Pipes and tubular conduits – Plural duct – Coaxial
Utility Patent
1999-08-30
2001-01-02
Brinson, Patrick (Department: 3752)
Pipes and tubular conduits
Plural duct
Coaxial
C138S108000, C138S113000, C166S241100
Utility Patent
active
06167915
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an electrical cable encased in coiled tubing for use with an electrical submersible well pump. In particular, this invention relates to a support system involving bristles attached to the electrical cable wherein the bristles act as a support mechanism for the weight of the electrical cable.
BACKGROUND ART
Electrical submersible well pumps are widely used in industry to pump oil from deep within the earth. The electrical pump receives its power via an electrical cable that runs from the surface to an AC motor placed directly below or above the pump. Because of the depth of the well, the electrical cable oftentimes cannot support its own weight. In conventional installations, the cable is strapped to production tubing that supports the pump. A recent type of installation supports the pump on a continuous string of coiled tubing. The cable extends through the coiled tubing. Various proposals have been made to support the electrical cable within the coiled tubing, thereby transferring the weight of the electrical cable to the walls of the coiled tubing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,173, Sizer et al., Mar. 2, 1993, describes an electrical cable assembly wherein the electrical cable is encased in longitudinally welded reeled tubing. This proposal consists of mechanically or chemically bonding an electrical cable core to reeled tubing so as to prevent longitudinal or axial movement of the electrical cable as well as to transfer the weight of the electrical cable to the reeled tubing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,351, Head, Jul. 25, 1995, proposes the use of a plurality of anchors attached to a conduit. The anchors can be activated to engage the wall of the coiled tubing and subsequently deactivated to disengage themselves from the wall of the coiled tubing.
Another proposal shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,452, Neuroth et al., Oct. 13, 1998, utilizes clamped elastomeric supports to grip the electrical cable to the wall of the coiled tubing. The electrical cable is inserted into the coiled tubing with the supports already attached to the electrical cable. Hydrocarbon fluid is then pumped through the coiled tubing causing the elastomeric supports to swell and effectively grip the walls of the coiled tubing.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
This invention consists of an electrical cable encased within coiled tubing where the cable extends to an AC motor used to power an electrical submersible pump. The power is supplied to the AC motor through insulated electrical conductors embedded within the electrical cable. Bristles are attached to the electrical cable before the electrical cable is pulled through the coiled tubing. The circumscribed diameter of the bristles and the electrical cable is greater than the inner diameter of the coiled tubing so that when the electrical cable is pulled through the coiled tubing, the bristles are deflected in a direction opposite the direction of pulling. The bristles are able to “grip” the inside wall of the coiled tubing, thereby transferring the weight of the electrical cable to the coiled tubing and creating suspension of the electrical cable within the coiled tubing. This invention allows the electrical cable to be pulled out of the coiled tubing by pulling it the same way it was pulled into the coiled tubing.
The preferred embodiment of this invention is to have the bristles extend the entire length of the electrical cable to provide continuous and uninterrupted support. The bristles can be attached either helically or in rows parallel to the axis along the electrical cable.
Another embodiment of this invention is to have the bristles support the electrical cable in intervals wherein the electrical cable would have supported and unsupported sections. Again, the bristles could either be attached helically or parallel to the axis to the electrical cable in this alternate embodiment.
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Collie Charles C.
Wilbourn Phillip R.
Baker Hughes Inc.
Bradley James E.
Brinson Patrick
Felsman, Bradley, Vaden, Gunter & Dillon L.L.P.
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