Lead alloy barrier tape splice for downhole power cable
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorChristopher Von Fange
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique facilitates splicing of a power cable including splicing of a protective lead barrier. According to the technique, the power cable comprises conductors which form individual phases of a multi-phase conductor assembly. The conductors may be individually spliced for each phase of the multi-phase conductor assembly. Subsequently, splicing of the protective lead barrier may be performed by utilizing a lead based tape which is wrapped, e.g. helically wrapped, around the conductors. The wrapping technique provides a gas seal with respect to each individual insulated conductor within the multi-phase conductor assembly. Depending on the specifics of a given application and environment, additional layers may be added to ensure formation of a desirable splice.
Claims20
A method of splicing, comprising:
- joining corresponding ends of copper conductors located in a power cable;
- applying a high strain dielectric tape over the joined corresponding ends;
- wrapping a lead alloy tape along each copper conductor between ends of a lead barrier layer;
- compressing the lead alloy tape to ensure bonding of an adhesive;
- enclosing the conductors, wrapped in the lead alloy tape, with a high modulus tape;
- and
- providing an external armor over the high modulus tape.
A system, comprising:
- a power cable;
- and
- a splice joining ends of the power cable, the splice comprising:
- a plurality of joined conductors;
- a plurality of insulative layers disposed about joined conductors of the plurality of joined conductors;
- an overlapping layer of lead alloy tape wrapped about joined conductors of the plurality of joined conductors to provide a lead barrier impermeable to deleterious gas;
- and
- an outer armor layer, the splice being formed without application of heat at a level sufficient for soldering.
A method, comprising:
- joining ends of corresponding conductors in a multi-case power cable to form corresponding joined ends for each phase of the multi-phase power cable;
- applying a dielectric tape over the corresponding joined ends for each phase;
- wrapping a lead alloy tape over the dielectric tape for each phase until the lead alloy tape extends between protective lead layer ends of protective lead layers surrounding the corresponding conductors;
- using a high modulus tape to wrap ends of the lead alloy tape;
- and
- protecting the corresponding conductors with an external armor layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.