Power cable having multiple layers including foamed protective layer
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsJason Holzmueller, Mark Metzger, John Mullholland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A technique facilitates construction and operation of a power cable which may be used to supply power to an electric submersible pumping system downhole into a wellbore. The power cable comprises at least one electrical conductor. Each electrical conductor is insulated with an insulation layer and protected from deleterious fluids by a fluid barrier layer. Further protection is provided by a protective layer disposed around the fluid barrier layer. The protective layer is foamed to provide a cushion layer and to further protect components of the power cable. An armor layer may be disposed around the protective layer.
Claims20
A system for conducting electricity, comprising:
- a cable having:
- a plurality of conductors for conducting electricity;
- a plurality of insulation layers, each insulation layer of the plurality of insulation layers in contact with a respective conductor of the plurality of conductors;
- a plurality of fluid barrier layers, each fluid barrier layer of the plurality of fluid barrier layers in contact with a respective insulation layer of the plurality of insulation layers;
- a plurality of protective layers, each protective layer in the form of a foamed protective layer and in contact with a respective fluid barrier layer of the plurality of fluid barrier layers;
- and
- an armor layer, the armor layer in contact with each of the plurality of protective layers.
A method for conducting electricity in a harsh environment, comprising:
- providing a conductor for conducting electricity;
- covering the conductor with an insulation layer;
- surrounding the insulation layer with a fluid barrier layer to prevent ingress of deleterious fluids to the conductor;
- placing a foamed protective layer along the fluid barrier layer by extruding a polymer along the fluid barrier layer and foaming the polymer using a blowing agent;
- and
- enclosing the foamed protective layer with an armor layer.
A system, comprising:
- an electric submersible pumping system deployed in a wellbore, the electric submersible pumping system comprising a submersible pump powered by a submersible electric motor;
- and
- a power cable routed downhole along the wellbore and electrically coupled with the submersible electric motor, the power cable comprising:
- three conductors for providing three-phase electrical power to the electric submersible pumping system;
- a plurality of insulation layers with each insulation layer being disposed around a corresponding conductor of the three conductors;
- a fluid barrier layer in contact with each insulation layer;
- a foamed protective layer in contact with the fluid barrier layer, the foamed protective layer comprising a plurality of enclosed gas pockets to provide cushioning;
- and
- an armor layer surrounding the foamed protective layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.