Claims
- 1. An apparatus for use in a well having a main bore and a lateral branch, the lateral branch comprising an electrical device, the apparatus comprising:
an inductive coupler mechanism to electrically communicate electrical signaling in the main bore with the electrical device in the lateral branch.
- 2. Apparatus to communicate electrical signaling from a main bore of a well to equipment in a lateral branch, comprising:
a connector mechanism adapted to connect equipment in the main bore to equipment in the lateral branch equipment; and a first inductive coupler portion attached to the connector mechanism to communicate electrical signaling with the lateral branch equipment.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an electrical cable connected to the inductive coupler portion.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a second inductive coupler portion connected to the electrical cable and attached to the connector mechanism, the second inductive coupler portion adapted to communicate signaling with the main bore equipment.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a third inductive coupler portion that is part of the main bore equipment to inductively couple to the second inductive coupler portion.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a fourth inductive coupler portion that is part of the lateral branch equipment to inductively couple to the first inductive coupler portion.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the connector mechanism is further adapted to connect equipment in the main bore to equipment in a second lateral branch, the apparatus further comprising a second inductive coupler portion attached to the connector mechanism to communicate electrical signaling with the second lateral branch equipment.
- 8. A completion string for use in a well having a main bore and a lateral branch, comprising:
equipment in the main bore and in the lateral branch; a first inductive coupler assembly proximal the equipment in the main bore; a second inductive coupler assembly proximal the equipment in the lateral branch; and an electrical cable connecting the first and second inductive coupler assemblies.
- 9. The completion string of claim 8, further comprising equipment in a second lateral branch, the completion string further comprising a third inductive coupler assembly proximal the equipment in the lateral branch.
- 10. The completion string of claim 9, further comprising a fourth inductive coupler assembly proximal the main bore equipment and a second electrical cable connecting the third and fourth inductive coupler assemblies.
- 11. The completion string of claim 8, wherein the equipment in the main bore includes a tubing, the completion string further comprising a connector member between the tubing and the lateral branch equipment.
- 12. The completion string of claim 11, wherein the lateral branch equipment comprises an electrical device.
- 13. The completion string of claim 12, wherein the electrical device comprises a monitoring module.
- 14. The completion string of claim 12, wherein the electrical device comprises a control module.
- 15. The completion string of claim 11, further comprising a casing having a window open to the lateral branch, wherein the connector member extends through the casing window.
- 16. The completion string of claim 11 wherein the first inductive coupler assembly comprises one portion attached to the tubing and another portion attached to the connector member.
- 17. The completion string of claim 16, wherein the second inductive coupler assembly comprises one portion attached to the connector member and another portion attached to the lateral branch equipment.
- 18. The completion string of claim 8, further comprising a hydraulic control line adapted to extend from the main bore to the lateral branch.
- 19. The completion string of claim 18, further comprising a lateral branch connector adapted to connect the main bore equipment to lateral branch equipment, the lateral branch connector comprising a conduit to carry the cable and a conduit to carry the hydraulic control line.
- 20. A method of communicating between main bore equipment and lateral branch equipment in a well, comprising:
providing a first inductive coupler assembly electrically connected to the main bore equipment and in communication with the lateral branch equipment; and transmitting electrical signaling over an electrical cable connected to the first inductive coupler assembly.
- 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:
providing a second inductive coupler assembly electrically connected to the lateral branch equipment; and
electrically connecting the second inductive coupler assembly to the first inductive coupler assembly.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 09/859,944, filed May 17, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/784,651, filed Feb. 15, 2001, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/212,278, filed Jun. 19, 2000, and which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/196,495, filed Nov. 19, 1998.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60212278 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09859944 |
May 2001 |
US |
Child |
10701325 |
Nov 2003 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09784651 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
Child |
09859944 |
May 2001 |
US |
Parent |
09196495 |
Nov 1998 |
US |
Child |
09859944 |
May 2001 |
US |