Composite cable and connections for composite cables used in downhole wireline and slickline operations for hydrocarbon recovery

Abstract

Embodiments presented provide for cable connections that may be used for downhole operations. In embodiments, cable sockets and structural unloading arrangements are used with composite cables to structurally unload data carrying inner core cable components, thereby increasing service life.

Description

COMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERYCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application is an International Application that claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 599600 that was filed on November 16, 2023, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] Aspects of the disclosure relate to conveyance arrangements for downhole operations. More specifically, aspects of the disclosure relate to a composite cable and connections for use in downhole operations used, for example, in hydrocarbon recovery operations.BACKGROUND

[0003] Downhole operations are carried out around the world for various reasons. One of the primary types of downhole operations is conveyance of tools into geological stratum to conduct investigations for hydrocarbon recovery operations. Such downhole operations have been conducted for over 100 years and the technologies used have changed little during that time. While the technologies used are mature in age, there are significant challenges that have been encountered by operators using conventional tools and methods.

[0004] To understand the difficulties encountered by operators, an understanding of a conventional wireline conveyance system is needed. Referring to FIG. 1 , a conventional wireline cable 100 is illustrated. The conventional wireline cable 100 is configured of several different components. A central portion of the wireline cable 100 is configured with a series of conductors 102. The conductors allow electrical energy to be transported to and from the ends of the cable 100. In this construction, a downhole tool may be attached to the end of the cable 100 and measurements may be conducted in the downhole environment. The measurements may include, but not be limited to,COMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY determining the presence of fluid within the wellbore, the determination of pressure, temperature, or other features. Such measurements are used by engineers to determine the presence, quantity and quality of downhole hydrocarbons. While such measurements are important, it is equally important to be able to convey the data obtained from the downhole measurements to the up-hole environment. In the absence of this capability, operations personnel must continually take a single set of measurements, store the data in a recorder in the downhole tool, then retrieve the downhole tool multiple times to gather the recorded data. As downhole operations can extend many thousands of feet below the surface of the ground, continual winching of a downhole tool would be extremely laborious and inefficient.

[0005] The presence of the conductors 102 within the cable 100 solve such continual winching requirements. The conductors 102 are attached to the downhole tool. Electrical energy, as well as signals, are allowed to be exchanged from the surface to the downhole tool in real time, greatly enhancing the overall efficiency. The conductors 102 may be encapsulated in an insulator 104 to prevent leakage of electricity from the conductors 102 to other portions of the cable 100.

[0006] Generally, the conductors are formed through a spun series of copper strands. The use of copper provides some degree of flexibility and potential for corrosion resistance; however, copper is inherently soft compared to other materials. The copper, in many operations, can become broken or damaged upon repeated use of the cable 100. Often, the cable 100 suffers repeated degradation over time resulting in a loss of conduction capability. After a specific amount of usage, the cable 100 must be retired from service as the conducting capabilities become too limited. In embodiments, the cable 100 may be a single wire, coaxial cable or other type of cable.COMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY

[0007] To protect against such degradation, the cable 100 may be constructed with a single or multiple layers of armor 106, 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the cable 100 is provided with two layers of armor 106, 108. The illustrated embodiment shows that the first layer of armor 106 is wrapped in a different direction than a second layer of armor 108. The armor 106, 108 is generally made of a corrosion resistant material to prevent damage to individual strands of the armor from the often aggressive environments the cable is subjected to during operations. In other example constructions, the armor 106, 108 may not itself be made of corrosion resistant material, but may be coated with a surface material, to prevent corrosion at the exterior of the cable 100. The individual strands may be treated with other materials to increase the lubricity of the cable to provide some flexibility and resistance to internal chafing friction.

[0008] Many times, connections may be made to the cable for various reasons. Connections made to the cable 100 are treated in a similar manner to the original construction of the cable 100. Connections may be made to allow for rigidity while maintaining the conductor 102 capability for conveyance of electricity and signals.

