Patent Application
20140099812
The present embodiments relate to a downhole cable termination apparatus.
A subsea well may be provided with a tubing hanger for suspending production tubing that extends into a reservoir or a dummy reservoir. The tubing hanger may also house a connector that terminates a cable that extends downhole to supply power to electrical equipment such as an electric submersible pump located in the reservoir or dummy reservoir. Such connectors in the tubing hanger are subjected to hostile conditions such as extreme temperatures and pressures and aggressive chemicals, and thus, the connectors are to be designed to deal with these conditions.
A known system for this environment is the SpecTRON 5 (trademark) Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) power feedthrough system produced by Tronic Limited. This system includes a connector for terminating the cable that extends downhole. The termination between the cable and a pin is formed by a cable crimp between the two parts. The termination is covered by an elastomeric termination sleeve that is stretched over the end of the cable and connector pin. This termination is housed in a cable termination chamber that is sealed from the downhole environment by an elastomeric diaphragm and an elastomeric cable boot. The elastomeric diaphragm is filled with a dielectric gel. The diaphragm is flexible and may transmit pressure from the ambient environment to the connector internals to maintain a minimal pressure differential.
The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims and is not affected to any degree by the statements within this summary.
The present embodiments may obviate one or more of the drawbacks or limitations in the related art. For example, in a first aspect, a downhole termination apparatus with an improved sealing arrangement between a termination of a cable and the downhole environment is provided.
Viewed from the first aspect, a downhole cable termination apparatus for terminating a cable that is to extend downhole from a tubing hanger to electrical equipment is provided. The apparatus includes an electrical contact for electrical engagement with a conductor of the cable to form a termination that, in use, is to be electrically insulated by an insulating portion around the termination. The apparatus also includes a seal to be located downhole from the insulating portion for sealing between the insulating portion and the downhole environment. The seal is a metallic seal.
By providing an apparatus with a metallic seal that is to be provided downhole from the insulating portion, a path between the downhole environment and the insulating portion may be sealed by the metallic seal.
As mentioned above, the connectors in the tubing hanger are subjected to hostile conditions such as extreme temperatures and pressures and aggressive chemicals. Additionally, gases from the well rise up and sit around the connector, and elastomers are prone to absorbing these gases.
The pressure in the downhole environment may fluctuate, for example, due to the operation of an electric submersible pump in the well. This pressure fluctuation may cause a problem for the elastomers that have absorbed gas. A rapid drop in pressure results in the gas that has permeated the elastomer rapidly expanding. The majority of the expanding gas absorbed into the material may be unable to diffuse to accommodate the expansion, and as a result, the gas expansion within the material may damage and tear the material. This effect is known as rapid gas decompression (RGD).
In some prior art systems, there have been attempts to minimize the effect of rapid gas decompression by using elastomers that absorb less gas and/or by constraining the elastomers so as to prevent the gas/elastomer volume from expanding and hence preventing the elastomer from tearing. The internal pressure of the constrained elastomer will build up until the gas may diffuse out.
The problem of rapid gas decompression may be overcome in a more reliable manner with a connector configured such that elastomeric materials are not in contact with the gas in the downhole environment subject to pressure fluctuations.
In the first aspect, the insulating portion may be prevented from coming into contact with the gas that fluctuates in pressure by use of a metallic seal downhole of the insulating portion. The downhole metal seal may prevent the problem of RGD occurring in the insulating portion as the downhole metal seal provides a barrier to prevent gas coming into contact with the insulating portion that may absorb the gases. Additionally, because the metal seal is not susceptible to rapid gas decompression, the metal seal is less likely to fail during the lifetime of the connector and therefore provides a reliable seal over the lifetime of the connector.
In one embodiment, the seal is arranged to be energized by being axially compressed.
In one embodiment, a downhole cable termination apparatus for terminating a cable that is to extend downhole from a tubing hanger to electrical equipment is provided. The apparatus includes an electrical contact for electrical engagement with a conductor of the cable to form a termination that, in use, is to be electrically insulated by an insulating portion around the termination. The apparatus also includes a seal to be located downhole from the insulating portion for sealing between the insulation portion and the downhole environment. The seal is arranged to be energized by being axially compressed.
In prior art connectors (e.g., the SpecTRON 5 (trademark) discussed above), the termination is housed in a cable termination chamber that is sealed from the downhole environment by an elastomeric diaphragm and an elastomeric cable boot. The seal is provided by the elastomeric diaphragm having a lip that is held between an outer casing of the connector and a seal holder that extends around the cable and the elastomeric cable boot extending over a portion of the seal holder and the cable. The lip of elastomeric diaphragm is energized by radial compression between the outer casing, and the seal holder and the elastomeric cable boot radially grips the cable and the portion of the seal holder.
The advantage of having a seal that is energized by axial compression is that such an arrangement may achieve relatively high energizing force and hence is able to provide a highly effective seal.
The seal may be a metallic seal, or the seal may be made from a material other than metal such as a polymeric material. Alternatively, the seal may be metal and other material composite. In one embodiment, the seal is made from a material that is not susceptible to rapid gas decompression. By using a seal that is resistant to rapid gas decompression to seal the insulating portion from the downhole environment, the seal may prevent gas reaching the parts of the connector that are susceptible to rapid gas decompression and may withstand the downhole pressure fluctuations.
One or more of the present embodiments also provides a downhole cable termination assembly. The assembly includes the apparatus according to the first aspect described above, the cable that is to extend downhole from a tubing hanger to electrical equipment and is engaged with the electrical contact to form the termination, and the insulating portion around the termination.
The assembly may include some or all of the optional features and benefits described herein in relation to the first aspect.
The first aspect also provides a method of manufacturing a downhole cable termination assembly. The method includes providing a cable that is to extend downhole from a tubing hanger to electrical equipment, terminating the conductor of the cable with an electrical contact to form a termination, and providing an insulating portion around the termination. The method also includes sealing between the insulating portion and the outside environment by providing a metallic seal such that when the downhole cable termination assembly is in use, the metallic seal seals between the insulating portion and the downhole environment.
