Self-diagnosing composite slickline cables

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016265339-A1
Application number	US-201414766795-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 31, 2014
Priority date	Jul 31, 2014
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Downhole slickline cable including a polymer matrix having reinforcing fibers embedded therein. A plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers are embedded within the polymer composite and extend along an axial length of the downhole slickline cable that enables slickline cable structural and mechanical integrity self-diagnosis. The cable may include energy transmission lines that include one or more integrity-sensing optical fibers.

First claim

1 - 11 . (canceled)

12 . A system, comprising:
a downhole slickline cable having a surface end, a distal end, and comprising a polymer composite and a plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers embedded within the polymer composite, wherein the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers extends along an axial length of the downhole slickline cable; and a detector arranged at the surface end to receive electromagnetic radiation from the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers.

13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising one or more energy transmission lines positioned within the downhole slickline cable.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers are embedded in a polymer matrix sheet arranged in a spiral pattern within the polymer composite.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers are arranged randomly as embedded within the polymer composite.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers has a cladding disposed thereon, the cladding being a material selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic, a thermoset, a metal, a carbon coating, a non-carbon coating, a carbon and polyimide dual-layer coating, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof.

17 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising an electromagnetic radiation source arranged at the surface end to provide the electromagnetic radiation to the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers.

18 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising an optical reflector coupled to the distal end of the downhole slickline cable.

19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein a distal end of each integrity-sensing optical fiber is coated with a reflective coating.

20 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a multi-fiber turnaround sub coupled to the distal end of the downhole slickline cable and connecting one or more pairs of the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers.

21 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a thermal radiation cap coupled to a distal end of the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers.

22 . A method, comprising:
conveying a downhole slickline cable into a wellbore, the downhole slickline cable having a surface end, a distal end, and comprising a polymer composite and a plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers embedded within the polymer composite, wherein the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers extends along an axial length of the downhole slickline cable; receiving electromagnetic radiation from the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers with a detector arranged at the surface end; processing the electromagnetic radiation received by the detector; and determining a mechanical and structural integrity of the downhole slickline cable based on an intensity of the electromagnetic radiation received by the detector.

23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising providing the electromagnetic radiation to the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers with an electromagnetic radiation source arranged at the surface end.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein receiving the electromagnetic radiation from the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers comprises:
providing the electromagnetic radiation to a first portion of the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers with the electromagnetic radiation source; receiving the electromagnetic radiation from the first portion of the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers with an optical reflector coupled to the distal end of the downhole slickline cable; reflecting the electromagnetic radiation with the optical reflector into a second portion of the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers; and receiving the electromagnetic radiation from the second portion of the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers with the detector.

25 . The method of claim 23 , wherein a distal end of each integrity-sensing optical fiber is coated with a reflective coating, and wherein receiving the electromagnetic radiation from the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers comprises receiving the electromagnetic radiation as reflected from the distal end of each integrity-sensing optical fiber.

26 . The method of claim 23 , wherein receiving the electromagnetic radiation from the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers comprises:
providing the electromagnetic radiation to one or more first integrity-sensing optical fibers of the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers with the electromagnetic radiation source; receiving the electromagnetic radiation from the one or more first integrity-sensing optical fibers with a multi-fiber turnaround sub coupled to the distal end of the downhole slickline cable; transmitting the electromagnetic radiation with the multi-fiber turnaround sub to one or more second integrity-sensing optical fibers of the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers; and receiving the electromagnetic radiation from the one or more second integrity-sensing optical fibers with the detector.

27 . The method of claim 22 , wherein one or more of the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers is exposed to a wellbore environment, and wherein receiving the electromagnetic radiation from the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers comprises receiving thermal radiation with the detector as transmitted from the wellbore environment to the one or more of the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers.

28 . The method of claim 22 , wherein a thermal radiation cap is coupled to the distal end, and wherein receiving the electromagnetic radiation from the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers comprises receiving thermal radiation with the detector as transmitted from the wellbore environment to the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers at the distal end.

29 . The method of claim 22 , wherein determining the mechanical and structural integrity of the downhole slickline cable comprises detecting a crack or delamination in the downhole slickline cable based on the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation received by the detector.

30 . The method of claim 22 , wherein determining mechanical and structural integrity of the downhole slickline cable comprises detecting ingress of hydrogen into the downhole slickline cable based on a time-dependent trend in the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation received by the detector.

31 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising locating a defect in the downhole slickline cable based on a signal pattern of the electromagnetic radiation received by the detector.

32 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the downhole slickline cable further comprises at least one energy transmission line positioned within the polymer composite, the method further comprising using the at least one energy transmission line for at least one of downhole telemetry and sensing one or more downhole parameters.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the at least one energy transmission line comprises one or more of the plurality of integrity-sensing optical fibers.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Xia Hua
• Thomas Sean
• Perkins David L
• Maida John L

Classifications

• H01B7/046 Primary

  attached to objects sunk in bore holes, e.g. well drilling means, well pumps · CPC title

• G02B6/4416

  Heterogeneous cables · CPC title

• G02B6/4411

  Matrix structure · CPC title

• E21B17/00

  Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; {Cables;} Casings; Tubings · CPC title

• E21B47/00 Primary

  Survey of boreholes or wells (monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08) · CPC title