[0009] There are many drawbacks for conventional apparatus. As described above, conductors 102 may become damaged over time, requiring cable retirement. The armor 106, 108 may be damaged on the outside, limiting the overall load carrying capacity of the cable 100. Damage on the exterior armor is especially problematic as such damage restricts the ability of the cable 100. Ends and connections to the cable 100 are provided with a standard rope socket to allow the cable 100 to be connected to downhole tools. These standard rope sockets are configured in four basic types of connections. The first type of rope socket is a wedge type rope socket. The wedge type rope socket consists of a socket housing into which the end of the cable is inserted. A wedge is inserted into the socket, allowing for compression of cable strands and retention of the cable within the socket. Other types of rope sockets include spool type rope sockets, slip type ropeCOMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY sockets and clamp type rope sockets. Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional rope socket is illustrated. Standard rope sockets have a self-locking effect and are based on a metal cone shape. With this construction, stress for loads experienced by the cable 100 are supported by the armor 106, 108 and not by the conductors 102. Logically, placing stress on the higher capacity strength armor 106, 108, rather than the relatively soft conductors 102 increases cable longevity as stresses are reduced on the critical conductors 102. Such configurations; however, still place significant stresses on the conductors 102, limiting overall strength capability of the cable 100. Two different cone sections are provided with a conductor core 102 placed within an inner cone 202, and the inner armor wire 106 placed within an intermediate cone 204 with the outer armor wire 108 placed within an outer cone 206. While such rope sockets may be used, with limited success, for copper core conductor wires, other types of cables may not be used. For example, composite cables with individual cables that are individually housed as separate units cannot effectively use such sockets because composite cables are anisotropic and radial strength for such cables is low. Conventional technologies try to spread structural loads over the majority of the armor cables; however, such spreading of load is limited. The resultant is that individual cable conductors 302, as illustrated in FIG. 3, are generally stressed and fail at high rates.

[0010] There is a need to provide a cable rope socket that does not stress the conducting function of the cable while providing superior strength and service life compared to conventional apparatus. Such cable rope sockets should be usable with composite cables.

[0011] There is a further need to provide for connections to a cable that provides for electrical signal transmissibility and carrying capacity that is superior to conventional cables.COMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY

[0012] There is a still further need to reduce economic costs associated with operations involving cables described above with conventional tools by providing for cable connections that provide for extended service life.SUMMARY

[0013] So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized below, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the drawings. It is to be noted that the drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are; therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments without specific recitation. Accordingly, the following summary provides just a few aspects of the description and should not be used to limit the described embodiments to a single concept.

[0014] In one non-limiting embodiment, a composite cable mechanical rope socket is disclosed. The composite cable mechanical rope socket comprises an outer cone configured in a cup shape, wherein an inside diameter of the outer cone is configured to fit over an exterior diameter of a cable, the outer cone configured with a central hole at a first end, the central hole configured to allow an interior portion of the cable to penetrate the outer cone. The composite cable mechanical rope socket further comprises a first clamp configured to intersect with the cable at a junction between a first exterior armor section of cable and a second interior armor section of cable. The composite cable mechanical rope socket also comprises a second clamp configured to intersect with the second interior armor section of cable and the interior portion of the cable.

[0015] In another example embodiment of the disclosure, a composite cable for holding a load for one of a wireline and a slickline downhole application is disclosed. TheCOMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY composite cable may comprise an interior portion of the cable configured to transmit and receive electrical signals from a surface operation and a downhole operation. The composite cable may also comprise at least a first section of interior armor configured around the interior portion of the cable, the first section of interior armor configured to provide a portion of a structural load path. The composite cable may also comprise at least a second section of exterior armor configured to provide a second portion of the structural load path and wherein a portion of the first section of interior armor and second section of exterior armor are separated to allow an end of the interior portion of the cable to protrude and be connected to at least one apparatus located at the surface operation.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the drawings. It is to be noted; however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are; therefore, not be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional cable used in downhole operations.

[0018] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a conventional cable socket.

[0019] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a final assembly of a conventional composite cable.

[0020] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of one aspect of a cable rope socket in accordance with the disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a slickline conventional T bar connection.COMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY

[0022] FIG. 6 is a wireline conventional T bar connection.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a T bar connection for wireline and slickline in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure.