The first aspect also provides another method of manufacturing a downhole cable termination assembly. The method includes providing a cable that is to extend downhole from a tubing hanger to electrical equipment, terminating the conductor of the cable with an electrical contact to form a termination, and providing an insulating portion around the termination. The method also includes sealing between the insulating portion and the outside environment by axially compressing a seal such that when the downhole cable termination assembly is in use, the seal that is axially compressed seals between the insulating portion and the downhole environment.
The method may include providing some or all of the features discussed herein in relation to the apparatus of the first aspect and the assembly of the first aspect.
The discussion below relates to the first aspect, as well as the downhole cable termination assembly and the method of manufacturing the assembly.
The electrical contact of the downhole cable termination apparatus is for electrical engagement with a conductor of a cable and may be for electrical engagement with a second conductor (e.g., another cable). In one embodiment, the electrical contact is for electrical engagement with a conductor of a connector half such as a pin. The electrical contact may be a conductive sleeve that is arranged to extend around the end portion of the conductor of the cable and is arranged to extend around the end portion of a second conductor, which, as mentioned above, may be a pin of a connector half. The conductive sleeve may be attached to the conductors in any way that provides good electrical engagement such as being crimped, by a push fit and or being fixed by one or more fixing members such as a screw. In one embodiment, when the electrical contact includes a conductive sleeve, the conductive sleeve is attached to the conductor by being crimped and is attached to the second conductor (e.g., a pin) by a plurality of grub screws that extend radially through the sleeve into the pin.
The insulating portion that will electrically insulate the termination may be any known insulator such as an elastomeric sleeve that is stretched over the termination, a dielectric gel around the termination that may be held in an elastomeric boot and/or a solid elastomeric insulating material around the termination. In one embodiment, the insulating portion is a solid elastomeric material (e.g., room temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (RTV silicone rubber)). If the insulating portion is RTV silicone rubber, the insulating portion may be cast or molded around the termination.
By providing an insulating portion that is cast around the insulation, entrapment of air near the termination may be minimized or eliminated. This may help prevent electrical discharges in connectors with high electric gradients such as high voltage connectors and connectors with an earth near the conductor that cause a high electrical stress.
The apparatus may include a retaining ring for axially compressing the seal. The retaining ring may be arranged to extend around the cable and, in use, may be located downhole of the seal.
With such an arrangement, the retaining ring may be used to exert axial force on the seal to energize the seal. In one embodiment, the retaining ring is arranged such that, in use, rotation of the retaining ring axially compresses the seal to energize the seal.
The apparatus may include a termination cover for housing at least part of the termination and at least part of the insulating portion.
By providing a termination cover that houses at least part of the termination and the insulating portion, the insulating portion may be shielded from the downhole environment by the termination cover.
In one embodiment, the termination cover is made of a material that acts as a barrier to the downhole gases. Additionally, the termination cover may not transmit downhole pressures to the insulating portion housed by the termination cover. The termination cover may be made from a metallic material, such as super duplex steel.
If the termination cover is made of a metal, the termination cover is not susceptible to rapid gas decompression and may provide both a gas barrier and a pressure barrier between the downhole environment and the insulating portion. In one embodiment, the termination cover extends circumferentially around the insulation portion. The termination cover may provide a chamber therein for the insulating portion. The chamber is isolated from the downhole environment.
In one embodiment, the metallic seal or the seal that is arranged to be energized by being axially compressed is adapted to extend around the cable and, in use, is positioned between the termination cover and the cable.
With such an arrangement, the seal may create a seal between the termination cover and the cable to provide a barrier between the downhole environment and the insulating portion.
The metallic seal or the seal that is arranged to be energized by being axially compressed may engage directly with the cable.
A cable may include a conductive core (e.g., copper) that is within an insulating sheath (e.g., PEEK) that is inside a protective sheath (e.g., lead) that is inside a steel armor. If the seal engages the steel armor, this may not provide effective sealing as the armor may not be a sealed barrier or because the uneven surface of the steel armor prevents an effective seal. In one embodiment of the assembly, the seal engages the protective sheath of the cable. However, if the protective sheath is made of lead, the protective sheath may be too soft for direct engagement with a metallic seal or the seal that is arranged to be energized by being axially compressed, because the engagement may damage the cable.
The apparatus may thus include a sleeve arranged to extend around the cable and provide an engagement surface for the seal. With this arrangement, effective sealing may be obtained without damaging the cable. In use, the sleeve may be located downhole of the insulating portion.
If a termination cover is provided, the seal may engage between the termination cover and the sleeve. The sleeve may provide a radially outwardly facing engagement surface for the seal, and the termination cover may provide a radially inwardly facing engagement surface for the seal.
In one embodiment, the sleeve is made of metal. The sleeve, seal and termination cover may provide a barrier between the insulating portion and the downhole environment.
The sleeve may be attached to a lead sheath of the cable. The sleeve may be fixed to the cable in any known way such as with mechanical fasteners or adhesive. In one embodiment, the sleeve is attached to the cable by solder. This arrangement provides that a leakage path along the surface of the cable under the sleeve may be prevented. Thus, such a path from the downhole environment to the insulating portion is closed off. Additionally, soldering the sleeve onto the cable exerts minimal force onto the cable during fixing and therefore minimizes the probability of damaging the cable during manufacture of the downhole assembly.
If a retaining ring is provided for axially compressing the seal, as discussed above, the retaining ring may be threadedly engaged with the sleeve providing an engagement potion for the seal. The retaining ring may, however, be threadedly engaged with the termination cover. During manufacture of the downhole assembly, when the retaining ring is rotated, the retaining ring is translated axially to compress and energize the seal. The retaining ring may stay in position exerting an axial force on the seal to thereby maintain the seal in an energized state.
