Patent Application
20090266562
Optical fibers are used for carrying signals in a variety of applications, including telephony applications. The optical fibers are installed into ducting by “blowing” the fiber through the ducting. Generally, the ducting is open on both ends to allow the fiber to be blown through the entire duct. In some well related applications, fluid drag forces also have been used to install fibers into individual control lines. However, well applications can create difficulties in deploying and retrieving optical fiber.
In general, the present invention provides a system and method for utilizing optical fiber in a well environment. A well system is combined with a tube-in-tube system designed to protect one or more internal optical fibers. The tube-in-tube system has an entry at one end and a turn around at an opposite end to enable fluid flow between a flow passage within an inner tube and a flow passage created in the space between the inner tube and a surrounding outer tube. An optical fiber is deployed in and protected by the tube-in-tube system.
Certain embodiments of the invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:
In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for utilizing and protecting optical fibers in a variety of well related applications. For example, a tube-in-tube technology enables fiber optic deployment and replacement via fluid pumping. The use of the tube-in-tube technology provides a single tubular form that reduces the number of hardware penetrations in many applications while providing greater protection to the optical fiber.
The technique can be used in well related applications with many types of equipment. For example, the fiber optic protection system can be used in combination with various tubular well components, including wellbores, well completions, pipelines, flowlines, risers and other well related equipment. Additionally, the unique design enables deployment and retrieval of a fiber optic line when access is only available at one end of the system. In many applications, the fiber optic line can be deployed and/or retrieved via the use of fluid that may be pumped to create fluid drag forces. Similarly, an inner tube of the tube-in-tube arrangement can be deployed and/or retrieved via fluid drag forces in at least some well related applications. The optical fibers can be deployed independently, in groups, and/or as pre-fabricated cable.
With respect to protection, the tube-in-tube technique not only provides physical protection but also provides multiple barriers against the influx of hydrogen. Hydrogen can attack and cause deterioration of fiber optic lines, but the dual walls of the tube-in-tube technology help block the hydrogen. Additionally, fluid can be circulated through the tube-in-tube structure to expel unwanted gases, e.g. hydrogen gases, which could otherwise degrade the internal fiber optic line.
Referring generally to
Tubular well component 22 may comprise a variety of well related components, depending on the specific application utilizing fiber optic line 26. For example, tubular well component 22 may comprise a well completion, a wellbore tubular, a pipeline, a flowline, a riser, or another type of well related component. The tube-in-tube protection system 24 can be positioned along tubular well component 22 in a variety of ways depending on the application. For example, system 24 can be deployed across a well completion, behind a well completion, across one or more subterranean reservoirs, or as a free hanging member from a surface exit of a well. In other embodiments, system 24 can be deployed along an exterior, inside, or across a pipeline, flowline or riser. As illustrated in
In
Although well completion 32 may be constructed with a variety of components and configurations, the illustrated embodiment is provided as an example and comprises a packer 42, a perforated tubing section 44, and a tubing bullnose 46. The perforated tubing section 44 enables communication between wellbore 34 and an interior of well completion 32. In the embodiment illustrated, protection system 24 comprises a tube-in-tube system that extends through packer 42 via single penetration 30. The overall well system 20 also may comprise a variety of components and configurations, including, for example, a hangar 48 and a well head 50. In this example, tubular well component 22 is suspended by hangar 48 and extends downwardly into wellbore 34 from well head 50. Well head 50 may be positioned at a surface location 52.
Similarly, protection system 24 may comprise a variety of components and may be arranged in various configurations. In the embodiment illustrated, protection system 24 comprises tubes or conduits 54 that extend downwardly along tubular well component 22 to a fluid turn around 56. The system 24 also may comprise one or more splices 58 for splicing sections of tubing together while maintaining the pressure integrity of the tubing 54. In the example illustrated, tubing 54 encloses fiber optic line 26 and is routed through both packer 42, via single penetration 30, and through hangar 48 via another single penetration 30. The tubing 54 and enclosed fiber optic line pass through well head 50 and out through a well head outlet 60. Outside of well head 50, the fiber optic line 26 can be joined with a surface cable 62 in a junction box 64 via a junction 66. The junction box 64 also may comprise pressure seals used to seal the fiber optic line 26 to the tubing 54 containing the fiber optic line.
In
As illustrated in
Because fluid turn around 56 is sealed with respect to inner tube 68 and outer tube 70, fluid can be flowed along flow passages within inner tube 68 and within outer tube 70 without being affected by surrounding fluid. For example, fluid can be flowed down through inner tube 68 along an inner tube flow passage, as represented by arrows 86. The fluid is discharged from inner tube 68 into cavity 80 and directed upwardly through crossover flow passages 76 and into an outer tube flow passage, as represented by arrows 88. The fluid can then be returned to, for example, a surface location. In the embodiment illustrated, the outer tube flow passage, represented by arrows 88, comprises an annulus formed between inner tube 68 and outer tube 70.
