Rigid coaxial transmission line sections joined by connectors for use in a subterranean wellbore

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9377553-B2
Application number	US-201314024875-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2013
Priority date	Sep 12, 2013
Publication date	Jun 28, 2016
Grant date	Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

A rigid RF coaxial transmission line is positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line includes a series of rigid coaxial sections coupled together in end-to-end relation and to be positioned within the wellbore of the subterranean formation. Each rigid coaxial section includes an inner conductor, a rigid outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, and a dielectric therebetween. Each of the rigid outer conductors has threaded ends. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line includes a respective connector between adjacent ones of the series of rigid coaxial sections, each connector having a rigid outer layer threadingly secured to respective threaded ends of adjacent rigid outer conductors, and an electrically conductive liner carried by the rigid outer layer and defining an electrical joint between the adjacent rigid outer conductors.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A rigid radio frequency (RF) coaxial transmission line to be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation, the rigid RF coaxial transmission line comprising:
a series of rigid coaxial sections coupled together in end-to-end relation and configured to be positioned within the wellbore of the subterranean formation, each rigid coaxial section comprising an inner conductor, a rigid outer conductor surrounding said inner conductor, and a dielectric therebetween;
each of said rigid outer conductors having threaded ends; and
a respective connector between adjacent ones of said series of rigid coaxial sections, each connector comprising
a rigid outer layer threadingly secured to respective threaded ends of adjacent rigid outer conductors and having a recess at a medial portion thereof,
an electrically conductive liner carried by said rigid outer layer and defining an electrical joint between the adjacent rigid outer conductors, and
a longitudinally compressible spacer being adjacent to said electrically conductive liner, said longitudinally compressible spacer being received by the recess of said rigid outer layer, and said longitudinally compressible spacer comprising a plurality of passageways configured to permit flow of fluid therethrough.

2. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line according to claim 1 wherein, in each connector, said electrical joint comprises an electrically conductive compression joint.

3. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line according to claim 2 wherein, in each connector, said longitudinally compressible spacer has a bore therethrough; and wherein each connector comprises an inner conductor coupler carried by the bore of said longitudinally compressible spacer and electrically coupling ends of adjacent ones of said inner conductor in the series of rigid coaxial sections.

4. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line according to claim 3 wherein, in each connector, said longitudinally compressible spacer comprises a dielectric body and an electrically conductive sleeve surrounding said dielectric body.

5. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line according to claim 1 wherein, in each connector, said electrically conductive liner comprises at least one of copper, aluminum, gold, and beryllium.

6. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line according to claim 1 wherein, in each connector, said rigid outer layer and said electrically conductive liner are bonded together.

7. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line according to claim 1 wherein, in each connector, said electrically conductive liner has a greater electrical conductivity than said rigid outer layer.

8. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line according to claim 1 wherein, in each connector, said electrically conductive liner has a same electrical conductivity as said rigid outer conductor.

9. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line according to claim 1 wherein, in each connector, said rigid outer layer comprises steel.

10. A rigid radio frequency (RF) coaxial transmission line to be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation, the rigid RF coaxial transmission line comprising:
a series of rigid coaxial sections coupled together in end-to-end relation and configured to be positioned within the wellbore of the subterranean formation, each rigid coaxial section comprising an inner conductor, a rigid outer conductor surrounding said inner conductor, and a dielectric therebetween;
each of said rigid outer conductors having threaded ends; and
a respective connector between adjacent ones of said series of rigid coaxial sections, each connector comprising
a rigid outer layer threadingly secured to respective threaded ends of adjacent rigid outer conductors,
an electrically conductive liner carried by said rigid outer layer and defining an electrical joint between the adjacent rigid outer conductors, said electrically conductive liner having a greater electrical conductivity than said rigid outer layer, and
a longitudinally compressible spacer being adjacent to said electrically conductive liner, and said longitudinally compressible spacer comprising a plurality of passageways configured to permit flow of fluid therethrough.

11. A rigid radio frequency (RF) coaxial transmission line to be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation, the rigid RF coaxial transmission line comprising:
a series of rigid coaxial sections coupled together in end-to-end relation and configured to be positioned within the wellbore of the subterranean formation, each rigid coaxial section comprising an inner conductor, a rigid outer conductor surrounding said inner conductor, and a dielectric therebetween;
each of said rigid outer conductors having threaded ends; and
a respective connector between adjacent ones of said series of rigid coaxial sections, each connector comprising
a rigid outer layer threadingly secured to respective threaded ends of adjacent rigid outer conductors and having a recess at a medial portion thereof,
an electrically conductive liner carried by and bonded to said rigid outer layer and defining an electrically conductive compression joint between the adjacent rigid outer conductors, and
a longitudinally compressible spacer being adjacent to said electrically conductive liner, said longitudinally compressible spacer being received by the recess of said rigid outer layer, and said longitudinally compressible spacer comprising a plurality of passageways configured to permit flow of fluid therethrough.

12. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line according to claim 11 wherein, in each connector, said longitudinally compressible spacer has a bore therethrough; and wherein each connector comprises an inner conductor coupler carried by the bore of said longitudinally compressible spacer and electrically coupling ends of adjacent ones of said inner conductor in the series of rigid coaxial sections.

13. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line according to claim 12 wherein, in each connector, said longitudinally compressible spacer comprises a dielectric body and an electrically conductive sleeve surrounding said dielectric body.

14. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line according to claim 11 wherein, in each connector, said rigid outer layer comprises steel.

15. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line according to claim 11 wherein, in each connector, said electrically conductive liner has a greater electrical conductivity than said rigid outer layer.

16. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line according to claim 11 wherein, in each connector, said electrically conductive liner has a same electrical conductivity as said rigid outer conductor.

17. A rigid radio frequency (RF) coaxial transmission line to be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation, the rigid RF coaxial transmission line comprising:
a series of rigid coaxial sections coupled together in end-to-end relation and configured to be positioned within the wellbore of the subterranean formation, each rigid coaxial section comprising an inner conductor, a rigid outer conductor surrounding said inner conductor, and a dielectric therebetween;
each of said rigid outer conductors having threaded ends; and
a respective connector between adjacent ones of said series of rigid coaxial sections, each connector comprising
a rigid outer layer threadingly secured to respective threaded ends of adjacent rigid outer conductors,
an electrically conductive liner carried by said rigid outer layer and defining an electrical joint between the adjacent rigid outer conductors, said electric

Assignees

• Harris Corp

Inventors

• Wright Brian
• Hann Murray
• Hewit Raymond
• Whitney Ryan

Classifications

• E21B17/028

  Electrical or electro-magnetic connections · CPC title

• G01V3/18 Primary

  specially adapted for well-logging · CPC title

• Y10T29/49123

  Co-axial cable · CPC title

• H01P3/06

  Coaxial lines · CPC title

• E21B17/003

  with electrically conducting or insulating means (E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence) · CPC title