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one back-up seal that, in use, is located downhole of the insulating portion but uphole of the primary seal. The back-up seal may act between the cable and the termination cover. The back up seal may be provided between the sleeve around the cable and the termination cover. There may be a first backup seal between the cable and the sleeve, and a second back-up seal between the sleeve and the termination cover. The back-up seal may be a second metallic seal, a seal that is arranged to be energized by axial compression or a seal that is arranged to be energized by radial compression. In one embodiment, the back-up seal is an elastomeric seal that is energized by being radially compressed.
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a conductor support body for housing at least part of the insulating portion and, in use, is located uphole of the termination cover.
The conductor support body may house an uphole portion of the insulating portion. By providing a conductor support body that houses at least part of the insulating portion, the insulating portion may be shielded from the downhole environment by the conductor support body.
In one embodiment, the conductor support is made of a material that acts as a barrier to the downhole gases. Additionally, the conductor support body does not transmit downhole pressures to the insulating portion housed in the conductor support body. The conductor support body may be made of a metallic material, such as super duplex steel. If the conductor support is made of a metal, the conductor support is not susceptible to rapid gas decompression and may provide both a gas barrier and a pressure barrier between the downhole environment and the insulating portion.
In one embodiment, the conductor support body extends circumferentially around the insulating portion. The insulating portion may be housed partially in the termination cover and partly in the conductor support body. The conductor support body may be arranged to be sealed to the termination cover.
In one embodiment, the conductor support body engages with the uphole end of the termination cover. The apparatus may include a second seal for sealing between the conductor support body and the termination cover.
The second seal may be a metallic seal. The second seal may be arranged to be energized by being axially compressed. The termination cover and the conductor support body may be held together by a plurality of screws that may also provide the energizing force (axial compression) for the second seal.
By providing a metallic seal between the termination cover and the conductor support body, a path between the downhole environment and the insulating portion may be sealed to prevent gas from the downhole environment reaching the insulating portion housed in the termination cover and the conductor support body to prevent rapid gas decompression affecting the insulating portion. In certain embodiments, the first seal, the second seal, the termination cover and the conductor support body are arranged such that together they separate the insulating portion from the downhole environment. All of these components may be formed of a material that is not susceptible to RGD (e.g., steel). Therefore, no RGD susceptible component is exposed to the downhole environment.
In one embodiment, the termination cover and the conductor support body together enclose the insulating portion and are sealed such that the insulating portion is isolated from the downhole environment.
In one embodiment, the internal pressure of a chamber provided by the termination cover in which the insulating portion is housed is isolated from pressure in the downhole environment (e.g., the chamber is not pressure compensated with the downhole environment). This provides that the pressure surrounding the insulating portion will not fluctuate as the downhole pressure fluctuates. As a result, rapid gas decompression of the insulating material will not occur when a rapid drop in pressure occurs in the downhole environment, which is an advantage if gas has leaked/permeated into the chamber.
In one embodiment, in use at moderate temperatures (e.g., the temperature at the surface before the apparatus is deployed), there is a cavity between the insulating portion and the termination cover. The termination chamber may define a chamber for the insulating portion. The chamber provides, in use, a cavity between the insulating portion and the termination cover for differential thermal expansion or contraction thereof.
The insulating portion and the termination cover may have different coefficients of thermal expansion. For example, when the insulating portion is made of RTV silicone rubber and the termination cover is made of steel, the difference in coefficients of thermal expansion may be an order of magnitude or more. As a result, when the apparatus is subjected to changes in temperature, the components will expand by different amounts. Therefore, by providing a cavity between the insulation portion and the termination cover, when the temperature of the apparatus changes, the insulating portion has space in which to expand.
The chamber may be arranged to receive oil, where, in use, the cavity may be filled with oil. This arrangement may avoid the presence of air pockets in the apparatus.
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a compensation device for accommodating volume changes within the chamber due to differential thermal expansions. By providing a compensation device, a pressure build up in the chamber within the termination cover that houses the insulation portion may be prevented. If the build up of pressure is not compensated for, the build up may cause damage (e.g., to the insulating portion and/or any seals sealing the chamber).
The compensation device may be a flexible boot. In one embodiment, the compensation device is a compensation chamber that is in fluid communication with the chamber for the insulating portion. The compensation chamber may be fluidly connected to the cavity by a passage that extends through the termination cover from the compensation chamber to the chamber for the insulating portion. The compensation chamber may be provided in the termination cover or the conductor support body. In one embodiment, the chamber for the insulating portion, the passage and the compensation chamber are filled with a pressure transmitting fluid such as oil.
In one embodiment, the compensation chamber may adjust in volume to accommodate changes in volume of the cavity between the insulating portion and the termination cover caused (e.g., by differential thermal expansion of the components of the apparatus and by changes in volume of the insulating portion). The compensation chamber may include a piston that may move within the compensation chamber to accommodate volume changes.
In a second aspect, a downhole termination apparatus with an improved arrangement for dealing with downhole pressure fluctuations is provided.
Viewed from a second aspect, one or more of the present embodiments provide a downhole cable termination apparatus for terminating a cable that is to extend into a downhole environment from a tubing hanger to electrical equipment. The apparatus includes an electrical contact for electrical engagement with a conductor of the cable to form a termination that, in use, is to be electrically insulated by an insulating portion. The apparatus also includes a housing defining a chamber for receiving the insulating portion and in which the internal pressure is isolated from pressure in the downhole environment.
By providing an apparatus with a chamber for receiving an insulating portion that has an internal pressure that is isolated from the pressure in the downhole environment, the insulating portion may be protected from the extreme pressures and fluctuating pressures experienced downhole.
As mentioned above, the connectors in the tubing hanger are subjected to hostile conditions such as extreme temperatures and pressures and aggressive chemicals.
The pressure in the downhole environment may fluctuate (e.g., due to the operation of an electric submersible pump in the well). This pressure fluctuation may cause a problem for the elastomers that have absorbed gas. A rapid drop in pressure results in the gas that has permeated the elastomer rapidly expanding. In one embodiment, the majority of the expanding gas absorbed into the material is unable to diffuse to accommodate the expansion, and as a result, the gas expansion within the material may damage and tear the material. This effect is known as rapid gas decompression (RGD).
