Apparatus and method for attaching downhole device to cable

Abstract

A cable attachment apparatus for attaching downhole devices to a cable includes a base and attachment structures that extend down from the base. The attachment structures are located to be inserted into attachment slots of a pipe to restrict a rotation of the cable attachment apparatus relative to the pipe when the cable attachment apparatus is positioned on the pipe. The cable attachment apparatus further includes a socket having a socket wall and a cavity, where the socket wall extends up from the base and around the cavity. The socket is sized to receive a component of a downhole device in the cavity, where the socket is shaped to restrict the component of the downhole device from rotating in the cavity.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application is related to wellbore operations and, more particularly, to attachment of downhole devices to a cable.BACKGROUND

[0002] A wireline operation within a subterranean wellbore can involve placing a downhole device at the end of a long cable (i.e., a wireline) and dropping the downhole device into the wellbore. For example, a downhole device may be a wireline standoff that is attached to the cable and lowered into the wellbore to reduce the risk of the cable getting stuck in the wellbore. To illustrate, a wireline standoff may keep the cable spaced from the sides of the wellbore. As another example, the downhole device may be a logging device that is attached to the cable and lowered into the wellbore to collect information (e.g., measure wellbore parameters and / or capture images). Some downhole devices may be securely attached to a cable by tightening one component of the downhole device relative to another component of the downhole device. For example, a cable may be extended through a downhole device, where one component of the downhole device is rotated relative to another component of the downhole device resulting in the downhole device having a tight grip or otherwise being clamped to the cable. Securely attaching such a downhole device to a cable may require tightening (e.g., by rotating), by one person, one component of the downhole device relative to another component of the downhole device that is held steady by at least one other person applying a counterbalancing force. Thus, a solution that requires fewer personnel to securely attach a downhole device to a cable may be desirable.SUMMARY

[0003] The present application is related to wellbore operations and, more particularly, to attachment of downhole devices to a wireline that extends into a wellbore. In an example embodiment, a cable attachment apparatus for attaching downhole devices to a cable includes a base and attachment structures that extend down from the base. The attachment structures are located to be inserted into attachment slots of a pipe to restrict a rotation of the cable attachment apparatus relative to the pipe when the cable attachment apparatus is positioned on the pipe. The cable attachment apparatus further includes a socket having a socket wall and a cavity, where the socket wall extends up from the base and around the cavity. The socket is sized to receive a component of a downhole device in the cavity, where the socket is shaped to restrict the component of the downhole device from rotating in the cavity.

[0004] In another example embodiment, a method of attaching downhole devices to a cable includes placing a cable attachment apparatus on a pipe at an opening of the pipe such that a rotation of the cable attachment apparatus relative to the pipe is restricted. The cable attachment apparatus includes a base and a socket, where the socket extends from the base. The method further includes placing a downhole device around the cable, where the downhole device includes a first component and a second component. The method also includes placing the first component in a cavity of the socket, where the socket is shaped to restrict the first component from rotating in the cavity of the socket. The method further includes turning, after the first component is placed in the cavity of the socket, the second component relative to the first component such that the downhole device is securely attached to the cable, where the first component is restricted by the socket from rotating along with the first component.

[0005] These and other aspects, objects, features, and embodiments will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

[0007] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a wellbore operation system including a cable attachment apparatus according to an example embodiment;

[0008] FIG. 4 illustrates the pipe of the wellbore operation system of FIGS. 1-3 according to an example embodiment;

[0009] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate different views of a cable attachment apparatus corresponding to the cable attachment apparatus of FIGS. 1-3 according to an example embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of a cable attachment apparatus corresponding to the cable attachment apparatus of FIGS. 1-3 according to another example embodiment;

[0011] FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate a socket of the cable attachment apparatus of FIG. 6 according to example embodiments;

[0012] FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate a cable attachment apparatus corresponding to the cable attachment apparatus of FIGS. 1-3 according to another example embodiment;

[0013] FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate a downhole device corresponding to the downhole devices of FIGS. 1-3 according to an example embodiment;

[0014] FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate the downhole device of FIGS. 9A-9C positioned in the socket of the cable attachment apparatus of FIGS. 1-3 according to an example embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of the downhole device of FIGS. 9A-9C positioned in the socket of the cable attachment apparatus of FIGS. 8A-8C according to an example embodiment; and

[0016] FIG. 12 illustrates a method of securely attaching downhole devices to a cable according to an example embodiment.

[0017] The drawings illustrate only example embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the example embodiments. Additionally, certain dimensions or placements may be exaggerated to help visually convey such principles. In the drawings, the same reference numerals used in multiple figures may designate like or corresponding and not necessarily identical elements.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In the following paragraphs, particular embodiments will be described in further detail by way of example with reference to the figures. In the description, well known components, methods, and / or processing techniques are omitted or briefly described. Furthermore, reference to various feature(s) of the embodiments is not to suggest that all embodiments must include the referenced feature(s).

[0019] Terms such as “first”, “second”, “primary,”“secondary,”“above”, “below”, “inner”, “outer”, “distal”, “proximal”, “end”, “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “side”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “rear”, and “within”, when present, are used merely to distinguish one component (or part of a component or state of a component) from another. This list of terms is not exclusive. Such terms are not meant to denote a preference or a particular orientation, and they are not meant to limit embodiments of systems and methods described herein. In the following detailed description of the example embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a wellbore operation system 100 including a cable attachment apparatus 102 according to an example embodiment. In some example embodiments, the wellbore operation system 100 includes the cable attachment apparatus 102, a pipe 112, and a cable 126 (e.g., a wireline). The cable attachment apparatus 102 may be used to tightly / securely attach downhole devices / wireline devices (also referred to as wireline tools) to the cable 126. In general, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be used to securely attach a particular downhole device to the cable 126 extending through the particular downhole device by preventing or restricting the rotation of a segment / component of the particular downhole device when another segment / component of the particular downhole device is being turned or rotated. For example, a downhole device that can be securely attached to the cable 126 may include an attachment mechanism to securely attach the downhole device to the cable 126 as a result of the rotation of a component of the downhole device relative to another component of the downhole device as can be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure. A downhole device that implements an example attachment mechanism is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18 / 675,907, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0021] In FIG. 1, a downhole device 124 is securely attached to the cable 126. For example, the downhole device 124 may include multiple components that may be directly or indirectly attached to each other. The downhole device 124 may include an attachment mechanism to securely attach the downhole device 124 to the cable 126 as a result of the rotation of one component of the downhole device 124 relative to another component of the downhole device 124. Before the downhole device 124 is lowered into a wellbore 114 formed in the ground 116 (i.e., the subterranean formation), the downhole device 124 is securely attached to the cable 126 using the cable attachment apparatus 102 above a surface 118 of the ground 116. In general, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be used above the ground 116 to securely attach downhole devices to the cable 126.

[0022] In some example embodiments, the downhole device 124 and other downhole devices that are attached to the cable 126 using the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be wireline standoffs that can reduce the risks of the cable 126 getting stuck in the wellbore 114, damages to the cable 126, and / or damages to the wall of the wellbore 114 by the cable 126 as can be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure. As another example, the downhole device 124 and other downhole devices may be logging devices that are attached to the cable 126 and lowered into the wellbore 114 to collect information, such as wellbore related parameters, wellbore images, etc. As another example, the downhole device 124 and other downhole devices that are attached to the cable 126 using the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be different types of downhole devices.

