Helix hand reversal mitigation system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10901163-B2
Application number	US-201616081871-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2016
Priority date	Apr 25, 2016
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A cable introduction assembly that can include: a spool assembly including a spool having a first axis, the spool configured to retain a cable wound around the first axis in an undeployed mode; and a spool mount assembly configured to retain the spool and introduce the cable in a deployed mode into a conduit configured for a downhole environment, the conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, the cable in the deployed mode extending from the proximal end towards the distal end, wherein the spool assembly is configured to provide a handedness to the cable in the deployed mode.

First claim

We claim:

1. A cable introduction assembly for use with a conduit configured for a downhole environment, the cable introduction assembly comprising:
a spool assembly including:
a spool having a first axis, the spool configured to retain a cable wound around the first axis; and
a spool mount assembly operable to introduce the cable into the conduit, the conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, and comprising a rotator assembly that rotates the spool about a second axis that is offset from the first axis to provide a selected handedness and a selected number of cable twists per unit feet to the cable as the cable is introduced into the conduit such that the cable retains the handedness along its length to reduce spontaneous helix hand reversal within the conduit.

2. The cable introduction assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second axis is generally aligned with the conduit proximal end.

3. The cable introduction assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotator assembly is configured to rotate the spool mount assembly through at least one 360 degree cycle.

4. The cable introduction assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises a fiber optic sensing cable.

5. The cable introduction assembly of claim 4 , wherein the fiber optic sensing cable is configured to perform at least one of Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) and Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS).

6. The cable introduction assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an injection assembly coupled to the proximal end of the conduit, the injection assembly configured to push the cable through the conduit towards the conduit distal end, wherein the cable maintains its handedness as it is pushed through the conduit.

7. The cable introduction assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pump assembly configured to pump a fluid into and through the conduit, wherein a fluid velocity associated with the fluid is applied to transport the cable in the conduit.

8. The cable introduction assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a combiner assembly coupled between the pump assembly and the conduit and configured to provide a transitional channel for fluid leaving the pump assembly and entering the conduit.

9. The cable introduction assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a flow restrictor coupled near a cable distal end and configured to trap fluid as the cable is transported in the conduit.

10. The cable introduction assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spool mount assembly retains the spool such that the first axis is generally aligned with a conduit proximal end.

11. The cable introduction assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pre-former coupled near the conduit proximal end and configured to alter the shape of the cable.

12. The cable introduction assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second axis is generally perpendicular to the first axis and the spool assembly is further configured to rotate the spool about the second axis such that the cable unwinds from the spool on a side that is nearest to the second axis.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Jaaskelainen Mikko
• Therrien Jason Edward
• Benjamin Seldon David

Classifications

• E21B19/22 Primary

  Handling reeled pipe or rod units, e.g. flexible drilling pipes {(lifting or hauling appliances using two or more cooperating endless chains B66D3/003)} · CPC title

• E21B47/135

  using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves · CPC title

• G02B6/52

  using fluid, e.g. air · CPC title

• G02B6/4458 Primary

  Coiled, e.g. extensible helix · CPC title

• G02B6/4485

  Installing in protective tubing by fluid drag during manufacturing · CPC title