In some prior art systems, there have been attempts to minimize the effect of rapid gas decompression by using elastomers that absorb less gas and/or by constraining the elastomers so as to prevent the gas/elastomer volume from expanding and hence preventing the elastomer from tearing. Internal pressure will build up until the gas may diffuse out.
The problem of rapid gas decompression may be overcome or minimized in a more reliable manner by isolating the pressure around the insulating portion (e.g., made of an elastomer such as room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber (RTV silicone rubber)) from the pressure of the downhole environment, which fluctuates.
In the second aspect, the insulating portion is received in a chamber that is isolated from the fluctuating pressure. If the insulating portion is not subjected to fluctuating pressures, the problem of rapid gas decompression (RGD) may be prevented or minimized.
In one embodiment, the thickness of the insulating portion around the electrical contact is between 0.3 and 1 times the diameter of the electrical contact that forms the termination (e.g., between 0.4 and 0.6 times the diameter). In one embodiment, the thickness of the insulating portion around the electrical contact is 0.5 of the diameter of the electrical contact that forms the termination. The thickness may be at least 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 or 0.6 times the diameter.
One or more embodiments according to the second aspect also include a downhole cable termination assembly. The assembly includes the apparatus of the second aspect, and a cable that is to extend into a downhole environment from a tubing hanger to electrical equipment. The cable is in electrical engagement with the electrical contact to form the termination. The assembly also includes the insulating portion electrically insulating the termination. The internal pressure of the chamber for receiving the insulating portion is isolated from pressure in the ambient environment such that, in use, the internal pressure of the chamber is isolated from the pressure in the downhole environment.
The assembly may include some or all of the optional features and benefits described herein in relation to the second aspect.
One or more of the present embodiments according to the second aspect also provide a method of manufacturing a downhole cable termination assembly. The method includes providing a cable that is to extend into a downhole environment from a tubing hanger to electrical equipment, terminating the conductor of the cable with an electrical contact to form a termination, and providing an insulating portion around the termination. The method also includes housing the insulating portion in a chamber in a housing such that, in use, the internal pressure of the chamber housing the insulating portion is isolated from pressure in the downhole environment.
The method may include providing some or all of the features discussed herein in relation to the apparatus and the assembly of the second aspect.
The discussion below relates to the apparatus in the second aspect, as well as the downhole cable termination assembly and the method of manufacturing the assembly of the second aspect.
The chamber defined by the housing may have the same volume as the insulating portion that is received in the chamber. However, in one embodiment, the housing is arranged to provide an annular cavity between the insulating portion and the housing. In one embodiment, at moderate temperatures (e.g., room temperature during manufacture of the assembly), the size of the chamber is larger than the size of the insulating portion so that during manufacture, when the insulating portion is received in the chamber, there is an annular cavity between the insulating portion and the housing.
In one embodiment, at room temperature, the volume of the annular cavity is between 10% and 40% of the total volume of the chamber. In one embodiment, the volume of the annular cavity is 30% of the total volume of the chamber. The volume of the annular cavity may be at least 10%, 20%, or 30% of the total volume of the chamber at room temperature.
The housing and the insulating materials may be formed of different materials (e.g., the housing may be formed of a metal and the insulating portion may be formed of an elastomer). As a result, the housing and the insulating portion may have different coefficients of thermal expansion. When the insulating portion is formed of an elastomer and the housing is formed of a metal, the difference in differential thermal expansions may be an order of magnitude or more. As a result, when the assembly is subjected to a change in temperature, the volume of the insulating portion may change significantly more than the housing. If there is no space for the insulating portion to expand into when the temperature rises, a pressure build up may occur in the housing. This pressure may cause damage to the parts contained within the housing and/or any seals isolating the chamber from the downhole environment. This pressure build up may be minimized by providing an annular cavity to provide space for the insulating portion to expand into.
In one embodiment, the apparatus may include a compensation device for accommodating changes of volume of the annular cavity within the chamber due to differential thermal expansions and contractions. By providing a compensation device, a pressure build up in the chamber within the housing that houses the insulation portion (e.g., due to differential thermal expansion) may be prevented. If the build up of pressure is not compensated, the build up of pressure may cause damage to the insulating portion and any seals sealing the chamber.
The compensation device may be a flexible boot. In one embodiment, the compensation device is a compensation chamber that is in fluid communication with the chamber for the insulating portion. The compensation chamber may be fluidly connected to the cavity by a passage that extends through the housing from the compensation chamber to the chamber for the insulating portion. In one embodiment, the compensation chamber is provided in the housing, as this may allow the assembly to be more compact. In one embodiment, the chamber for the insulating portion, the passage and the compensation chamber are filled with a pressure transmitting fluid such as oil. This arrangement may avoid the presence of air pockets in the apparatus, which may cause electrical discharges if the electrical gradient in the assembly is high enough.
In one embodiment, the compensation chamber may adjust in volume to accommodate changes in volume of the cavity between the insulating portion and the termination cover. The compensation chamber may include a compensator piston that may move within the compensation chamber to accommodate volume changes caused, for example, by differential thermal expansion of the components of the apparatus.
In one embodiment, the compensator piston is biased by a spring. This arrangement keeps the oil in the annular cavity, passage and compensator piston under pressure.
In one embodiment, the housing is made of a rigid material. If the housing is made of a sufficiently rigid material, the housing will not transmit pressure changes from the downhole environment to a cavity within the housing and therefore may isolate the pressure of the chamber in the housing from the pressure on the outside of the housing. If the housing is made of a rigid material, the housing may be directly in contact with the downhole fluctuating pressures while isolating the pressure of the chamber inside the housing from the downhole environment. In other words, the chamber inside the housing may be prevented from being pressure balanced.
In one embodiment, the housing may be made of a sufficiently strong material so that the housing is able to withstand crush pressures that may occur due to the chamber inside the housing that is not pressure balanced.
In one embodiment, the housing may be made of a material that acts as a gas barrier and is resistant to RGD. This may prevent the housing from being damaged and may thus reduce the chance of the chamber not being isolated from the downhole environment and prevent the gases from downhole coming into contact with the insulating portion housed in the chamber in the housing.
