Claims
- 1. An apparatus for the remote measurement of physical parameters, comprising:an optical fiber cable comprising a sensor adapted to measure a physical parameter in a remote location; a conduit extending to the remote location and configured to accommodate the optical fiber cable; a cable installation mechanism configured to install the optical fiber cable through the conduit and place the optical fiber cable at the remote location, the cable installation mechanism including means for propelling a fluid along the conduit; and a seal between the optical fiber cable and the conduit.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal is formed between the optical fiber cable and the conduit where the optical fiber cable enters the conduit.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber cable is carbon-coated.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: sensor instrumentation; andwherein the sensor instrumentation is connected to the optical fiber cable after forming the seal.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the optical fiber cable is connected to the sensor instrumentation with a separate cable.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the separate cable is a surface cable.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lead-in section for providing sufficient drag on the optical fiber cable as it enters the conduit.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote location is a wellbore.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the physical parameter is at least one of temperature, distributed temperature, pressure, acoustic energy, electric current, magnetic field, electric field, or a combination thereof.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable installation mechanism includes an orifice through which the optical fiber cable is progressively pulled during the deployment of the optical fiber cable through the conduit.
- 11. A method of installing a cable at a remote location, comprising:providing an optical fiber cable comprising a sensor adapted to measure a physical parameter in a remote location; installing the optical fiber cable through a conduit to a remote location by using a cable installation mechanism which propels a fluid along the conduit; and sealing between the optical fiber cable and the conduit.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sealing step comprises sealing between the optical fiber cable and the conduit where the optical fiber cable enters the conduit.
- 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising removing the cable installation mechanism once the optical fiber cable is placed at the remote location.
- 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the optical fiber cable is carbon-coated.
- 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:connecting the optical fiber cable to sensor instrumentation after the sealing step.
- 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the connecting step comprises connecting the optical fiber cable to the sensor instrumentation with a separate cable.
- 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the separate cable is a surface cable.
- 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a lead-in section for establishing sufficient drag on the optical fiber cable as it enters the conduit.
- 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising removing the lead-in section once the optical fiber cable is placed at the remote location.
- 20. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote location is a wellbore.
- 21. The method of claim 11, wherein the physical parameter is at least one of temperature, distributed temperature, pressure, acoustic energy, electric current, magnetic field, electric field, or a combination thereof.
- 22. The method of claim 11, further comprising during the installing step, progressively pulling the optical fiber cable through an orifice as the optical fiber cable is installed in the conduit.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
9606673 |
Mar 1996 |
GB |
|
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/432,495 filed Nov. 2, 1999, and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,839 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/824,527 filed Mar. 26, 1997, and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,250 which clams priority to foreign patent application number 9606673.3, filed in the United Kingdom on Mar. 29, 1996.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4248035 |
Skillen et al. |
Feb 1981 |
A |
4575185 |
Wentzell et al. |
Mar 1986 |
A |
4756510 |
Klamm et al. |
Jul 1988 |
A |
5199689 |
Proud et al. |
Apr 1993 |
A |
5570437 |
Kluth et al. |
Oct 1996 |
A |
5582064 |
Kluth |
Dec 1996 |
A |
6572081 |
Griffioen et al. |
Jun 2003 |
B2 |
Foreign Referenced Citations (15)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 108 590 |
Nov 1984 |
EP |
947104 |
Jan 1964 |
GB |
2 179 471 |
Mar 1987 |
GB |
2267005 |
Nov 1993 |
GB |
2 284 257 |
May 1995 |
GB |
211752 |
Dec 1995 |
HU |
55024607 |
Feb 1980 |
JP |
57160057 |
Oct 1982 |
JP |
61000756 |
Jan 1986 |
JP |
63191058 |
Aug 1988 |
JP |
63305242 |
Dec 1988 |
JP |
3-249705 |
Nov 1991 |
JP |
04357427 |
Dec 1992 |
JP |
WO 9217927 |
Oct 1992 |
WO |
WO 9609461 |
Mar 1996 |
WO |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Author: E.L. E Kluth, M. Farhadirousham, D.A. Svendsen, P.W. Withers, and G. Beresford, SensorDynamics Ltd., Hampshire, UK Title of the Article: Fiber Optics, Hydraulics Sense Downhole Pressure and Temperature Title of the Item: Petroleum Engineer International Date: 1993 pp: . 21-24 Vol. Issue No.: 66 5 (Jun. 1993), No. 6 Publisher: City and or Country Where Published: Cleveland, Ohio, US. |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/432495 |
Nov 1999 |
US |
Child |
10/309600 |
|
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/824527 |
Mar 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/432495 |
|
US |