Annular electrical wet connect

• US 20080047703A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Mendez, Luis F., Stoesz, Carl W., Going, Walter S., Hopman, Don A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,644,755 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/028 Electrical or electro-magnetic connections
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/0285 characterised by electrically insulating elements

Abstract

A connector is made up downhole and can connect electrical signal or power circuits. The male component features one or more circumferential bands on the exterior and the female component features like bands on its interior. The bands are preferably covered with removable sleeves until the connection is made up. In the preferred embodiment, the sleeves push each other out of the way as the connection is made up. The bands are preferably cylindrically shaped on their respective supporting connection half to make easy and reliable contact when the connection halves are advanced together without need for rotation to get the desired contact. Seals surround the connected contacts after makeup to keep out well fluids.

Claims

1. A tubular connector for makeup downhole, comprising:

a tubular female component comprising a passage therethrough and at least one electrical contact adjacent an inner wall that defines said passage;

a tubular male component comprising a passage therethrough and at least one electrical contact adjacent an outer wall thereof;

a removable cover on a contact on at least one of said components.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein:

bringing the male and female components together removes said cover.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein:

a contact on both male and female components comprises a removable cover.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein:

a shoulder on said male component removes said cover from the contact on the female component and a shoulder on the female component removes said cover from the contact on the male component.

5. The connector of claim 3, wherein:

said covers engage as said components are brought together to expose contacts on said male and female components.

6. The connector of claim 3, wherein:

said covers are removed chemically, with pressure or by an applied mechanical force to expose contacts on said male and female components before they are aligned.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein:

said contacts on said male and female components extend circumferentially at least over 180 degrees.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein:

at least one of said contacts comprise at least one conductive resilient member.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein:

said resilient member comprises a bow spring.

10. The connector of claim 7, wherein:

said contacts comprise cylindrically shaped mating contact faces.

11. A tubular connector for makeup downhole, comprising:

a tubular female component comprising a passage therethrough and at least one electrical contact adjacent an inner wall that defines said passage;

a tubular male component comprising a passage therethrough and at least one electrical contact adjacent an outer wall thereof;

said contacts on said male and female components extend circumferentially at least over 180 degrees.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein:

at least one of said contacts comprise at least one conductive resilient member.

13. The connector of claim 12, wherein:

said resilient member comprises a bow spring.

14. The connector of claim 11, wherein:

said contacts comprise cylindrically shaped mating contact faces.

15. The connector of claim 12, further comprising:

a removable cover on a contact on at least one of said components.

16. The connector of claim 15, wherein:

bringing the male and female components together removes said cover.

17. The connector of claim 16, wherein:

a contact on both male and female components comprises a removable cover.

18. The connector of claim 17, wherein:

a shoulder on said male component removes said cover from the contact on the female component and a shoulder on the female component removes said cover from the contact on the male component.

19. The connector of claim 17, wherein:

said covers engage as said components are brought together to expose contacts on said male and female components.

20. The connector of claim 17, wherein:

said covers are removed chemically, with pressure or by an applied mechanical force to expose contacts on said male and female components before they are aligned.