Apparatus and method for controlling the connection and disconnection speed of downhole connectors

A method for controlling a disconnection speed of fiber optic connectors in a subterranean well comprising:

• establishing a predetermined tensile force between a first assembly and a second assembly in the well, the first assembly including a first fiber optic connector and a first optical fiber, the second assembly including a second fiber optic connector and a second optical fiber;
• axially shifting an outer portion of the second assembly relative to an inner portion of the second assembly while metering a fluid through a transfer piston to control the speed at which the outer and inner portions of the second assembly axially shift relative to one another;
• and
• operatively disconnecting the first and second fiber optic connectors from each other, thereby optically decoupling the first and second optical fibers.

A method for controlling connection and disconnection speeds of fiber optic connectors in a subterranean well comprising:

• positioning a first assembly having a first fiber optic connector and a first optical fiber in the well;
• engaging the first assembly with a second assembly having a second fiber optic connector and a second optical fiber;
• axially shifting an outer portion of the second assembly relative to an inner portion of the second assembly in a first direction while metering a fluid through a transfer piston to control the axial shifting speed thereof;
• operatively connecting the first and second fiber optic connectors to each other to optically couple the first and second optical fibers;
• establishing a predetermined tensile force between the first assembly and the second assembly;
• axially shifting the outer portion of the second assembly relative to the inner portion of the second assembly in a second direction while metering the fluid through the transfer piston to control the axial shifting speed thereof;
• and
• operatively disconnecting the first and second fiber optic connectors from each other to optically decoupling the first and second optical fibers.