[0023] In some example embodiments, before the cable attachment apparatus 102 is used to securely attach the downhole device 124 to the cable 126 above the ground 116, the cable attachment apparatus 102 is positioned around the cable 126 as shown in FIG. 1. The cable attachment apparatus 102 may include a base 104 and a socket 106, and the cable 126 may be extended through the socket 106. For example, the cable 126 may be extended through the socket 106 by passing the cable 126 through a cable slot of the cable attachment apparatus 102 that extends between a perimeter of the base 104 and the socket 106. The socket 106 may extend from the base 104. For example, the socket 106 may extend upwardly relative to the base 104. Alternatively, at least a portion of the socket 106 may extend to below the base 104. The socket 106 may include a cavity that is sized to receive at least a portion of the downhole device 124 therein.

[0024] In some example embodiments, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be placed on the pipe 112 at an opening 122 of the pipe 112 such that the cable attachment apparatus 102 is prevented or restricted from rotating relative to the pipe 112. The pipe 112 may be a flanged pipe that includes a flange 120 at the opening 122 of the pipe 112. The pipe 112 may be positioned mostly in the wellbore 114. A portion of the pipe 112, including the flange 120, may be above the surface 118 of the ground 116. To be clear, the pipe 112 may include a string of pipes that are connected end-to-end to form a longer operational pipe.

[0025] In some example embodiments, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may include attachment structures 108, 110 (e.g., a pair of attachment structures such as rods or screws) that may be inserted in respective attachment slots of the pipe 112 formed in the flange 120 to prevent or restrict the rotation of the cable attachment apparatus 102 relative to the pipe 112. To securely attach the downhole device 124 to the cable 126 above the ground 116, the downhole device 124 may be placed around the cable 126 and, for example, slid along the cable 126 into the socket 106 from above the cable attachment apparatus 102. For example, the downhole device 124 may be placed around the cable 126 by assembling the components of the downhole device 124 into the downhole device 124 around the cable 126.

[0026] After the cable attachment apparatus 102 is positioned on the pipe 112 at the opening of the pipe 112 and after, for example, a lower component of the downhole device 124 is placed in the socket 106, the downhole device 124 may be securely attached to the cable 126 by turning / rotating an upper component of the downhole device 124 while the lower component of the downhole device 124 remains rotationally fixed or restricted in the socket 106. For example, a person may use a tool such as a wrench to turn / rotate the upper component of the downhole device 124 relative to the lower component of the downhole device 124 that is in the socket 106.

[0027] After the downhole device 124 is securely attached to the cable 126, the downhole device 124 may be moved out of the socket 106, and the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be removed from the opening 122 of the pipe 112. For example, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be moved away from the opening122 of the pipe 112 by manually lifting the cable attachment apparatus 102 from the pipe 112. After the cable attachment apparatus 102 is removed from around the cable 126, for example, by sliding the cable attachment apparatus 102 through cable slot of the cable attachment apparatus 102 that extends between the socket 106 and the perimeter of the base 104, the downhole device 124 may be lowered into the pipe 112 through the opening 122 of the pipe 112. The downhole device 124 may be lowered into the pipe 112, for example, to the position shown in FIG. 1 by lowering the cable 126. The cable 126 may be lowered down into the pipe 112 using a pulley wheel 128 that is mounted above the pipe 112. For example, field equipment (not shown) may be used to control the lowering and lifting of the cable 126 over the pulley wheel 128.

[0028] FIG. 2A illustrates the wellbore operation system 100 of FIG. 1 with the cable attachment apparatus 102 positioned on the pipe 112 according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2A, in some example embodiments, after the downhole device 124 is securely attached to the cable 126 using the cable attachment apparatus 102 and lowered into the pipe 112, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be used to securely attach a downhole device 202 to the cable 126. For example, after the cable attachment apparatus 102 is removed from the pipe 112 and from around the cable 126 to lower the downhole device 124 into the pipe 112, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be removably placed back around the cable 126 and on the pipe 112 at the opening 122 of the pipe 112, for example, as shown in FIG. 2A.

[0029] As described above, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be removably positioned on the pipe 112 such that the cable attachment apparatus 102 is restricted or otherwise prevented from rotating relative to the pipe 112. To illustrate, the attachment structures 108, 110 that extend down from the base 104 may be positioned in attachment slots 208, 210 of the pipe 112 such that the rotational movement of the cable attachment apparatus 102 relative to the pipe 112 is prevented or otherwise restricted. As such, when the cable attachment apparatus 102 is positioned on the pipe 112 at the opening 122 of the pipe 112 as shown in FIG. 2A, the cable attachment apparatus 102 does not rotate relative to the pipe 112 when a force that may otherwise cause such a rotation is applied to the cable attachment apparatus 102. The attachment slots 208, 210 may be formed in the flange 120 of the pipe 112.

[0030] In some example embodiments, to securely attach the downhole device 202 to the cable 126 using the cable attachment apparatus 102, the downhole device 202 may be placed around the cable 126 at a location above the cable attachment apparatus 102 such that the cable 126 extends through the downhole device 202. For example, the downhole device 202 may be placed around the cable 126 by assembling the components of the downhole device 202 around the cable 126 into the downhole device 202 such that the cable 126 extends through the downhole device 202, where the downhole device 202 may be slidable along the cable 126. The downhole device 202 may be a wireline standoff, a logging device, and / or another type of downhole device as can be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure.

[0031] In some example embodiments, the downhole device 202 may include multiple components, including an upper component 204 and a lower component 206, that may be directly or indirectly attached to each other. The downhole device 202 may include an attachment mechanism to securely attach the downhole device 202 to the cable 126 as a result of the rotation of the upper component 204 relative to the lower component 206. After the downhole device 202 is placed around the cable 126, the downhole device 202 may be placed in the cavity of the socket 106 of the cable attachment apparatus 102. To illustrate, the downhole device 202 may be slid into the cavity of the socket 106 along the cable 126 that extends through the socket 106. For example, the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 may be at least partially positioned in the cavity of the socket 106. In general, the socket 106 includes a top opening and a bottom opening, where the top opening, the bottom opening, and the socket of the socket 106 are sized for the cable 126 to extend therethrough.

[0032] FIG. 2B illustrates the wellbore operation system 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2A with the downhole device 202 positioned in the socket 106 of the cable attachment apparatus 102 according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1-2B, as described above, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may include the base 104 and the socket 106. The socket 106 may extend upwardly from the base 104. The socket 106 may include a cavity that is sized to receive at least a portion of the downhole device 202 therein. For example, the cavity of the socket 106 may be sized to receive at least a portion of the lower component 212 of the downhole device 202. That is, the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 may be at least partially positioned in the cavity of the downhole device 202 as shown in FIG. 2B.

[0033] In some example embodiments, the socket 106 may be shaped to prevent or otherwise restrict the rotation of the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 that is positioned in the cavity of the socket 106. To illustrate, the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 may be shaped to fit in the cavity of the socket 106 such that the socket 106 prevents or otherwise restricts the rotation of the lower component 206 in the socket 106 after at least a portion of the lower component 206 is placed in the cavity of the socket 106. For example, the internal surface of the socket 106 around the cavity of the socket 106 and the lower component 206 may have matching (i.e., complementary) shapes that allow the lower component 206 to be fittingly positioned in the cavity of the socket 106. In general, the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 may fit in the cavity of the socket 106 in a manner a fastener head fits in a wrench socket.

[0034] In some example embodiments, after the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 is positioned in the cavity of the socket 106, the downhole device 202 may be securely attached to the cable 126 extending through the downhole device 202 by turning the upper component 204 relative to the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202. For example, a person may use a wrench 302 to turn / rotate the upper component 204 relative to the lower component 206 that is prevented or otherwise restricted from rotating in the cavity of the socket 106. Because the cable attachment apparatus 102 is attached to or positioned on the pipe 112 in a rotationally fixed or restricted position, turning / rotating the upper component 204 relative to the lower component 206 that is in the cavity of the socket 106 does not cause the cable attachment apparatus 102 to rotate relative to the pipe 112. As such, turning / rotating the upper component 204 relative to the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 results in the downhole device 202 being securely attached to the cable 126. Turning / rotating the upper component 204 relative to the lower component 206 may also cause the components of the downhole device 202 including the upper component 204 and the lower component 206 to be tightly coupled to each other.

