Communication conduit in a well tool

US 6,026,897 A
Filed: 11/14/1997
Issued: 02/22/2000
Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1996
Status: Expired due to Term

First Claim

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1. A communication conduit in a well tool comprising:

a mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough, an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and an outside circumference,a well tool attached to the outside circumference of the mandrel, andat least two signal transmitting passageways positioned in the mandrel between the inner diameter and the outer diameter.

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Abstract

An improved apparatus for transmitting signals through a well tool is provided. In a broad aspect, the present invention is a communication conduit in a well tool comprising: a cylindrical mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough, an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and an outside circumference; a well tool attached to the outside circumference of the cylindrical mandrel; and at least one signal transmitting passageway positioned in the mandrel between the inner diameter and the outer diameter. In a specific embodiment, the well tool may be a packer. The at least one signal transmitting passageway may be used as a carrier for electrical or fiber optic conductors, or it may be a pressure retaining member whereby pressurized hydraulic fluid may be passed through to a device below the well tool without interruption.

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20 Claims

1. A communication conduit in a well tool comprising:
- a mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough, an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and an outside circumference,a well tool attached to the outside circumference of the mandrel, andat least two signal transmitting passageways positioned in the mandrel between the inner diameter and the outer diameter.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- - 2. The communication conduit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the signal transmitting passageways is formed to conduct hydraulic fluid.
  - 3. The communication conduit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the signal transmitting passageways includes at least one electric wire.
  - 4. The communication conduit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the signal transmitting passageways includes at least one fiber optic cable.
  - 5. The communication conduit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the signal transmitting passageways is positioned approximately midway between the inside diameter and the outside diameter of the mandrel.
  - 6. The communication conduit of claim 1, wherein the cross sectional area of at least one of the signal transmitting passageways is oval shaped with a major axis and a minor axis with the major axis extending radially.
  - 7. The communication conduit of claim 6, wherein the at least one signal transmitting passageway is substantially elliptical.
  - 8. The communication conduit of claim 6, wherein the length of the major axis is substantially no greater than twice the length of the minor axis.
  - 9. The communication conduit of claim 1, wherein a first communication conduit is connected between a control panel at the earth'"'"'s surface and the at least two signal transmitting passageways in the mandrel.
  - 10. The communication conduit of claim 9, wherein at least one signal is transmitted from the first communication conduit through one of the signal transmitting passageways in the mandrel to a second communication conduit, the second communication conduit being connected to a device below the packer.

11. A combination of a mandrel and at least two signal transmitting passageways for conducting hydraulic fluid to actuate well tools comprising:
- a mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough, an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and an outside circumference; and
  
  at least two signal transmitting passageways positioned in said mandrel between the inner diameter and the outer diameter.

12. A combination of a mandrel and at least two signal transmitting passageways for transmitting signals to actuate well tools comprising:
- a mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough, an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and an outside circumference;
  
  at least two signal transmitting passageways positioned in the mandrel between the inner diameter and the outer diameter; and
  
  an electric wire traversing the mandrel through one of the signal transmitting passageways.

13. A combination of a mandrel and at least two signal transmitting passageways for transmitting signals to actuate well tools comprising:
- a mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough, an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and an outside circumference;
  
  at least two signal transmitting passageways positioned in the mandrel between the inner diameter and the outer diameter; and
  
  a fiber optic cable traversing the mandrel through one of the signal transmitting passageways.

14. An improved packer comprising:
- a first nipple having a longitudinal bore therethrough;
  
  a first set of slips having inner surfaces and being connected to the first nipple and mating with a first gripping member;
  
  a resilient sealing element having a longitudinal bore therethrough, and a first end connected to the first set of slips;
  
  a body member connected to a second end of the resilient sealing element;
  
  a piston having a longitudinal bore therethrough and being disposed for longitudinal movement within the body member;
  
  a second nipple having a longitudinal bore therethrough and being connected to the body member; and
  
  a mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough, an inner diameter, an outer diameter, an outside circumference, and at least two signal transmitting passageways positioned in the mandrel between the inner diameter and the outer diameter, the outside circumference being disposed within;
  
  the longitudinal bore of the first nipple;
  
  the inner surfaces of the first set of slips;
  
  the longitudinal bore of the resilient sealing element;
  
  the longitudinal bore of the piston; and
  
  the longitudinal bore of the second nipple.
- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- - 15. The improved packer of claim 14, further including a second set of slips for mating with a second gripping member, the second set of slips having inner surfaces and being connected between the body member and the second nipple, the outside circumference of the mandrel being further disposed within the inner surfaces of the second set of slips.
  - 16. The improved packer of claim 14, wherein a first communication conduit is connected between a control panel at the earth'"'"'s surface and the at least two signal transmitting passageways in the mandrel.
  - 17. The improved packer of claim 16, wherein at least one signal is transmitted from the first communication conduit through one of the signal transmitting passageways in the mandrel to a second communication conduit, the second communication conduit being connected to a device below the packer.
  - 18. The improved packer of claim 14, wherein the mandrel includes:
    - a first hydraulic passageway, a second hydraulic passageway, a fiber optic passageway, and an electric passageway;
      
      the first hydraulic passageway establishing fluid communication between the piston and a source of hydraulic fluid above the packer;
      
      the second hydraulic passageway establishing fluid communication between a source of hydraulic fluid above the packer and at least one device below the packer;
      
      the fiber optic passageway providing a channel for passing at least one fiber optic cable from above the packer to at least one device below the packer; and
      
      the electric passageway providing a channel for passing at least one electrical conductor from above the packer to at least one device below the packer.
  - 19. The improved packer of claim 14, wherein:
    - a first communication conduit is connected between a control panel at the earth'"'"'s surface and the packer, the first communication conduit including a first hydraulic conduit, a second hydraulic conduit, at least one fiber optic cable, and at least one electrical conductor; and
      
      the mandrel includes a first hydraulic passageway in communication with the first hydraulic conduit in the first communication conduit, a second hydraulic passageway in communication with the second hydraulic conduit in the first communication conduit, a fiber optic passageway through which the at least one fiber optic cable passes, and an electric passageway through which the at least one electrical conductor passes.
  - 20. The improved packer of claim 19, wherein:
    - a second communication conduit is connected between the packer and a device below the packer, the second communication conduit including a hydraulic conduit, at least one fiber optic cable, and at least one electrical conductor;
      
      the second hydraulic passageway in the mandrel being in fluid communication with the hydraulic conduit in the second communication conduit;
      
      the at least one electrical conductor passing through the electric passageway in the mandrel being connected to the at least one electrical conductor in the second communication conduit; and
      
      the at least one fiber optic cable passing through the fiber optic passageway in the mandrel being connected to the at least one fiber optic cable in the second communication conduit.

Specification

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Litigation Campaign Assessment

Current Assignee
Camco International Inc. (Schlumberger NV)
Original Assignee
Camco International Inc. (Schlumberger NV)
Inventors
Pringle, Ronald E., Morris, Arthur J.
Primary Examiner(s)
SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A

Application Number

US08/969,867
Time in Patent Office

830 Days
Field of Search

166/65.1, 166/129, 166/120, 166/179, 166/242.1, 166/242.3
US Class Current

166/65.1
CPC Class Codes

E21B 17/003   with electrically conductin...

E21B 33/12   Packers; Plugs used for cem...

E21B 33/1294   characterised by a valve, e...

E21B 33/1295   actuated by fluid pressure

Communication conduit in a well tool

First Claim

2 Assignments

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Abstract

60 Citations

20 Claims

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Communication conduit in a well tool

First Claim

2 Assignments

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0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

60 Citations

20 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

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