In one embodiment, the housing is made from a metallic material such as steel. This provides that the housing is a gas barrier and is sufficiently rigid, strong and resilient to RGD to have the benefits discussed above.
The housing may be made from a single component that is sealed around the insulating portion. In one embodiment, the housing may be made from a plurality of components. When the housing includes a plurality of components, the housing may make manufacture of the assembly easier. In one embodiment, the housing may not include too many components, as this will increase the number of possible leakage paths from the downhole environment to the chamber inside the housing that receives the insulating portion.
The housing may include a termination cover for housing at least part of the termination and at least part of the insulating portion. The housing may also include a conductor support body for housing at least part of the insulating portion and, in use, that is located uphole of the termination cover. Together the termination cover and the conductor support body may form the housing.
By providing a termination cover that houses at least part of the termination and the insulating portion, the insulating portion may be shielded from the downhole environment by the termination cover. In one embodiment, the termination cover extends circumferentially around the insulation portion to provide the chamber therein for the insulating portion, and the conductor support body extends circumferentially around the part of the insulation portion not housed in the termination cover.
By providing a conductor support body that houses at least part of the insulating portion, the insulating portion may be shielded from the downhole environment by the conductor support body.
The insulating portion may be housed partly in the termination cover and partly in the conductor support body. The conductor support body may be arranged to be sealed to the termination cover. Such an arrangement allows the chamber in the conductor support body and the termination cover to be sealed from the downhole environment.
The conductor support body may engage with the uphole end of the termination cover. In one embodiment, the conductor support body defines a socket for receiving an end of the termination cover.
The apparatus may include a seal for sealing between the conductor support body and the termination cover. By providing a seal between the termination cover and the conductor support body, a path between the downhole environment and the insulating portion may be sealed to prevent gas from the downhole environment reaching the insulating portion housed in the termination cover and the conductor support body. This may help isolate the chamber inside the housing from the downhole environment and may help prevent rapid gas decompression affecting the insulating portion.
When the conductor support body defines a socket receiving an end of the termination cover, and the apparatus includes a seal for sealing between the two parts (e.g., the conductor support body and the termination cover), a reliable sealing barrier may be formed.
The seal may be a metallic seal that is arranged to be energized by being axially compressed. The seal may be a metallic seal, or the seal may be made from a material other than metal such as a polymeric material. Alternatively, the seal may be metal and other material composite. In one embodiment, the seal is made from a material that is not susceptible to rapid gas decompression. By using a seal that is resistant to rapid gas decompression to seal the insulating portion from the downhole environment, the seal may prevent gas reaching the parts of the connector that are susceptible to rapid gas decompression and may withstand the downhole pressure fluctuations.
The termination cover and the conductor support body that define the housing may be held together by a plurality of screws. When the seal is a metallic seal that is arranged to be energized by being axially compressed, the screws may provide that the seal between the two components remains energized during use.
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of electrical contacts for a plurality of cable conductors to form a plurality of terminations, each of which, in use, is to be electrically insulated by an insulating portion. The housing defines a respective chamber for each of the insulating portions. With such an arrangement, the assembly may carry a plurality of different phases of power. In one embodiment, the plurality is three so that the assembly may carry three phase power. In that case, the housing may define three chambers.
In the assembly including a plurality of terminations, a single housing may provide the plurality of respective chambers. This arrangement reduces the number of component parts and may reduce the complexity of manufacturing the assembly. This arrangement also allows the assembly to be more space efficient.
In the arrangement in which the plurality of chambers are provided by a single housing including a termination cover and conductor support body, the seal between the termination cover and the conductor support body may extend circumferentially around all of the plurality of chambers.
Additionally, when the plurality of chambers are provided by a single housing, the plurality of chambers may be pressure compensated by a single compensation device such as a single compensation chamber. However, each chamber may have its own respective compensation device. Each chamber does not then need to be in pressure communication with each other chamber. Also, each pressure compensation device may be smaller so that the arrangement may be more compact as the plurality of compensation devices may fit in spaces between each of the chambers. Alternatively, each chamber may not be completely sealed individually, but there may be limited fluid communication (e.g., by use of a labyrinth seal) between the chambers. For example, each chamber may be in fluid communication with a separate compensation chamber. This option provides that the size may be minimized while still providing increased robustness as the system may work with one phase shorted to earth (e.g., when there is a leak into one of the chambers).
In one embodiment, during manufacture, the insulating portion is cast or molded around the termination.
Casting the insulating portion around the termination provides that intimate contact between the insulation and conductor may be achieved to minimize entrapment of air near the termination. In the SpecTRON 5 system discussed above, the termination is covered by an elastomeric termination sleeve that is stretched over the end of the cable and connector pin. Such an arrangement has a chance of trapping air around the termination. This may not be a problem in this system because this system operates with lower electrical stress at this interface as a result of the lower operating voltage and greater separation between live and earth (e.g., ground). However, in one or more of the present embodiments, the termination is received in a chamber defined by a housing. In one embodiment, the housing is earthed and relatively close to the termination. As a result, the electrical stress may be relatively high, and thus, air around the termination may be eliminated to prevent electrical discharges.
When casting the insulating portion, the insulating portion may be cast in a temporary mold rather than directly into the housing. This provides that the volume of the molded insulating portion may be formed to be smaller than the volume of the chamber in the housing such that an annular cavity between the insulating portion and the housing may be formed, as discussed above.
In a third aspect, a downhole termination apparatus with an improved arrangement for providing seal engagement portions is provided.
Viewed from a third aspect, one or more of the present embodiments provides downhole cable termination apparatus for terminating a cable that is to extend downhole from a tubing hanger to electrical equipment. The apparatus includes a first seal for sealing the apparatus uphole of the first seal from the downhole environment, a second seal for sealing the apparatus uphole of the second seal from the downhole environment, and a sleeve arranged to extend around the cable and to be attached to the cable. The sleeve is for providing a radially outwardly facing engagement portion for the first seal and a radially inwardly facing engagement portion for the second seal. The sleeve has two parts. A first part is arranged to be attached to the cable and provide the radially outwardly facing engagement portion. A second part provides the radially inwardly facing engagement portion separately from the first part. The sleeve is arranged such that when the apparatus is assembled on the cable, the second part is joined to the first part.