[0035] In some example embodiments, the downhole device 202 may be lowered into the pipe 112, and thus into the wellbore 114, after the downhole device 202 is securely attached to the cable 126. To illustrate, the downhole device 202 may be removed from the socket 106, and the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be moved off the pipe 112 to at least partially expose the opening 122 of the pipe 112. The cable attachment apparatus 102 may be removed from around the cable 126 such that the cable 126 no longer extends through the cable attachment apparatus 102. The downhole device 202 may then be lowered into the pipe 112 by lowering the cable 126.

[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates the wellbore operation system 100 of FIGS. 1-2B with the downhole device 202 securely attached to the cable 126 and lowered into the pipe 112 according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, in some example embodiments, the base 104 may include an area that can mechanically and / or magnetically retain components 212 of another downhole device, for example, during the attachment of the downhole device 202 to the cable 126. As such, the base 104 may provide a convenience of accessing components of other downhole devices ahead of the attachment of the downhole devices to the cable 126.

[0037] In some example embodiments, after the downhole device 202 is securely attached to the cable 126 and lowered into the pipe 112, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be used to securely attach the components 212 to the cable 126 as another downhole device, for example, in the manner described above with respect to the downhole device 202. Before securely attaching another downhole device to the cable 126, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be placed back around the cable 126. The cable attachment apparatus 102 may also be placed back on the pipe 112 to the rotationally fixed or restricted position shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B before securely attaching another downhole device to the cable 126. To be clear, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be placed back around the cable 126 after the downhole device 202 that is securely attached to the cable 126 is moved below the cable attachment apparatus 102, and the downhole device 202 may be subsequently lowered into or further into the pipe 112. The downhole device 202 may also be lowered further into the pipe 112 after the cable attachment apparatus 102 is placed back on the pipe 112 at the opening of the pipe 112.

[0038] In some example embodiments, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be made from one or more materials such as one or more metals (e.g., aluminum, a ferrous metal, and / or a metal alloy) or one or more other materials using one or more methods such as die casting, milling, cutting, bending, 3D printing, molding, etc. The socket 106 of the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be integrally formed with the base 104 of the cable attachment apparatus 102 or may be a separate structure that is removably (e.g., threadedly) attached to the base 104. The attachment structures 108, 110 may be integrally formed with the base 104 of the cable attachment apparatus 102 or may be separate structures that are extended through attachment holes (e.g., a pair of attachment holes) of the base 104.

[0039] By using the cable attachment apparatus 102 as described above, a person may securely attach downhole devices, such as the downhole devices 124, 202, to the cable 126. Because a single person can attach downhole devices to the cable 126 without assistance from others, the need for coordination among multiple individuals to attach downhole devices to the cable 126 can be avoided. A person can securely attach a downhole device, such as the downhole device 202, to the cable 126 in a relatively short time. By providing a space for downhole devices or components of other downhole devices to be mechanically and / or magnetically retained on the base 104 before attachment to the cable 126, the cable attachment apparatus 102 can save time in the attachment of multiple downhole devices to the cable 126.

[0040] In some alternative embodiments, the wellbore operation system 100 may include other devices and structures than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may include other components than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, more or less than two downhole devices may be securely attached to the cable 126 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. To be clear, each one downhole device of the downhole devices 124, 202, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, are shown as having a generic shape and are not intended to indicate a required shape and may have another shape without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Although the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 is shown in FIG. 2B as being partially in the cavity of the socket 106, in some alternative embodiments, the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 may be entirely in the cavity of the socket 106 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Although the upper component 204 of the downhole device 202 is shown in FIG. 2B as being entirely outside of the cavity of the socket 106, in some alternative embodiments, the upper component 206 may be partially or entirely inside the cavity of the socket 106 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the attachment structures 108, 110 may extend entirely below the base 104 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the cable attachment apparatus 102 may be attachable to different size (i.e., opening diameter) pipes without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the base 104 may include multiple pairs of attachment holes that are spaced differently, where the attachment structures 108, 110 can be inserted in particular pairs of the attachment holes that are aligned with pairs of attachment slots of a particular pipe. In some alternative embodiments, the flange 120 may be a structure that is removably attached to the pipe 112 at the opening of the pipe 112.

[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates the pipe 112 of the wellbore operation system 100 of FIGS. 1-3 according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1-4, in some example embodiments, the pipe 112 includes the flange 120, for example, at the opening 122 of the pipe 112. The pipe 112 may have multiple pairs of attachment slots that are formed in the flange 120. In general, a pair of attachment slots of the pipe 112 that are directly across from each other (e.g., along a diameter of the flange 120) may be used to prevent or otherwise restrict the rotation of the cable attachment apparatus 102 with respect to the pipe 112 when the cable attachment apparatus 102 is positioned on the pipe 112 at the opening of the pipe 112, for example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0042] To illustrate, each attachment slot of the pipe 112 may be sized to receive an attachment structure such as a rod or screw extending down from the cable attachment apparatus 102. For example, the attachment slots 208, 210 that are generally directly across from each other may receive the attachment structures 108, 110, respectively, extending down from the base 104 of the downhole device 202. To illustrate, the attachment structure 108 may be inserted in the attachment slot 208, and the attachment structure 110 may be inserted in the attachment slot 210.

[0043] When the attachment structures 108, 110 of the cable attachment apparatus 102 are positioned in a pair of attachment slots of the pipe 112, such as the attachment slots 208, 210, a rotational force applied on the upper component 204 of the downhole device 202 while the lower component 206 is rotationally fixed or restricted in the socket 106 of the cable attachment apparatus 102 may not cause the cable attachment apparatus 102 to rotate relative to the pipe 112. As such, the upper component 204 of the downhole device 202 may be turned / rotated relative to the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 to securely attach the downhole device 202 to the cable 126. As described above, other downhole devices, such as the downhole device 124, may be securely attached to the cable 126 in the same manner.

[0044] In some alternative embodiments, the attachment structures 108, 110 may be inserted in another pair of attachment slots of the pipe 112 such as attachment slots 402, 404. In some alternative embodiments, the attachment slots of the pipe 112 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the pipe 112 may include more or fewer attachment slots than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the flange 120 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some example embodiments, the attachment structures 108, 110 may be inserted into any desired pairs of attachment slots of the pipe 112, even ones that are not located directly across from each other (e.g., slots 208 and 404, slots 210 and 402, slots 208 and 402, slots 210 and 404, etc.).

[0045] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate different views of a cable attachment apparatus 500 corresponding to the cable attachment apparatus 102 of FIGS. 1-3 according to an example embodiment. FIG. 5A shows the side view of the cable attachment apparatus 500. FIG. 5B shows a top view of the cable attachment apparatus 500. FIG. 5C shows a bottom view of the cable attachment apparatus 500. In general, the cable attachment apparatus 500 may be used in the wellbore operation system 100 of FIGS. 1-3 to securely attach downhole devices, such as the downhole devices 124, 202, to a cable, such as the cable 126, in the manner described above with respect to the cable attachment apparatus 102. For example, the cable attachment apparatus 500 may be used instead of the cable attachment apparatus 102 of FIGS. 1-3 or may be an instance of the cable attachment apparatus 102 of FIGS. 1-3.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 5A-5C, in some example embodiments, the cable attachment apparatus 500 includes a base 502 and a socket 504 that extends from the base 502. The socket 504 may include a socket wall 512 positioned substantially around a cavity 514 of the socket 504. For example, the socket wall 512 may extend upwardly from the base 502. The socket 504 may include a gap 526 in the socket wall 512. The base 502 may include a cable slot 506 that extends between a perimeter of the base 502 and the cavity 514 of the socket 504. The cable slot 506 may be connected to the gap 526 and may be used to pass a cable (e.g., the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3) therethrough into the cavity 514 of the socket 504 such that the cable extends through the socket 504.

