Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTROL LINE PROTECTOR
BACKGROUND
In the hydrocarbon exploration and recovery arts, control lines have long been
an important component of successful operations downhole. These may be
hydraulic,
electrical, fiber, etc. Control lines are needed to communicate with devices
positioned
downhole and therefore remote from a surface location at which personnel may
be
stationed.
Because of the harsh downhole conditions, including chemical and mechanical
stress, among others, protection of control lines is desirable.
To this end, the industry has produced tubing encapsulated conductors (TEC)
which
configures an electrical or other conductor, inside a tube of usually 114 inch
diameter.
TEC line is very effective but unfortunately still suffers from stresses in
the downhole
environment.
In order to improve longevity, the industry has created what is commercially
known as a "flat pack". A flat pack is matrix of material, usually a polymer,
into
which is embedded a control line and cables for crush resistance. The control
line is
completely encapsulated which is beneficial but the concept suffers in
application due
to the need at certain downhole tools to strip off the flat pack in order to
pass the
control line through the device. A packer is one such device. The result of a
pass
through is an exposed control line for a length which may be quite extended.
The
exposed length of control line is subject to all stress factors. This has been
avoided by
using many splices in the line (i.e., no real feed-throughs, just breaks and
splices at
devices). There has been, however, no practical solution to the problem.
SUMMARY
Disclosed herein is a control line protector including a matrix having at
least
one bumper and at least one receptacle.
Further disclosed herein is a method for protecting a bare control line by
positioning a protector having a matrix at least one bumper and at least one
receptacle
configured to accept the control line.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in
the several figures:
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional representation of a first embodiment of a
retrofit
protector;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional representation of a second embodiment of a
retrofit protector;
Figure 3A is a cross-sectional representation of a third embodiment of a
retrofit protector;
Figure 3B is an elevation view of the protector of Figure 3A;
Figures 3C-3F are alternate elevation view like 3B but with distinct
constructions of
the protector;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional representation of a fourth embodiment of a
retrofit
protector; and
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional representation of a fifth embodiment of a
retrofit
protector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figure 1, a first embodiment of a retrofit protector is
illustrated.
The protector 10 comprises a matrix 12, at least one bumper 14 and at least
one
receptacle 16. The matrix comprises a material capable of being formed to a
configuration substantially as shown and holding that shape. In addition the
matrix
comprises a material that is resistant to vibration, abrasion, erosion,
chemicals and
mechanical compression or tension. In one embodiment the material is
polymeric.
Bumpers) 14 comprise any relatively strong material having both tensile and
compression resistant characteristics such as steel cable. Since flexibility
is also
desirable, stranded cable may be indicated for some embodiments. In each of
the
embodiments illustrated the matrix and bumpers are similar but the receptacle
16 is
distinct.
Still referring to Figure l, receptacle 16a is configured to extend into a
control
area 20 of matrix 12 from one side 22 of protector 10. In this particular
embodiment
receptacle opening 24 is of a dimension smaller than a control line (not
shown) to be
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housed in receptacle 16a to a degree calculated to provide retention of the
control line
in receptacle 16a while taking into account deformability of matrix 12 such
that a
control line is "snappable" into receptacle 16a by,hand or by suitable
equipment,
depending upon application. For example only, one embodiment employees a
receptacle bore 26 of about 6 1l2 millimeters whereas the receptacle opening
24a is
about 4 millimeters wide. It should be noted that in this and some of the
embodiments discussed below, that receptacle 16a is offset from a centerline
of the
protector 10 in the longer direction depicted. This position reduces insertion
force of
the control line and increases protection of the control line by enhancing
crush
resistance particularly from crushing against a casing or open bore wall of a
wellbore
in which the protector is run.
In a second embodiment, referring to Figure 2, receptacle opening 24b is
provided with an angle to ease installation of a control line. The angle is of
about 5°
to about 25° and reduces the force required to insert the control line
into receptacle
16b, while still requiring passage through a smaller dimension area calculated
to
retain the control line. Depending upon the type of control line being
inserted, this
system may be helpful in that it will tend to be more gentle on the control
line.
A third embodiment is illustrated in Figure 3. This embodiment provides
closure of
the receptacle opening discussed in the previous embodiments. The embodiment
of
Figure 3 includes a living hinge 30 on surface 32. Surface 32 as illustrated
is shown
continuous. This is because receptacle opening 24c is configured to overlap
itself
when the protector 10 is in the closed position. In order to insert a control
line in
protector 10, protector 10 is bent such that surface 32 becomes V-shape to
open
receptacle opening 24c, thus allowing a control line to be installed into
receptacle
bore 26. Protector 10 is then bent back to straighten surface 32, and close
receptacle
opening 24c around the control line. In such configuration the control line is
well
protected 360° around the line. To illustrate the receptacle opening
24c, Figure 3B is
provided which is taken on line 3B-3B in Figure 3A. Alternate overlapping
structures
visible on the 3B view are illustrated in Figures 3C-3F.
Referring to Figure 4, another embodiment of protector 10 is illustrated. In
this embodiment receptacle 16d is simply U-shaped and cut into surface 22. In
this
embodiment the retention of the control line may be provided by an adherent
such as
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a thermo fixed glue or an epoxy formulation or other glue applied to the
receptacle
before or after installation of the control line. Alternatively a polymer or
other type of
stick tape is similarly employable. It is also contemplated that mechanical
compression against the control line occasioned by the protector 10 being
clamped to
a tubular with the receptacle opening toward the tubular and the clamp
positioned
perimetrically around both to clamp the protector to the tubular. Due to the
curved
outside surface of the tubular, the protector is urged into an arcuate
condition when
considered in cross-section. Because of the arcuate condition the sides of the
receptacle opening are urged toward each other effectively pinching the
control line in
place. It will also be appreciated that each of the foregoing methods for
retention may
be combined in whole or in part.
Finally, referring to Figure 5, a receptacle 16e is fully enclosed to both of
side
22 and side 32 of protector 10. In this embodiment, bore 26e is in fact a
closed bore
through the center area of a matrix 12. In this embodiment the control line 26
is fed
through receptacle bore 26e from one end.
In each of the embodiments illustrated herein a control line, which by prior
art
means would have to be left exposed in the wellbore, or could be protected by
an
excess number of splices can be effectively protected without the drawbacks
inherent
in the prior art.
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be
understood that the present invention has been described by way of
illustration and
not limitation.
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