By providing an arrangement in which a first part of a sleeve to be attached to the cable is separate from a second part of the sleeve providing the radially inwardly facing engagement portion, the seals may not be close to the first part when the first part is being attached to the cable.
In one embodiment, during manufacture, the second seal is to be placed adjacent to the radially inwardly facing engagement portion of the second part of the sleeve before the second part of the sleeve is fed onto the cable to be positioned around the cable.
By providing a sleeve in which the part that is attached to the cable is separate from the part of the sleeve that provides the radially inwardly facing seal engagement portion, the first part of the sleeve may be attached to the cable without risk of the attaching damaging the second seal that is to contact the radially inwardly facing engagement portion. Therefore, according to the third aspect, the part of the sleeve that provides the radially inwardly facing seal engagement portion (e.g., the second part) is separate from the first part of the sleeve that is arranged to be attached to the cable.
With such an arrangement, the second part of the sleeve with the second seal located radially inwardly when the sleeve is arranged around the cable may be held at a location sufficiently far from the first part of the sleeve while the first part is being attached to the cable to prevent the attaching operation damaging the second seal.
The first seal, which is arranged to be in contact with the radially outwardly facing engagement portion of the first part of the sleeve, may be located in contact with the radially outwardly facing portion after the first part of the sleeve has been attached to the cable. Again, this provides that the first part of the sleeve may be attached to the cable without damaging the first seal.
One or more of the present embodiments according to the third aspect also provide a downhole cable termination assembly. The assembly includes the apparatus according to the above described third aspect and the cable that is arranged to extend downhole from a tubing hanger to electrical equipment.
The assembly may include some or all of the optional features and benefits described herein in relation to the apparatus of the third aspect.
One or more of the present embodiments according to the third aspect also provide a method of manufacturing a downhole cable termination assembly. The method includes providing a cable that is to extend downhole from a tubing hanger to electrical equipment, providing a first seal for sealing the apparatus uphole of the first seal from the downhole environment, and providing a second seal for sealing the apparatus uphole of the second seal from the downhole environment. The method also includes providing a sleeve arranged to extend around the cable and to be attached to the cable. The sleeve is for providing a radially outwardly facing engagement portion for the first seal and a radially inwardly facing engagement portion for the second seal. The sleeve includes two parts. A first part is arranged to be attached to the cable and provides the radially outwardly facing engagement portion. A second part provides the radially inwardly facing engagement portion and provides separately from the first part. The sleeve is arranged such that when the apparatus is assembled on the cable, the second part is joined to the first part. The method also includes attaching the first part of the sleeve to the cable and joining the second part of the sleeve to the first part of the sleeve.
The method may include providing some or all of the features discussed herein in relation to the apparatus and/or the assembly of the third aspect.
The discussion below relates to the third aspect, as well as the downhole cable termination assembly and the method of manufacturing the assembly of the third aspect.
The sleeve may be fixed to the cable in any known way such as with mechanical fasteners or adhesive. In one embodiment, the first part of the sleeve is arranged to be attached to the cable by solder, and the method of manufacturing the assembly may include soldering the first part of the sleeve to the cable.
When the first part of the sleeve is attached to the cable by solder, a leakage path along the surface of the cable under the sleeve may be prevented. Thus, a path from the downhole environment to the insulating portion is sealed off. Additionally, soldering the sleeve onto the cable exerts minimal force onto the cable during the attaching operation and therefore minimizes the probability of damaging the cable during manufacture of the downhole assembly.
In order to attach the sleeve to the cable by solder, the solder and the surrounding area are to be heated to a high enough temperature to melt the solder. For example, the solder may be heated to a temperature of up to 260° C. by a heat gun and a diffuser that extends at least partly around the outside of the first part of the sleeve located around the cable. The seals of the apparatus may be damaged if the seals are subjected to these high temperatures. As discussed above, the two part sleeve of one or more of the present embodiments allows the seals to be located remote from the first part of the sleeve while the first part of the sleeve is being attached to the cable so that the seals are not damaged by the high temperatures.
In one embodiment, the first part of the sleeve has an opening extending radially through the sleeve. Such an opening provides a path for applying the fixing device to attach the sleeve to the cable. For example, when the sleeve is attached to the cable by solder, solder paste and/or molten solder wire may be inserted through the opening to allow the sleeve to be soldered to the cable.
In one embodiment, the first part of the sleeve is provided with a circumferential cavity in the radially inward surface of the first part of the sleeve. In one embodiment, the circumferential cavity extends around the full circumference of the sleeve. During manufacture, the circumferential cavity may be filed with adhesive or solder paste to attach the sleeve to the cable. By providing the circumferential cavity, the fixing device may be applied to the inside of the sleeve before the sleeve is located around the cable. Additionally, when the cavity extends around the entire circumference of the sleeve, the cavity allows the fixing device to extend around the entire circumference of the cable to provide a continuous seal. The cavity provides a space for a sufficient fixing device to be held to provide that the attachment between the sleeve and the cable is reliable.
When the sleeve is provided with an opening that extends radially through the sleeve and a circumferential cavity on the radially inwardly surface, the opening may extend through the sleeve into the circumferential cavity. This provides that when the sleeve is attached to the cable, the fixing device or unit (e.g., solder) may be pre-filled in the cavity and/or added to the cavity during the attaching operation though the window to provide that the cavity is filled with the fixing device and that no air bubbles are formed in the cavity. This helps provide that the sleeve is securely fixed to the cable and that a continuous seal is provided around the entire circumference of the cable within the sleeve to provide a reliable seal.