[0047] In some example embodiments, the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3 may be moved into the socket 504 through the cable slot 506 and through the gap 526 such that the cable 126 extends through the socket 504 in the manner the cable 126 extends through the socket 106 of the cable attachment apparatus 102 shown FIGS. 1-3. For example, the socket 504 may include a bottom opening 516 for the cable 126 to extend through the cavity 514 of the socket 504. The bottom opening 516, which is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5A for clarity of illustration, may be formed in a base section 532 of the socket 504 as more clearly shown in FIG. 5B. The base section 532 of the socket 504 may be a portion of the base 502 or may be separate from the base 502. The cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3 may be moved out of the socket 504 through the cable slot 506 and through the gap 526.

[0048] In some example embodiments, the base 502 may include attachment holes 518, 520, 522, 524, 528, 530. The attachment structures 508, 510 may be structures, such as rods or screws, that can be inserted in a pair of attachment holes of the attachment holes 518, 520, 522, 524, 528, 530. For example, the attachment structure 508 may extend down from the base 502 through the attachment hole 518, and an attachment structure 510 may extend down from the base 502 through the attachment hole 520 as shown in FIG. 5A. To illustrate, the attachment structures 508, 510 may correspond to the attachment structures 108, 110 of FIGS. 1-3 and may extend down from the base 502 to be inserted in the attachment slots 208, 210 of the pipe 112 of FIGS. 2A-4 in the same manner described above with respect to the cable attachment apparatus 102. The attachment structures 508, 510 are omitted in FIGS. 5B and 5C for clarity of illustration.

[0049] In some example embodiments, the attachment structures 508, 510 may be inserted in another pair of attachment holes of the base 502 instead of the attachment holes 518, 520. To illustrate, the separation / distance between the attachment holes 518, 520 may be different from the separation / distance between the attachment holes 522, 524. For example, the size (e.g., the diameter) of the pipe 112 of FIGS. 1-4 may be such that the separation / distance between the attachment slots 208, 210 of the pipe 112 matches the separation / distance, for example, between the attachment holes 522, 524 of the base 502. In such cases, the attachment structures 508, 510 may extend down from the base 502 through the pair of attachment holes 522, 524, respectively, such that the attachment structures 508, 510 can be inserted in the attachment slots 208, 210 of the pipe 112 in the manner described above with respect to the attachment structures 108, 110 and FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0050] As another example, the size (e.g., the diameter) of the pipe 112 shown in FIGS. 1-4 may be such that the separation / distance between the attachment slots 208, 210 of the pipe 112 matches the separation / distance between the attachment holes 528, 530 of the base 502. In such cases, the attachment structures 508, 510 may extend down from the base 502 through the pair of the attachment holes 528, 530, respectively, such that the attachment structures 508, 510 can be inserted in the attachment slots 208, 210 of the pipe 112 in the manner described above with respect to the attachment structures 108, 110 and FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0051] In some example embodiments, a downhole device may fit in the cavity 514 of the socket 504 such that the downhole device is prevented or otherwise restricted by the socket 504 from rotating in the cavity 514. For example, referring to FIGS. 1-5C, a lower component of a downhole device and the inner wall of the socket 504 surrounding the cavity 514 may have matching shapes such that the lower component of the downhole device fits in the socket 504 in the manner a wrench head fits in a wrench socket. For example, a lower component of the downhole device 124 of FIGS. 1-3 may fit in the cavity 514 of the socket 504 such that the lower component of the downhole device 124 is prevented or otherwise restricted by the socket 504 from rotating in the cavity 514. As another example, the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 of FIGS. 2A-3 may fit in the cavity 514 of the socket 504 such that the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 is prevented or otherwise restricted from rotating in the cavity 514. The cable attachment apparatus 500 may be used to securely attach the downhole devices 124, 202, and other downhole devices to the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3 in the manner described above with respect to the cable attachment apparatus 102.

[0052] In some example embodiments, the base 502 may include an area 534 for retaining components, such as the components 212 shown in FIG. 3, of another downhole device yet to be attached to the cable 126 during the secure attachment of the downhole device 202 to the cable 126. In general, the area 534 may mechanically and / or magnetically retain the components of a downhole device thereon. Alternatively, the base 502 as a whole may be used to mechanically and / or magnetically retain components of a downhole device thereon.

[0053] In some example embodiments, the attachment structures 508, 510 may be integrally formed with the base 502 or may be separate structures that are extended through the attachment holes of the base 502. The socket 504 may be integrally formed with the base 502 or may be a separate structure that is removably (e.g., threadedly) attached to the base 502 of the cable attachment apparatus 500. The cable attachment apparatus 500 may be made from one or more materials such as one or more metals (e.g., aluminum, a ferrous metal, and / or a metal alloy) or one or more other materials using one or more methods such die casting, milling, cutting, bending, 3D printing, molding, etc.

[0054] In some alternative embodiments, the cable attachment apparatus 500 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the base 502 may have a non-circular shape, such as rectangular shape, a hexagonal shape, or another shape. In some alternative embodiments, the socket 504 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the outer horizontal cross-sectional shape of the socket 504 may have a round shape. As another example, the facets of the inner wall of the socket 504 surrounding the cavity 514 may be slanted toward the bottom opening 516 of the socket 504. In some alternative embodiments, the bottom opening 516 of the socket 504 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the attachment holes 518, 520, 522, 524, 528, 530 formed in the base 502 may be at different locations than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the base 502 may include more or fewer attachment holes than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the cable attachment apparatus 500 may include more than two attachment structures without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0055] FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of a cable attachment apparatus 600 corresponding to the cable attachment apparatus 102 of FIGS. 1-3 according to another example embodiment, and FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate the socket 604 of the cable attachment apparatus 600 of FIG. 6 according to example embodiments. In general, the cable attachment apparatus 600 may be used in the wellbore operation system 100 of FIGS. 1-3 to securely attach downhole devices, such as the downhole devices 124, 202, to a cable, such as the cable 126, in the manner described above with respect to the cable attachment apparatus 102. For example, the cable attachment apparatus 600 may be used instead of the cable attachment apparatus 102 of FIGS. 1-3 or may be an instance of the cable attachment apparatus 102 of FIGS. 1-3.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 6-7C, in some example embodiments, the cable attachment apparatus 600 includes a base 602 and a socket 604 that extends from the base 602. The socket 604 may include a socket wall 702 positioned substantially around a cavity 608 of the socket 604. For example, the socket wall 702 may extend upwardly from the base 602. The socket 604 may include a gap 704 in the socket wall 702. The base 602 may include a cable slot 606 that extends between a perimeter of the base 602 and the cavity 608 of the socket 604. The cable slot 606 may be connected to the gap 704 and may be used to pass a cable (e.g., the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3) therethrough into the cavity 608 of the socket 604 such that the cable extends through the socket 604. For example, the cable 126 shown in FIGS. 1-3 may be moved into the cavity 608 of the socket 604 through the cable slot 606 and the gap 704 such that the cable 126 extends through a top opening 706 of the socket 604, the cavity 608, and a bottom opening 708 of the socket 604 in the manner the cable 126 extends through the socket 106 of the cable attachment apparatus 102 shown in FIGS. 1-3. A cable, such as the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3, may be moved out of the cavity 608 of the socket 604 through the cable slot 606 and the gap 704.

