US 5,699,996 AGranted

Method for placing cable within coiled tubing

AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation

InventorsBruce W. Boyle, Laurent E. Muller

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Abstract

A cable is injected into a length of coiled tubing disposed on a reel by an apparatus and method which includes attaching a small diameter pipe to the end of the coiled tubing, feeding the cable into the opposite end of the pipe through a seal and pumping a liquid into the annular space defined by the cable and the pipe at sufficient pressure and flow rate so that fluid drag on the cable overcomes the frictional force of the cable passing through the seal to inject the cable through the entire length of the coiled tubing. This method avoids the prior expensive practice of deploying coiled tubing in a straight line, either horizontally or vertically in order to feed cable through the tubing.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of installing a cable having a diameter into a length of coiled tubing, a bore therefore having an internal diameter, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a pipe having an internal diameter greater than said diameter of said cable and smaller than said internal diameter of said coiled tubing, said pipe including a seal at one end, said seal having an internal passage adapted for allowing said cable to be inserted axially within said pipe, a coupling at the opposite end of said pipe for connection with said coiled tubing and a fluid coupling in fluid communication with an internal bore of said pipe intermediate said ends thereof;
b. providing a fluid pump in fluid communication with said fluid coupling on said pipe;
c. providing a fluid to be pumped;
d. feeding a length of cable through said seal, through said length of said pipe and into said bore of said coiled tubing;
e. pumping said fluid into said pipe, whereby fluid drag on said cable within said pipe overcomes a drag force on said cable through said seal and said cable is caused to be pulled by fluid drag through said length of said coiled tubing;
and
f. inserting a free end of said coiled tubing into a wellbore.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/619,786Filed 20 Mar 1996 · division
Priority: 6 May 1994
Granted: 23 Dec 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

E21B 17/206
Flexible or articulated drilling pipes , e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables: with conductors, e.g. electrical, optical
H02G 1/086
Through tubing or conduit, e.g. rod or draw wire for pushing or pulling: using fluid as pulling means, e.g. liquid, pressurised gas or suction means
E21B
Earth or rock drilling
H02G
Installation of electric cables or lines, or of combined optical and electric

Family

Serial239,198Parent of this division · filed 6 May 1994
US 5,573,225 AParent of this division
US 5,699,996 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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