Evaluation of Downhole Electric Components by Monitoring Umbilical Health and Operation
OwnerMichael Linley FRIPP, Jason DYKSTRA +1inventors
InventorsMichael Linley FRIPP, Jason DYKSTRA, Fanping BU
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Abstract
A method for monitoring the health of a downhole electrical system including a umbilical cable that connects a downhole electric tool to a power source or controller includes delivering electric signals, such as voltage pulses, to the downhole electric tool, which may be an electric submersible pump. The signals are delivered via the cable from a signal generator and are partially reflected by impedance mismatches in the cable or at other points in the system. Each such partially reflected signal, or response signal, is received by a controller and compared to the delivered electric signals to determine a condition of the power transmission cable.
Claims20
A method for monitoring a condition of a downhole system, the method comprising:
- delivering an electric signal to a downhole electric device via a downhole power transmission cable from a signal generator;
- receiving an electric response signal from the downhole power transmission cable;
- and
- comparing the electric signal to the electric response signal to determine a condition of the downhole power transmission cable,
- wherein the electric signal comprises one or more voltage pulses.
A method for monitoring the health of a downhole electrical system, the method comprising:
- delivering an electric signal to a downhole electric device via a downhole power transmission cable from a signal generator;
- receiving an electric response signal from the downhole power transmission cable;
- and
- comparing the electric signal to the response signal to determine a condition of the downhole power transmission cable,
- wherein delivering an electric signal comprises delivering an A/C current signal.
A system for monitoring a downhole cable, the system comprising:
- a controller having a signal generator, a signal receiver, and a signal processor;
- a downhole electric device;
- and
- a power transmission cable coupled to the controller and the downhole electric device;
- wherein:
- the signal generator is operable to generate an electric signal to the downhole electric device via the power transmission cable,
- the signal receiver is operable to receive a response signal from the power transmission cable, and
- the signal processor is operable to determine a condition of the power transmission cable based on a comparison of the electric signal to the response signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.