[0057] In some example embodiments, the bottom opening 708 of the socket 604 may be defined by the socket wall 702 that has an inner surface 610 including inner surface facets 710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 720, 722 as more clearly shown in FIG. 7B. For example, the inner surface facets 710-722 may be slanted as the inner surface facets 710-722 extend from the top opening 706 of the socket 604 to the bottom opening 708 of the socket 604. Alternatively, the bottom opening 708 may be formed in a base section 724 of the socket 604 as more clearly shown in FIG. 7C, where the inner surface facets 710-722 extend substantially vertically between the top opening 706 and the bottom opening 708. For example, the base section 724 of the socket 604 may be a portion of the base 602 or may be separate from the base 602.

[0058] In some example embodiments, a downhole device may fit in the cavity 608 of the socket 604 such that the downhole device is prevented or otherwise restricted from rotating in the cavity 608. For example, referring to FIGS. 1-4 and 6-7C, a lower component of a downhole device and the inner surface 610 of the socket 604 surrounding the cavity 608 may have matching shapes such that the lower component of the downhole device fits in the socket 604 in the manner a wrench head fits in a wrench socket. For example, a lower component of the downhole device 124 of FIGS. 1-3 may fit in the cavity 608 of the socket 604 such that the lower component of the downhole device 124 is prevented or otherwise restricted from rotating in the cavity 608. As another example, the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 of FIGS. 2A-3 may fit in the cavity 608 of the socket 604 such that the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 is prevented or otherwise restricted from rotating in the cavity 608. The cable attachment apparatus 600 may be used to securely attach the downhole devices 124, 202, and other downhole devices to the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3 in the manner described above with respect to the cable attachment apparatus 102.

[0059] In some example embodiments, the base 602 may include attachment holes 612, 614 that may be on opposite sides of the socket 604. A pair of attachment structures, such as the attachment structures 108, 110 of FIGS. 1-3 or the attachment structures 508, 510 of FIG. 5A, may extend through the attachment holes 612, 614. For example, the attachment structure 108 of FIG. 1 may extend down from the base 602 through the attachment hole 612, and the attachment structure 110 may extend down from the base 602 through the attachment hole 614. To illustrate, the attachment structures 108, 110 of FIGS. 1-3 may extend down from the base 602 through the attachment holes 612, 614 to be inserted in the attachment slots 208, 210 of the pipe 112 of FIGS. 2A-4 in the same manner described above with respect to the cable attachment apparatus 102 and FIGS. 1-3.

[0060] In some example embodiments, the base 602 may include an area 616 for placing components of another downhole device, such as the components 212 of another downhole device shown in FIG. 3, while the downhole device 202 is being securely attached to the cable 126. In general, the area 616 may mechanically and / or magnetically retain the components of a downhole device thereon. Alternatively, the base 602 as a whole may be used to mechanically and / or magnetically retain components of a downhole device thereon.

[0061] In some example embodiments, the attachment structures, such as the attachment structures 108, 110 of FIGS. 1-3, may be integrally formed with the base 602 or may be separate structures that are extended through the attachment holes of the base 602. The socket 604 may be integrally formed with the base 602 or may be a separate structure that is removably (e.g., threadedly) attached to the base 602. The cable attachment apparatus 600 may be made from one or more materials such as one or more metals (e.g., aluminum, a ferrous metal, and / or a metal alloy) or one or more other materials using one or more methods such die casting, milling, cutting, bending, 3D printing, molding, etc.

[0062] Although the socket 604 is shown in FIGS. 7A-7C as a separate structure, the socket 604 may be integrally formed with the rest of the cable attachment apparatus 600 including the base 602. In some alternative embodiments, the cable attachment apparatus 600 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the base 602 may have a non-circular shape, such as rectangular shape, a hexagonal shape, or another shape. In some alternative embodiments, the socket 604 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the outer horizontal cross-sectional shape of the socket 604 may have a rectangular shape. As another example, the inner surface 610 of the socket wall 702 may have more or less inner surface facets than shown. In some alternative embodiments, the top opening 706 and the bottom opening 708 of the socket 604 may each have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the attachment holes 612, 614 formed in the base 602 may be at different locations and / or may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the base 602 may include more attachment holes than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0063] FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate a cable attachment apparatus 800 corresponding to the cable attachment apparatus 102 of FIGS. 1-3 according to another example embodiment. FIG. 8A illustrates a top view of the cable attachment apparatus 800, and FIGS. 8B and 8C illustrate side views of the cable attachment apparatus 800. In general, the cable attachment apparatus 800 may be used in the wellbore operation system 100 of FIGS. 1-3 to securely attach downhole devices, such as the downhole devices 124, 202, to a cable, such as the cable 126, in the manner described above with respect to the cable attachment apparatus 102. For example, the cable attachment apparatus 800 may be used instead of the cable attachment apparatus 102 of FIGS. 1-3 or may be an instance of the cable attachment apparatus 102 of FIGS. 1-3.

[0064] Referring to FIGS. 8A-8C, in some example embodiments, the cable attachment apparatus 800 includes a base 802 and a socket 804 that extends from the base 802. The socket 804 may include a socket wall 812 positioned substantially around a cavity 810 of the socket 804. For example, the socket wall 812 may extend upwardly from the base 802. The socket 804 may include a gap 808 in the socket wall 812. The base 802 may include a cable slot 806 that extends between a perimeter of the base 802 and the cavity 810 of the socket 804. The cable slot 806 may be connected to the gap 808 and may be used to pass a cable (e.g., the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3) therethrough into the cavity 810 of the socket 804 such that the cable extends through the socket 804. For example, the cable 126 shown in FIGS. 1-3 may be moved into the cavity 810 of the socket 804 through the cable slot 806 and the gap 808 such that the cable 126 extends through a top opening 830 of the socket 804, the cavity 810, and a bottom opening 816 of the socket 804 in the manner the cable 126 extends through the socket 106 of the cable attachment apparatus 102 shown in FIGS. 1-3. A cable, such as the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3, may be moved out of the cavity 810 of the socket 804 through the gap 808 and the cable slot 806.

[0065] In some example embodiments, the bottom opening 816 may be formed in a base section 832 of the socket 804. For example, the base section 832 of the socket 804 may be a portion of the base 802 or may be separate from the base 802. Alternatively, the bottom opening 816 may be defined by the socket wall 812.

[0066] In some example embodiments, the socket 804 may include a locking tab 814 protruding from the socket wall 812 toward the cavity 810. The locking tab 814 may be located to be inserted in a slot of a downhole device that is placed in the cavity 810 of the socket 804. To illustrate, when a downhole device is placed in the cavity 810 of the socket 804, the locking tab 814 may be positioned in the slot of a component of the downhole device to prevent or otherwise restrict a rotation of the component of the downhole device in the cavity 810 relative to the socket 804. For example, referring to FIGS. 1-4 and 8A-8C, a lower component of the downhole device 124 of FIGS. 1-3 may fit in the cavity 810 of the socket 804 such that the lower component of the downhole device 124 is prevented or otherwise restricted from rotating in the cavity 810. As another example, the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 of FIGS. 2A-3 may fit in the cavity 810 of the socket 804 such that the lower component 206 of the downhole device 202 is prevented or otherwise restricted from rotating in the cavity 810. The cable attachment apparatus 800 may be used to securely attach the downhole devices 124, 202, and other downhole devices to the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3 in the manner described above with respect to the cable attachment apparatus 102.

