Extended temperature fiber optic cable design
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsDaniel S. Homa, Robert M. Harman, Christopher H. Lambert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fiber optic cable for use in a downhole environment is disclosed. The fiber optic cable includes a tube having an interior region; an optical fiber disposed in the interior region of the tube; a gas in the interior region; and a gel in the interior region, wherein the gel is configured to reduce stress on the optical fiber in the presence of the gas at a temperature substantially near the flashpoint of the gel. One or more seals can be used to seal the gel and the inert gas in the interior region. In various aspects, the fiber optic cable can be used in a downhole environment.
Claims19
A fiber optic cable, comprising:
- a tube having an interior region;
- an optical fiber disposed in the interior region of the tube;
- a gas in the interior region;
- and
- a gel in the interior region, wherein the gel is configured to reduce stress on the optical fiber in the presence of the gas at a downhole temperature substantially near a flashpoint of the gel.
An apparatus for transmitting a signal in a downhole environment, comprising:
- a fiber optic cable disposed in the downhole environment including:
- a tube having an interior region,
- an optical fiber disposed in the interior region of the tube,
- a gas in the interior region, and
- a gel in the interior region, the gel configured to reduce a stress on the optical fiber in the presence of the gas at a downhole temperature that is substantially near a flashpoint of the gel;
- and
- a transmitter coupled to a first end of the fiber optic cable configured to transmit a signal into the optical fiber.
A fiber optic cable for use in a downhole environment, comprising:
- a tube having an interior region;
- an optical fiber disposed in the interior region of the tube;
- and
- an inert gas in the interior region configured to extend a lifetime of the optical fiber coating and/or optical fiber in the downhole environment, wherein a temperature of the downhole environment is greater than a service temperature of the gel and less than a flashpoint of the gel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.