The flow of fluid down through inner tube 68 can be used to deploy fiber optic line 26, e.g. an optical fiber, as illustrated. The flowing fluid carries or drags the fiber optic line down through inner tube 68. Retrieval of the fiber optic line 26 can be achieved simply by reversing the direction of flow and flowing fluid down through outer tube 70 along flow passage 88, out through crossover flow passages 76, through cavity 80, and up through inner tube flow passage 86. It should be noted that in other applications, the flow of fluid along passages 86, 88 can be used to deploy fiber optic line into the annulus between inner tube 68 and outer tube 70. In some applications, the fiber optic line may be deployed along both inner tube flow passage 86 and outer tube flow passage 88 as a single optical fiber loop or as separate optical fibers.
Referring again to
In
As illustrated, splice 58 comprises an outer housing 90 that is sealingly engaged with sections of outer tube 70 via seal members 92 and 94. An inner splice structure 96 is used to sealingly engage sections of inner tube 68 via a lower seal member 98 and an upper seal member 100. Seal members 92, 94, 98, 100 may be elastomeric or may be metallic, e.g. metallic ferrules, to form metal-to-metal seals. Inner splice structure 96 is sized to fit within an internal cavity 102 of outer housing 90 in a manner that allows fluid flow past inner splice structure 96 between the inner splice structure and the surrounding outer housing 90. Fluid flow along inner tube flow passage 86 can freely move through the sections of inner tube 68 and through inner splice structure 96. The flow along outer tube flow passage 88 can freely move within outer tube 70 along the exterior of inner tube 68 and through splice 58 via the internal cavity 102 formed between inner splice structure 96 and outer housing 90. The splice 58 enables sections of tubes 68, 70 to be connected and anchored in place while maintaining pressure integrity with respect to each fluid flow path.
Referring generally to
In the illustrated embodiment, well head outlet 60 comprises a flange 104 by which the well head outlet 60 is connected to the main structure of well head 50. The flange 104 comprises a passage 106 sized to receive outer tube 70 and to form a seal with outer tube 70 via a seal member 108. The well head outlet 60 further comprises an exterior housing 110 that is joined with flange 104 to form a cavity 112. Outer tube 70 is in fluid communication with cavity 112 and either discharges fluid into cavity 112 or receives fluid from cavity 112.
Housing 110 further comprises a plurality of passages 114 for receiving tubing through which fluid flow is conducted. For example, inner tube 68 may extend through one of the passages 114 while being sealed to housing 110 via a seal member 116. Another passage 114 may receive a tubing 118 sealed to housing 110 via a seal member 120. In the illustrated embodiment, cavity 112 provides a fluid link between tubing 118 and outer tube 70. Accordingly, fiber optic line 26 can be flowed into inner tube 68 through well head outlet 60 and through protection system 24. The returning fluid can be routed along the outer tube flow passage 88, out through cavity 112, and through tubing 118. Retrieval of fiber opic line 26 can be achieved by reversing the direction of fluid flow.
The structure, size, and component configuration selected to construct fluid turn around 56, splice 58, and well head outlet 60 can vary from one application to another. Similarly, the overall configuration of protection system 24 can change and be adapted according to the environment and types of well systems with which it is utilized. Regardless of the specific form, however, the protection system 24 is designed to provide simple hydraulic connections that allow rapid make-up, and to require no fiber splices during rig time. The tube-in-tube structure provides a compact solution in which one main conduit or outer tube is employed so as to have a minimal effect on hardware installation. For example, only a single feed through port is required at completion hardware such as packer 42.
Use of the tube-in-tube structure also allows fiber optic line 26 to be deployed or removed without requiring a work over rig. The optical fibers or fiber optic cable is simply deployed and retrieved by fluid flow in a first direction or a reverse direction. Fluid flow induced deployment and retrieval enables use of a continuous line of optical fiber from a surface location to a distal end of the protection system. Accordingly, the potential for signal losses and for breakage is reduced by avoiding fiber splices. Neutral fluids also can be used to purge inner tube 68 and outer tube 70, thereby extending the life of the optical fibers.
The tube-in-tube structure not only provides physical protection but it also protects the fiber optic line 26 by providing an additional hydrogen barrier. The additional hydrogen barrier slows the rate at which hydrogen migrates to the fiber optic line, thus prolonging the life of the system. The normal process for hydrogen to diffuse through metal is in the form of atomic hydrogen that results from the breakup of H2 molecules during corrosion. However, once the hydrogen diffuses through the outer tube 70 the H2 molecules normally re-form and must once again dissociate to penetrate inner tube 68. Accordingly, the tube-in-tube structure provides a redundant hydrogen barrier. The structure also provides opportunities for the hydrogen to migrate to the surface and/or to be removed by circulating fluid through flow passages 86, 88 to flush hydrogen from the system.
Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this invention. Such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61047303 | Apr 2008 | US |