[0067] In some example embodiments, the base 802 may include attachment holes 818, 820, 822, 824, 826, 828 that are formed therethrough. For example, the attachment holes 818, 822, 826 may be on one side of the socket 804, and the attachment holes 820, 824, 828 may be on an opposite side of the socket 804. A pair of attachment structures, such the attachment structures 108, 110 of FIGS. 1-3 or the attachment structures 508, 510 of FIG. 5A, may extend through the attachment holes 818, 820. For example, the attachment structure 108 of FIG. 1 may extend down from the base 802 through the attachment hole 818, and the attachment structure 110 of FIG. 1 may extend down from the base 802 through the attachment hole 820. To illustrate, the attachment structures 108, 110 of FIGS. 1-3 may extend down from the base 802 through the attachment holes 818, 820 to be inserted in the attachment slots 208, 210 of the pipe 112 of FIGS. 2A-4 in the same manner described above with respect to the cable attachment apparatus 102 and FIGS. 1-3. As another example, a pair of attachment structures, such the attachment structures 108, 110 of FIGS. 1-3 or the attachment structures 508, 510 of FIG. 5A, may extend through another pair of attachment holes of the attachment holes 818, 820, 822, 824, 826, 828, for example, to use the cable attachment apparatus 800 with a pipe that has a smaller diameter.

[0068] In some example embodiments, the attachment structures, such as the attachment structures 108, 110 of FIGS. 1-3, may be integrally formed with the base 802 or may be separate structures that are extended through a pair of attachment holes of the attachment holes 818, 820, 822, 824, 826, 828. The socket 804 may be integrally formed with the base 802 or may be a separate structure that is removably (e.g., threadedly) attached to the base 802. The cable attachment apparatus 800 may be made from one or more materials such as one or more metals (e.g., aluminum, a ferrous metal, and / or a metal alloy) or one or more other materials using one or more methods such die casting, milling, cutting, bending, 3D printing, molding, etc.

[0069] In some alternative embodiments, the cable attachment apparatus 800 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the base 802 may have a rectangular shape, such as a round shape, a hexagonal shape, or another shape. In some alternative embodiments, the socket 804 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the outer horizontal cross-sectional shape of the socket 804 may have a rectangular shape. As another example, the inner surface of the socket wall 812 may be slanted as the inner surface extends down from the top opening 830 of the socket 804 to the bottom opening 816. In some alternative embodiments, the top opening 830 and the bottom opening 816 of the socket 804 may each have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the attachment holes 818-828 formed in the base 802 may be at different locations and / or may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the base 802 may include more or fewer attachment holes than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the socket 804 may include more than one locking tab without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the locking tab 814 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the locking tab 814 may extend out at a different location of socket 804 than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the locking tab 814 may be shorter than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0070] FIGS. 9A-9C illustrates a downhole device 900 corresponding to the downhole devices 124, 202 of FIGS. 1-3 according to an example embodiment. In FIG. 9B, the components of the downhole device 900 are shown before assembly into the downhole device 900. Referring to FIGS. 9A-9C, in some example embodiments, the downhole device 900 may include an upper component 902, a lower component 904, and a middle component 906. For example, the lower component 904 may include a threaded portion 920 and may be threadedly coupled to the upper component 902, and the middle component 906 may be positioned between upper component 902 and the lower component 904. The middle component 906 may be positioned around a portion of the upper component 902 and a portion of the lower component 904. The downhole device 900 may also include a collet 918 that is compressible resulting in the narrowing of a cable pathway therethrough, for example, as the upper component 902 is turned / rotated relative to the lower component 904.

[0071] In some example embodiments, the upper component 902 may include an upper slot 912, the lower component 904 may include a lower slot 914, and the middle component 906 may include a middle slot 916. A cavity of the upper component 902 may be accessed through the upper slot 912, and a cavity of the lower component 904 may be accessed through the lower slot 914. For example, the upper component 902 and the lower component 904 may be coupled with each other such that the cavity of the upper component 902 and the cavity of the lower component 904 define a cavity of the downhole device 900.

[0072] In some example embodiments, the upper slot 912, the middle slot 916, and the lower slot 914 may be aligned with each other (as more clearly shown in FIG. 9C) by turning / rotating the upper component 902, the lower component 904, and the middle component 906 relative to each other. For example, a cable, such as the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3, may be placed into the downhole device 900 through the upper slot 912, the middle slot 916, and the lower slot 914 such that the cable extends through the downhole device 900. After the cable is placed through the downhole device 900, the upper component 902, the lower component 904, and / or the middle component 906 may be turned / rotated such that the upper slot 912, the middle slot 916, and the lower slot 914 are no longer aligned, thereby preventing the cable from unintendedly exiting the downhole device 900 through the upper slot 912, the middle slot 916, and the lower slot 914. Turning / rotating upper component 902 relative to the lower component 904 or vice versa may result in the downhole device 900 being tightly / securely attached to a cable extending through the downhole device 900. For example, turning / rotating the upper component 902 relative to the lower component 904 or vice versa may cause the collet 918 to be compressed and tightly grip a cable, such as the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3, extending therethrough.

[0073] In some example embodiments, the upper component 902 may be shaped such that a tool, such as a wrench, can be placed around at least a portion of the upper component 902 to turn / rotate the upper component 902 relative to the lower component 904. The lower component 904 may be shaped such that the lower component 904 can fit in a socket of a cable attachment apparatus, such as the cable attachment apparatus 102 of FIGS. 1-3, the cable attachment apparatus 500 of FIGS. 5A-5C, the cable attachment apparatus 600 of FIG. 6, and / or the cable attachment apparatus 800 of FIGS. 8A-8C. To illustrate, the lower component 904 may have multiple outer facets 908, 910 as well as other outer facets that form a shape that matches a shape of the inner surface of a cavity of a socket of a cable attachment apparatus, where the socket prevents or otherwise restricts the rotation of the lower component 904 in the socket. For example, the lower component 904 may have a horizontal cross-sectional profile that has, for example, a rectangular shape, a hexagonal shape, or another shape.

[0074] In some example embodiments, the downhole device 900 may correspond to the wireline device / downhole device described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18 / 675,907. In some alternative embodiments, the downhole device 900 may implement a different attachment mechanism than described herein to attach the downhole device 900 to a cable without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the downhole device 900 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the downhole device 900 may have more or fewer component than shown and / or described without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some example embodiments, the downhole device 900 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0075] FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate the downhole device 900 of FIGS. 9A and 9B positioned in the socket 106 of the cable attachment apparatus 102 of FIGS. 1-3 according to an example embodiment. In FIG. 10B, a cross-section of a portion of the socket 106 is shown for clarity of illustration. Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and 9A-10B, after the downhole device 900 and the socket 106 are placed around the cable 126 (which then extends through the downhole device 900 and the socket 106), the downhole device 900 may be positioned in the socket 106. In particular, the lower component 904 of the downhole device 900 may be positioned in the cavity of the socket 106 such that the socket 106 prevents or otherwise restricts the rotation of the lower component 904 in the socket 106 when a rotational force is applied to the upper component 902 of the downhole device 900.

[0076] For example, when a person applies a rotational force on the upper component 902, for example, using the wrench 302, the socket 106 may prevent or otherwise restrict the rotation of the lower component 904 that is, for example, threadedly attached to the upper component 902. Because the cable attachment apparatus 102 is non-rotationally attached to the pipe 112 by the attachment structures 108, 110 as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-3, the cable attachment apparatus 102 remains rotationally fixed although a rotational force is applied to the upper component 902. As such, a person can turn / rotate the upper component 902 relative to the lower component 904 resulting in the downhole device 900 being securely attached to the cable 126 as described above with respect to, for example, FIGS. 1-3, 9A, and 9B.

[0077] By using the cable attachment apparatus 102, a downhole device, such as the downhole devices 124, 202 of FIGS. 2A-3 and the downhole device 900 of FIGS. 9A-9C, may be securely attached to a cable, such as the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3 by a single person. The cable attachment apparatus 500 of FIGS. 5A-5C, the cable attachment apparatus 600 of FIG. 6, and the cable attachment apparatus 800 of FIGS. 8A-8C may each be used by a single person to securely attach the downhole device 900 or another downhole device to a cable, such as the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3 in the manner described above with respect to the downhole device 202.