The cable may include a conductive core (e.g., copper) that is within an insulating sheath (e.g., PEEK) that is inside a protective sheath (e.g., lead) that is inside a steel armor. With such a cable, the first part of the sleeve may be located around and in contact with the protective sheath of the cable, and the second part of the sleeve may be located around and in contact with the insulating sheath of the cable. In one embodiment of the assembly, the first part of the sleeve is attached to the protective sheath of the cable (e.g., by solder), and the second part of the sleeve extends around the insulating sheath of the cable and is joined to the first part of the sleeve.
In one embodiment, the minimum inner diameter of the first part of the sleeve may be greater than the minimum inner diameter of the second part of the sleeve. The minimum inner diameter of the first part of the sleeve may be approximately the same as the outer diameter of the protective sheath to provide a good contact between the first part and the protective sheath when the first part is located around the protective sheath. In one embodiment, the minimum inner diameter of the second part of the sheath may be approximately the same as the outer diameter as the insulating sheath of the cable to provide a good contact between the second part and the insulating sheath when the second part is located around the insulating sheath.
When the second part of the sleeve has a minimum inner diameter that is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the insulating sheath around which the second part of the sleeve extends, the radially inwardly facing engagement portion for the second seal may be provided as a circumferential groove so that there is space between the cable and sleeve for the second seal. The depth of the groove may be smaller than the height (or cross sectional diameter, if round) of the second seal so that when the second seal is positioned between the sleeve and the cable, the second seal is radially compressed to energize the seal.
In one embodiment, the second part of the sleeve also provides a radially outwardly facing engagement portion for engagement with one or more seals that, in use, acts as a back-up seal for the first seal.
In one embodiment, an end portion of the first part of the sleeve is arranged to extend circumferentially around an end portion of the second part of the sleeve.
With such an arrangement, the join between the first part of the sleeve and the second part of the sleeve may be made between the end portion of the first part of the sleeve that extends circumferentially around an end portion of the second part of the sleeve. The join may be formed between a radial inwardly facing surface of the first part of the sleeve and a radial outwardly facing surface of the second part of the sleeve.
The join between the first part of the sleeve and the second part of the sleeve may be fixed in any known way such as with adhesive or mechanical fasters. In one embodiment, the second part of the sleeve is attached to the first part of the sleeve by being threadedly engaged therewith. By joining the second part of the sleeve to the first part of the sleeve by threaded engagement, the joining of the two parts may be achieved easily during manufacture. Additionally, joining the two parts by threaded engagement reduces the risk of damaging seals that are located near the join during the joining process.
In one embodiment of the assembly, an end face at a downhole end portion of the second part of the sleeve is in contact with the protective sheath of the cable to which the first portion is attached. When the second part of the sleeve is arranged to abut the end of the protective sheath to which the first part of the sleeve is attached, gaps between the sleeve and the cable may be minimized. This may help prevent air being trapped around the cable that may cause electrical discharges if the electrical gradient around the cable is high enough. This also allows the earth profile provided by the protective sheath of the cable to be continued and to allow the earth to be ended with a smooth, rounded profile that minimizes local electrical stress.
In one embodiment, during manufacture of the assembly, the first part of the sleeve attached to the cable is held in an oil bath when the second part of the sleeve is joined to the first part of the sleeve.
With this method, air may be removed from around the first part of the sleeve before the second part is joined. The second part of the sleeve may be joined to the first part of the sleeve under oil so that no air is trapped between the two parts when the two parts are joined together. This may minimize air trapped between the two components, which may reduce the problem of electrical discharges mentioned above.
Each of the aspects described above may be provided in combination with one or more other aspects of the present embodiments. The embodiment described below embodies a number of aspects in combination. The described embodiment is described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The cable 2 includes a conductive copper core 6 within an insulating polyether ether ketone (PEEK) sheath 7 that is within a lead sheath 8. The lead sheath is within a steel armor 9. Each layer of the cable 2 is concentric with the others. At a downhole portion of the tubing hanger receptacle gland housing 5, the cable is held in a cable grip 10. The cable grip 10 engages with the steel armor 9 of the cable 2 and holds the cable 2 in position within the tubing hanger receptacle gland housing 5. The cable grip 10 engages with the steel armor of all the cables in the assembly. Also, within the tubing hanger receptacle gland housing 5, uphole of the cable grip 10 is a cable support 11 that engages with the lead sheath 8 of the cable 2. The cable support 11 engages with the lead sheath of all the cables in the assembly.
The copper core 6 of the cable 2 is terminated to the pin 3 using a contact terminal 12. The pin 3 is in contact with a multilam 13 within the contact terminal 12 and held therein by a plurality of grub screws 14 that extend radially through the contact terminal 12 into the pin 3.
The termination that includes the end portion of the conductive core 6 of the cable 2, the end portion of the pin 3, the contact terminal 12 and the multilam 13 is encapsulated in a solid insulating portion 15 that has been cast around the termination. In one embodiment, the insulating portion is formed of room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber (RTV) but may be made of any other electrical insulating material.
The cast insulating portion that encapsulates the termination is housed within a chamber 16 provided by a metal housing. The metal housing provides a chamber 16 for each insulated termination. The metal housing includes the termination cover 4 and an electrical contact support body 18. The chamber 16 for housing the insulating portion 15 is partly provided by the termination cover 4 and partly provided by the electrical contact support body 18.
The pin 3 extends from the connector half through the electrical contact support body 18 to the termination that is in the part of the chamber 16 provided by the termination cover 4. The electrical contact support body 18 is sealed to the pin 3 by two 0-rings 19. The electrical contact support body 18 is sealed to the termination cover 4 by a metallic seal 20 that is energized by axial compression and by a back up elastomeric seal 21. The electrical contact support body has a recess for receiving an end portion of the termination cover 4. The metallic seal 20 provides a seal between an end face of the electrical contact support body 18 and a radially extending flange of the termination cover 4. The back up elastomeric seal 21 provides a seal between a radial outer surface of the termination cover 4 and a radial inward surface of the electrical contact support body 18. The seal 20 extends around all of the chambers provided within the metal housing. The electrical contact support body 18 is attached to the termination cover 4 by a plurality of screws 22 that extend through the radially extending flange of the termination cover 4 into the electrical contact support body 18 to hold the two components together and to maintain the seal between the two components.
