Downhole running cable having non-metallic conducting and load bearing wire
AssigneeWeatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
InventorsBradley J. McFarland, Andrew J. Baker, George J. Rodger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cable (100) is used for running a load between surface and downhole in a well. The cable includes one or more wires (110) composed of a non-metallic material. Each of the one or more wires (110) bears the load from the surface and electrically conducts between the surface and downhole. An insulating material (120) is disposed about the one or more wires (110) and insulates the electrical conduction. The non-metallic material includes a carbon nano-tube wire. A jacket (130) can be disposed about the insulating material (120), and the jacket (130) can be composed of a non-metallic material also, such as carbon nano-tube wire.
Claims38
A cable system for running a load between surface and downhole of a well and for communicating with an electrical source between surface and downhole of the well, the cable system comprising:
- a cable having at least one core element disposed along a length of the cable, the at least one core element being composed of carbon nano-tube material and acting as at least one of (i) a load-bearing member bearing the load and (ii) a conductor conducting with the electrical source;
- a deployment unit directing the cable between a cable source and the well at surface and running the cable between surface and downhole;
- and
- at least one sensor monitoring electrical conductivity of the at least one core element under the load and detecting an increase in the conductivity due to strain of the downhole cable reaching an elevated level.
A cable system for running a load between surface and downhole of a well and for communicating with an electrical source between surface and downhole of the well, the cable system comprising:
- a cable having at least one core element disposed along a length of the cable, the at least one core element being composed of carbon nano-tube material and acting as at least one of (i) a load-bearing member bearing the load and (ii) a conductor conducting with the electrical source;
- a deployment unit directing the cable between a cable source and the well at surface and running the cable between surface and downhole;
- a load cell disposed downhole on the cable adjacent the load;
- and
- a tension unit disposed at surface and in electrical communication with the load cell via the at least one core element of the cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.