[0078] In some alternative embodiments, the lower component 904 of the downhole device 900 may extend to below the base 104 through the bottom opening of the socket 106.

[0079] FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of the downhole device 900 of FIGS. 9A and 9B positioned in the socket 804 of the cable attachment apparatus 800 of FIGS. 8A-8C according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 8A-9B and 11, in some example embodiments, the downhole device 900 may be positioned in the socket 804 of the cable attachment apparatus 800 such that the locking tab 814 of the socket 804 is positioned in the lower slot 914 of the lower component 904 of the downhole device 900. To illustrate, the downhole device 900 may be placed around the cable 126 by passing the cable 126 through the upper slot 912, the lower slot 914, and the middle slot 916 into the downhole device 900 such that the cable 126 extends through the downhole device 900.

[0080] In some example embodiments, the socket 804 of the cable attachment apparatus 800 may be placed around the cable 126 by passing the cable 126 through the cable slot 806 of the base 802 and the gap 808 into the socket 804. The downhole device 900 may then be placed in the socket 804, where the lower component 904 of the downhole device 900 is positioned in the cavity 810 of the socket 804 such that the locking tab 814 is positioned in the lower slot 914 of the lower component 904 of the downhole device 900 and prevents or otherwise restricts the rotation of the lower component 904. To be clear, in FIG. 11, the downhole device 900 is positioned in the socket 804 where the upper slot 912 of the upper component 902 of the downhole device 900, the middle slot 916 of the middle component 906 of the downhole device 900, and the lower slot 914 of the lower component 904 of the downhole device 900 are aligned with each other and where the locking tab 814 of the socket 804 is positioned in the lower slot 914 of the lower component 904.

[0081] In some example embodiments, a person may use a wrench (e.g., the wrench 302 of FIG. 3) to apply a rotational force on the upper component 902, resulting in the downhole device 900 being securely attached to the cable 126 as result of the rotation of the upper component 902 relative to the lower component 904 that is prevented or otherwise restricted by the locking tab 814 from rotating in the socket 804. Before applying a rotational force on the upper component 902, the cable attachment apparatus 800 may be placed on a pipe such as the pipe 112 of FIGS. 1-3. For example, attachment structures, such as the attachment structures 108, 110 of FIGS. 1-3 or the attachment structures 508, 510 of FIG. 5, may be used such that the cable attachment apparatus 800 is non-rotationally positioned on a pipe, such as the pipe 112 of FIGS. 1-3.

[0082] By using the cable attachment apparatus 800, a downhole device, such as the downhole devices 124, 202 of FIGS. 2A-3 and the downhole device 900 of FIGS. 9A-9C, may be securely attached to a cable, such as the cable 126 of FIGS. 1-3 by a single person.

[0083] In some alternative embodiments, the cable attachment apparatus 800 may be used to securely attach a different type of downhole device to a cable without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0084] FIG. 12 illustrates a method 1200 of securely attaching downhole devices to a cable according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1-12, in some example embodiments, the method 1200 includes, at step 1202, placing a cable attachment apparatus around a cable such that the cable extends through a socket of the cable attachment apparatus. For example, the cable attachment apparatus 102, the cable attachment apparatus 500, the cable attachment apparatus 600, and the cable attachment apparatus 800 may each be placed around the cable 126.

[0085] In some example embodiments, at step 1204, the method 1200 includes placing a cable attachment apparatus on a pipe at an opening of the pipe such that a rotation of the cable attachment apparatus relative to the pipe is restricted, where the cable attachment apparatus includes a base and the socket and where the socket extends from the base. For example, the cable attachment apparatus 102, the cable attachment apparatus 500, the cable attachment apparatus 600, and the cable attachment apparatus 800 may each be placed on the pipe 112 at the opening 122 of the pipe 112.

[0086] In some example embodiments, at step 1206, the method 1200 includes placing a downhole device around the cable, such as the cable 126, where the downhole device includes a first component (e.g., the lower component 904) and a second component (e.g., the upper component 902). To illustrate with respect to the downhole device 900, placing the downhole device 900 around the cable 126 may be performed by assembling the individual components of the downhole device 900 around the cable 126 such that the downhole device 900, as assembled, is around the cable 126. In general, the downhole device 900 placed around the cable 126 may be slidable along the cable 126 before the downhole device 900 is securely attached to the cable 126. The downhole devices 124, 202 may each be placed around the cable 126 in the same manner as described with respect to the downhole device 900.

[0087] In some example embodiments, at step 1208, the method 1200 includes placing the first component (e.g., the lower component 904 of the downhole device 900) in a cavity of the socket, where the socket is shaped to restrict the first component from rotating in the cavity of the socket. For example, the downhole device 900 that is placed around the cable 126 as described with respect to step 1204 may be slid down along the cable 126 into the cavity 608 of the cable attachment apparatus 600 or into the cavity of each one of the cable attachment apparatuses 102, 500, 800.

[0088] In some example embodiments, at step 1210, the method 1200 includes turning, after the first component (e.g., the lower component 904 of the downhole device 900) is placed in the cavity of the socket, the second component relative to the first component such that the downhole device is securely attached to the cable. The first component is restricted by the socket from rotating along with the first component. For example, after the lower component 904 is placed in the cavity 514 of the socket 504, a person may use the wrench 302 to apply a rotational force on the upper component 902 to turn the upper component 902 relative to the lower component 904 resulting in the downhole device 900 being securely attached to the cable 126. At step 1204, the rotation of the cable attachment apparatus relative to the pipe is restricted by attachment structures (e.g., the attachment structures 508, 510 of FIG. 5A) of the cable attachment apparatus (e.g., the cable attachment apparatus 500) that extend into attachment slots (e.g., the attachment slots 208, 210) of the pipe 112. To illustrate, the attachment structures 508, 510 of the cable attachment apparatus 500 are extended through attachment holes 518, 520 formed in the base 502 of the cable attachment apparatus 500.

[0089] In some example embodiments, the method 1200 includes securely attaching a second downhole device to the cable by placing a first component of the second downhole device in the socket after removing the first component of the downhole device from the socket and by turning a second component of the second downhole device relative to the first component of the downhole device. For example, the components 212 shown in FIG. 3 may be components of another downhole device corresponding to the downhole device 900 that is securely attached to the cable 126 using, for example, the cable attachment apparatus 102, the cable attachment apparatus 500, the cable attachment apparatus 600, or the cable attachment apparatus 800 in the manner described above.

[0090] In some example embodiments, after the downhole device 202 is securely attached to the cable 126, for example, using the cable attachment apparatus 102, the method 1200 may include lowering the downhole device 202 into the pipe 112 through the opening 122 of the pipe 112 by lowering the cable 126 after removing the cable attachment apparatus 102 from the pipe 112 and removing the cable attachment apparatus 102 from around the cable 126. The method 1200 may include placing the cable attachment apparatus 102 back around the cable 126 such that the cable 126 extends through the socket 106 of the cable attachment apparatus 102. The method 1200 may include placing the cable attachment apparatus 102 back on the pipe 112 such that the cable attachment apparatus 102 is rotationally fixed with respect to the pipe 112. The method 1200 may include assembling another downhole device (e.g., another downhole device 900) from the components 212 shown in FIG. 3 such that another downhole device is placed around the cable 126. The method 1200 may include placing the assembled downhole device in the socket 106 such that the lower component is positioned in the socket 106. The method 1200 may include turning / rotating the upper component of the assembled downhole device relative to the lower component to securely attach the assembled downhole device to the cable 126. The assembled downhole device may then be lowered into the pipe 112 after removing the cable attachment apparatus 102 from the pipe 112.

