System and method for connecting devices in a well environment

• US 8,336,633 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Speer, Robert, Worrall, Dan M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Neuder, William P
• Application Number:
  US12/770,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20110266008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 166/385, 166/65.1, 166/66
• US Class Current: 166/385
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/10 protected by boxes, e.g. by distribution, connection or junction boxes

Abstract

A technique facilitates formation of communication line connections in a well environment. An electro-optic splitter enables communication line connections which comprise electrical conductor connections and optical fiber connections. The electro-optic splitter comprises a universal block which enables the electrical conductor and optical fiber to pass through the universal block while also enabling splitting of at least one of the electrical conductor and optical fiber for additional connection to one or more downhole gauges or other devices.

Claims

1. A system for connecting devices in a well environment, comprising:

a hybrid cable having an electrical conductor and an optical fiber;

a plurality of downhole gauges; and

an electric-optic splitter coupled to the hybrid cable, the electro-optic splitter comprising a universal block which forms a split connection between at least one individual electrical conductor or optical fiber and a plurality of signal carriers coupled to the plurality of downhole gauges, the electro-optic splitter further having an uphole transfer tube welded to the universal block to facilitate connection to the hybrid cable and a downhole transfer tube which facilitates engagement of the electro-optic splitter with a downhole hybrid cable, and wherein the universal block comprises an internal tube through which the optical fiber is routed from the downhole hybrid cable.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the universal block comprises an internal cavity sized to enable formation of electrical connections of the signal carriers.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the universal block further comprises a cap welded over the internal cavity to seal the electrical connections from a surrounding wellbore environment.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of gauges comprises a pair of electrical pressure gauges.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of gauges comprises an optical fiber pressure gauge.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of gauges comprises an electrical pressure gauge and an optical fiber pressure gauge.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the uphole transfer tube and the hybrid cable are joined at a full hybrid cable splice.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the downhole transfer tube and the downhole hybrid cable are joined at an electrical dry-mate connector.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the uphole transfer tube and the hybrid cable are joined at an electrical dry-mate connector.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the downhole transfer tube and the downhole hybrid cable are joined at a full hybrid cable splice.

11. A method of forming communication line connections in a well environment, comprising:

forming an electro-optic splitter structure by coupling a universal block, having an internal cavity, with a first transfer tube and a second transfer tube;

routing an electrical conductor and an optical fiber through the first transfer tube, the universal block, and the second transfer tube, wherein the optical fiber is routed through a tube internal to the universal block; and

splitting at least one of the electrical conductors and the optical fiber into an additional signal carrier that extends from the internal cavity.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising coupling the electrical conductor and the optical fiber with a first hybrid cable at an end of the first transfer tube with a full hybrid cable splice.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising coupling the electrical conductor with a second hybrid cable at an end of the second transfer tube with an electrical dry-mate connector splice.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising coupling the electrical conductor and the optical fiber with a second hybrid cable at an end of the second transfer tube with a full hybrid cable splice.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising coupling the electrical conductor with a first hybrid cable at an end of the first transfer tube with an electrical dry-mate connector splice.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein routing comprises connecting electrical conductor segments in the universal block, and wherein splitting further comprises connecting a plurality of signal carriers to a plurality of gauges.

17. A system, comprising:

a completion string having a packer, a flow control valve, and an electro-optic splitter positioned between the packer and the flow control valve, the electro-optic splitter comprising a universal block which enables deployment of an electrical signal carrier and an optic signal carrier through the electro-optic splitter while splitting at least one of the electrical signal carrier and the optic signal carrier for connection to at least one downhole gauge, the universal block having an internal cavity to accommodate splitting of the at least one electrical signal carrier and optic signal carrier, the universal block further comprising a cover which seals the internal cavity from a surrounding wellbore environment.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the electro-optic splitter comprises a pair of transfer tubes coupled to the universal block.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the electro-optic splitter comprises a full hybrid cable splice at one transfer tube of the pair of transfer tubes and an electrical dry-mate connector splice at the other transfer tube of the pair of transfer tubes.

20. A method of forming a connection, comprising:

exposing an optical fiber and an electrical conductor of a downhole hybrid cable;

inserting the optical fiber through a lower transfer tube, a universal block, a tube internal to the universal block, and an upper transfer tube of an electro-optic splitter;

splicing the electrical conductor to a preinstalled conductor within the electro-optic splitter at one end of the downhole transfer tube;

connecting the optical fiber and the preinstalled conductor to an uphole hybrid cable at an end of the upper transfer tube; and

splitting the preinstalled conductor into a separate signal carrier in the universal block.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising coupling a gauge to the separate signal carrier.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein splitting comprises splitting the preinstalled conductor into a plurality of separate signal carriers and coupling a plurality of gauges to the plurality of separate signal carriers.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein connecting comprises splicing with a full hybrid cable splice.