiber.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing the cablehead with at least one electrical transmission line, and transmitting data and power from the wireline cable to the downhole tool through the at least one electrical transmission line.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising encasing the at least one wireline cable optical fiber in an electrically conductive covering, and transmitting data and power from the wireline cable to the downhole tool through the electrically conductive covering.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising encasing the at least one wireline cable optical fiber in an electrically conductive covering, and insulation covering, and a crimp seal tubing, and crimping the crimp seal tubing to seal the insulation covering around the conductive covering and the underlying at least one wireline cable optical fiber.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

connecting the at least one cablehead optical fiber to the second bulkhead by use of an optical feedthru which comprises a tube which receives the at least one cablehead optical fiber and a sealed area between the tube and the fiber for preventing fluids from entering past the seal;

connecting the lower bulkhead assembly to a connector assembly having a spaced apart area allowing a radial positioning of the at least one cablehead optical fiber to be changed in moving from the lower bulkhead assembly to the connector assembly prior to connection to the at least one downhole tool optical fiber; and

separating the electrically conductive covering from the at least one wireline cable optical fiber within the first pressure sealed area.