Down hole electrical connector and method for combating rapid decompression
OwnerTod D. Emersoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide an effective seal and connector that maintain a removable mechanical and electrical connection between any two down hole power cables, despite cable movement and well pressure. The connector preferably includes a fluid seal comprised an encasing material that surrounds and/or adheres to protective tubing encapsulating an electrical cable's conductor wires. The encasing material may also surround and/or adhere to the conductive wire's insulation to prevent its outward expansion during well pressure events. The connector's fluid seal also comprises a relatively rigid connection between the connector's protective outer sleeve and the protective tubing encapsulating the conductor wire.
Claims13
A rapid-decompression-inhibiting electrical connector sub-assembly comprising:
- a protective outer sleeve;
- an insulating elastomeric boot;
- a bottom stop assembly providing a bushing accommodating the insertion of a protective outer tubing;
- an insulated electrical conductor inserted through the protective outer tubing into the insulating elastomeric boot;
- and,
- a fluid-impervious encasing material filling the interior space of the protective outer sleeve between the interior of the bottom stop assembly and the insulating elastomeric boot.
A decompression-resistant down hole connector comprising:
- a protective outer sleeve;
- a top stop assembly for receiving and engaging a first down hole electrical cable;
- wherein the top stop assembly, having a ferrule compressively seated against a first protective outer tubing, provides a metal to metal connection on the first protective outer tubing on the first down hole electrical cable;
- a bottom stop assembly for receiving and engaging a second protective outer tubing of a second down hole electrical cable that electrically terminates with a connection to the first down hole electrical cable;
- wherein the bottom stop assembly is positioned at least partially within the protective outer sleeve enclosing the second protective outer tubing extending through a bushing within the bottom stop assembly into an interior of the protective outer sleeve;
- at least one insulating elastomeric boot with an axial passage for supporting the terminated first and second down hole electrical cables within the protective outer sleeve;
- and
- an epoxy filling the area between the second protective outer tubing and the protective outer sleeve, said epoxy encasing the second down hole electrical cable inserted in the insulating elastomeric boot through the bottom stop assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.