[0091] In some alternative embodiments, the method 1200 may include more or fewer steps than shown in or described with respect to FIG. 12 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, some of the steps of the method 1200 may be performed in a different order than described without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0092] Although some embodiments have been described herein in detail, the descriptions are by way of example. The features of the embodiments described herein are representative and, in alternative embodiments, certain features, elements, and / or steps may be added or omitted. Additionally, modifications to aspects of the embodiments described herein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the following claims, the scope of which are to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass modifications and equivalent structures.

[0093] While particular embodiments are described above, it will be understood it is not intended to limit the invention to these particular embodiments. On the contrary, the invention includes alternatives, modifications and equivalents that are within the scope of the appended claims. Numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter presented herein. But it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.

[0094] The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,”“including,”“comprises,” and / or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0095] The use of the term “about” applies to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. This term generally refers to a range of numbers that one of ordinary skill in the art would consider as a reasonable amount of deviation to the recited numeric values (i.e., having the equivalent function or result). For example, this term can be construed as including a deviation of ±10 percent of the given numeric value provided such a deviation does not alter the end function or result of the value. Therefore, a value of about 1% can be construed to be a range from 0.9% to 1.1%. Furthermore, a range may be construed to include the start and the end of the range. For example, a range of 10% to 20% (i.e., range of 10%-20%) includes 10% and also includes 20%, and includes percentages in between 10% and 20%, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Similarly, a range of between 10% and 20% (i.e., range between 10%-20%) includes 10% and also includes 20%, and includes percentages in between 10% and 20%, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein.

[0096] As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in accordance with a determination” or “in response to detecting,” that a stated condition precedent is true, depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined [that a stated condition precedent is true]” or “if [a stated condition precedent is true]” or “when [a stated condition precedent is true]” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “in accordance with a determination” or “upon detecting” or “in response to detecting” that the stated condition precedent is true, depending on the context.

[0097] It is understood that when combinations, subsets, groups, etc. of elements are disclosed (e.g., combinations of components in a composition, or combinations of steps in a method), that while specific reference of each of the various individual and collective combinations and permutations of these elements may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein. By way of example, if an item is described herein as including a component of type A, a component of type B, a component of type C, or any combination thereof, it is understood that this phrase describes all of the various individual and collective combinations and permutations of these components. For example, in some embodiments, the item described by this phrase could include only a component of type A. In some embodiments, the item described by this phrase could include only a component of type B. In some embodiments, the item described by this phrase could include only a component of type C. In some embodiments, the item described by this phrase could include a component of type A and a component of type B. In some embodiments, the item described by this phrase could include a component of type A and a component of type C. In some embodiments, the item described by this phrase could include a component of type B and a component of type C. In some embodiments, the item described by this phrase could include a component of type A, a component of type B, and a component of type C. In some embodiments, the item described by this phrase could include two or more components of type A (e.g., A1 and A2). In some embodiments, the item described by this phrase could include two or more components of type B (e.g., B1 and B2). In some embodiments, the item described by this phrase could include two or more components of type C (e.g., C1 and C2). In some embodiments, the item described by this phrase could include two or more of a first component (e.g., two or more components of type A (A1 and A2)), optionally one or more of a second component (e.g., optionally one or more components of type B), and optionally one or more of a third component (e.g., optionally one or more components of type C). In some embodiments, the item described by this phrase could include two or more of a first component (e.g., two or more components of type B (B1 and B2)), optionally one or more of a second component (e.g., optionally one or more components of type A), and optionally one or more of a third component (e.g., optionally one or more components of type C). In some embodiments, the item described by this phrase could include two or more of a first component (e.g., two or more components of type C (C1 and C2)), optionally one or more of a second component (e.g., optionally one or more components of type A), and optionally one or more of a third component (e.g., optionally one or more components of type b).

[0098] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which the disclosed invention belongs. All citations referred herein are expressly incorporated by reference.

[0099] Although some of the various drawings illustrate a number of logical stages in a particular order, stages that are not order dependent may be reordered and other stages may be combined or broken out. While some reordering or other groupings are specifically mentioned, others will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art and so do not present an exhaustive list of alternatives. Moreover, it should be recognized that the stages could be implemented in hardware, firmware, software or any combination thereof.

[0100] The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A cable attachment apparatus for attaching downhole devices to a cable, the cable attachment apparatus comprising:a base;attachment structures that extend down from the base, wherein the attachment structures are located to be inserted into attachment slots of a pipe to restrict a rotation of the cable attachment apparatus relative to the pipe when the cable attachment apparatus is positioned on the pipe; anda socket having a socket wall and a cavity, wherein the socket wall extends up from the base and around the cavity, wherein the socket is sized to receive a component of a downhole device in the cavity, and wherein the socket is shaped to restrict the component of the downhole device from rotating in the cavity.

2. The cable attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the downhole device is a wireline standoff.

3. The cable attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the socket comprises a top opening and a bottom opening and wherein the cavity, the top opening, and the bottom opening are sized for the cable to extend therethrough.

4. The cable attachment apparatus of claim 3, wherein the socket wall has inner surface facets forming a shape that restricts the component of the downhole device from rotating in the cavity when the component of the downhole device is in the cavity.

5. The cable attachment apparatus of claim 3, wherein the socket comprises a locking tab extending from the socket wall toward the cavity to be positioned in a slot of the component of the downhole device to restrict the component of the downhole device from rotating in the cavity.

6. The cable attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises attachment holes for the attachment structures to extend down therethrough from the base.

7. The cable attachment apparatus of claim 6, wherein a first attachment hole of the attachment holes is located on a first side of the socket and wherein a second attachment hole of the attachment holes is located on a second side of the socket.

8. The cable attachment apparatus of claim 7, wherein a third attachment hole of the attachment holes is located on the first side of the socket, wherein a fourth attachment hole of the attachment holes is located on the second side of the socket, and wherein a distance between the first attachment hole and the second attachment hole is different from the distance between the third attachment hole and the fourth attachment hole.

9. The cable attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the socket comprises a gap in the socket wall.

10. The cable attachment apparatus of claim 9, wherein the base comprises a cable slot extending between a perimeter of the base and the socket and wherein the cable slot and the gap are used to pass the cable into and out of the cavity.

11. The cable attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is designed to mechanically or magnetically retain components of a second downhole device thereon.

12. The cable attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base and the socket are integrally formed as a single unit.

13. The cable attachment apparatus of claim 12, wherein the attachment structures are integrally formed with the base.

14. A method of attaching downhole devices to a cable, the method comprising:placing a cable attachment apparatus on a pipe at an opening of the pipe such that a rotation of the cable attachment apparatus relative to the pipe is restricted, wherein the cable attachment apparatus comprises a base and a socket and wherein the socket extends from the base;placing a downhole device around the cable, wherein the downhole device comprises a first component and a second component;placing the first component in a cavity of the socket, wherein the socket is shaped to restrict the first component from rotating in the cavity of the socket; andturning, after the first component is placed in the cavity of the socket, the second component relative to the first component such that the downhole device is securely attached to the cable, wherein the first component is restricted by the socket from rotating along with the first component.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising placing the cable attachment apparatus around the cable before placing the cable attachment apparatus on the pipe such that the cable extends into the pipe through the socket.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the base comprises a cable slot extending between a perimeter of the base and the socket and wherein the cable attachment apparatus is placed around the cable by passing the cable through the cable slot such that the cable extends through the cavity of the socket.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising securely attaching a second downhole device to the cable by placing a first component of the second downhole device in the socket after removing the first component of the downhole device from the socket and by turning a second component of the second downhole device relative to the first component of the second downhole device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the base is designed to mechanically or magnetically retain components of the second downhole device thereon while the downhole device is being securely attached to the cable.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the rotation of the cable attachment apparatus relative to the pipe is restricted by attachment structures of the cable attachment apparatus that extend into attachment slots of the pipe.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the attachment structures of the cable attachment apparatus are extended through attachment holes formed in the base.

Images