The termination cover 4 is sealed to the cable by a sealing arrangement that is shown in greater detail in
The sealing arrangement also includes a seal carrier 25. The seal carrier 25 carries two pairs of 0-rings 26, 27 in which one pair 26 is located radially outwardly of the seal carrier 25 and the other pair 27 is located radially inwardly of the seal carrier 25. The 0-ring pair 26 radially outwardly of the seal carrier provides a seal between the termination cover 4 and the seal carrier 25, and the 0-ring 27 pair radially inwardly of the seal carrier provides a seal between the PEEK sheath 7 of the cable 3 and the seal carrier 25. The seal carrier 25 extends around the PEEK sheath 7 of the cable 3 and extends from a downhole end of the insulating portion 15 to the end face of the lead sheath 8. The inner diameter of the seal carrier is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the PEEK sheath such that the seal carrier direct engages with the PEEK sheath. The minimum inner diameter of the solder sleeve 23 is greater than the minimum inner diameter of the seal carrier 25.
Together the solder sleeve 23 and the seal carrier 25 provide a sleeve that extends around the cable 2. The sleeve provides a radially outwardly facing engagement portion for a metallic seal 28 and a radially inwardly facing engagement portion for the 0-ring pair 27. The sleeve includes the two parts, the solder sleeve 23 (e.g., a first part), which is attached to the cable 2 and provides the radially outwardly facing engagement portion for the metallic seal 28, and the seal carrier 25 (e.g., a second part), which provides the radially inwardly facing engagement portion and is provided separately from the solder sleeve 23. The solder sleeve 23 and the seal carrier 25 are joined together during manufacture after the solder sleeve 23 has been attached to the lead sheath of the cable by solder.
A downhole portion of the seal carrier 25 extends radially inwardly of an uphole portion of the solder sleeve 23 and these two parts are threadedly engaged. When the two parts are joined together their outer diameters are substantially the same.
During manufacture when the seal carrier 25 is joined to the solder sleeve 23 by threaded engagement, the solder sleeve and the surrounding cable are held in an oil bath. This prevents air being trapped at the end of the lead sheath where there may be a high electrical stress.
The solder sleeve 23 provides an engagement surface for the metallic seal 28, which is energized by being compressed axially. The metallic seal 28 when energized creates a seal between the solder sleeve 23 and the termination cover 4.
Radially outwardly of the cable 2 and solder sleeve 23 but radially inwardly of the termination cover 4 in a downhole sequence are a compression ring 29, a termination cover retaining ring 30, a solder sleeve retaining ring 31, and a termination locking ring 32. The compression ring 29 extends between the metallic seal 28 and the termination cover retaining ring 30 and acts as a thrust washer between the metallic seal 28 and the termination cover retaining ring 30. The termination cover retaining ring 30 extends between the compression ring 29 and the solder sleeve retaining ring 31 and is threadedly engaged with the termination cover 4. During manufacture of the assembly, rotation of the termination cover retaining ring 30 axially compresses the metallic seal 28 by the compression ring 29 to energize the seal. The solder sleeve retaining ring 31 extends between the termination cover retaining ring 30 and the termination locking ring 32 and is threadedly engaged with the solder sleeve 23. The termination locking ring 32 extends from the solder sleeve retaining ring 31 to the end of the termination cover 4. The termination locking ring 32 is threadedly engaged with the termination cover 4 and in the assembly is flush with the end of the termination cover 4. The described arrangement of the retaining ring 30, the solder sleeve retaining ring 31 and the termination locking ring 32 is provided to keep the metallic seal 28 energized and to prevent movement of the solder sleeve 23 during use.
As shown in
Within the compensation chamber 33 is a compensation piston 34 that holds a pair of 0-ring seals 35 that engages between the piston 35 and the walls of the compensation chamber 33 (e.g., the termination chamber 4). The piston 35 has a rod 36 that extends downhole in a spring 37 that is held between the piston 34 and the bottom of a compensator spring extension tube 38. The compensator spring extension tube 38 extends partly into a recess provided in the downhole face of the termination cover 4 and is clamped in position by two screws (not shown) and threadedly engaged with the termination cover 4 to close the compensation chamber 33. The compensator spring extension tube 38 is sealed to the termination cover 4 by a metallic C seal 39 and an 0-ring 40. The metallic C seal 39 is located between the end face of the termination cover 4 and a radially extending flange of the compensator spring extension tube, and the 0-ring 40 is provided within the recess in the termination cover housing and provides a seal between a radially outwardly facing surface of the compensator spring extension tube 38 and a radially inwardly facing surface of the termination cover 4.
The chamber 16 within the termination cover 4, which houses the insulating portion 15, has, at moderate temperatures, a larger volume than the insulating portion 15. As a result, as shown in
As shown in the Figures and described above, each path from the downhole environment to the insulating portion 15 is sealed by a metallic seal and at least one elastomeric back-up seal. In other words, all the primary seals between the insulating portion 15 and the downhole environment are seals that are not susceptible to damage by rapid gas decompression. The metallic seals isolate the internals of the connector from gas of the downhole environment and fluctuating pressures so the problem of rapid gas decompression is reduced and/or prevented.
There are four leakage paths shown in the assembly of
It is to be understood that the elements and features recited in the appended claims may be combined in different ways to produce new claims that likewise fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, whereas the dependent claims appended below depend from only a single independent or dependent claim, it is to be understood that these dependent claims can, alternatively, be made to depend in the alternative from any preceding or following claim, whether independent or dependent, and that such new combinations are to be understood as forming a part of the present specification.
While the present invention has been described above by reference to various embodiments, it should be understood that many changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB 1217788.7 | Oct 2012 | GB | national |
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/709,498, filed on Oct. 4, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application also claims the benefit of GB 1217788.7, filed on Oct. 4, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61709498 | Oct 2012 | US |