[0024] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures (“FIGS”). It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially utilized on other embodiments without specific recitation.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] In the following, reference is made to embodiments of the disclosure. It should be understood; however, that the disclosure is not limited to specific described embodiments. Instead, any combination of the following features and elements, whether related to different embodiments or not, is contemplated to implement and practice the disclosure. Furthermore, although embodiments of the disclosure may achieve advantages over other possible solutions and / or over the prior art, whether or not a particular advantage is achieved by a given embodiment is not limiting of the disclosure. Thus, the following aspects, features, embodiments and advantages are merely illustrative and are not considered elements or limitations of the claims except where explicitly recited in a claim. Likewise, reference to “the disclosure” shall not be construed as a generalization of inventive subject matter disclosed herein and should not be considered to be an element or limitation of the claims except where explicitly recited in a claim.

[0026] Although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections, these elements,COMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY components, regions, layers and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, components, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first”, “second” and other numerical terms, when used herein, do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed herein could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

[0027] When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected, coupled to the other element or layer, or interleaving elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no interleaving elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed terms.

[0028] Some embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures. Like elements in the various figures will be referenced with like numbers for consistency. In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of various embodiments and / or features. It will be understood; however, by those skilled in the art, that some embodiments may be practiced without many of these details, and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments are possible. As used herein, the terms “above” and “below”, “up” and “down”, “upper” and “lower”, “upwardly” and “downwardly”, and other like terms indicating relative positions above or below a given point are used in this description to more clearly describe certain embodiments.COMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, an example embodiment of the disclosure, in a cut-away view, is provided. Aspects of the disclosure provide for a cable socket 400 that may be used in many instances in downhole operations. The cable socket 400 provides for a rugged connection that allows for a proper end of a cable to be prepared. The cable socket 400 may be used with more complex cables that have multiple cable conductors placed within the interior of the cable 402, unlike conventional cable sockets. In one example embodiment of the cable socket 400, an outer cone 404 is provided. The outer cone 404 is shaped in a cup shaped configuration with a hole in the center. The outer cone 404 is configured to fit over an end of the cable 402 to protect the ends of the cable 402 from fraying and wearing. The outer cone 404 may be made of a high strength material, such as stainless steel, in order to prevent wear. In some embodiments, the outer cone 404 may have a configuration wherein several components are provided. In these embodiments, for example, wear surfaces directly contacting the cable 402 may be relatively softer than the armor portions of the cable 402. Such a configuration prevents abrasion and marring of the surface of the cable. To this end, upon a wearing or movement of the cable 402, the wearing surface will be present on the outer cone 404, rather than on the more expensive cable 402. Such a configuration allows for a service life extension of the cable 402. As illustrated, the outer cone 404 may have a central hole 406 allowing the composite cable 412 to penetrate the outer cone 404.

[0030] Further referring to FIG. 4, an outer clamp 414 is placed on the cable 402 to cover the outer armor wires. In a similar fashion, an inner clamp 416 is placed on the second set of inner armor wires. The outer clamp 414 and the inner clamp 416 are used in addition to the inner cone 202 and intermediate cone 204 of the conventional arrangement described in relation to FIG. 2. The outer clamp 414 and inner clamp 416 are used to create a gripping effect to enable that the armor wires to support structural loads rather than the composite cable 402 located in the interior. The outer clamp 414 and inner clamp 416 be set apart at a distance from each other. This distance enables aCOMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY soft and gradual radius to allow for effective tool string up. As will be understood, the distance between the outer clamp 414 and the inner clamp 416 may be varied according to the bending needs of the cable. In other embodiments, the distance between the outer clamp 414 and the inner clamp 416 may be a fixed distance or the ordering of components may be reversed.

[0031] The outer clamp 414 and the inner clamp 416 may be made of a non-marring metal to enable contact between the armor wires and the clamps 414, 416 without damage to the wires. In embodiments, the metal may be the same metal as those described in reference to 106, 108. Such metal may be, for example, bronze or aluminum. In other example embodiments, the outer clamp 414 and the inner clamp 416 may be made of plastic. In embodiments, a high temperature resistant thermoplastic may be used to provide for low friction contact.

[0032] As will be understood, for clarity of description, other exterior components other than the outer cone, and the outer clamp 414 and inner clamp 416 have been removed for clarity of description. As will be understood, a connection between 400 and 402 may be a weld or other arrangement. In embodiments, an advantage is that the mechanical rope socket may not be a resin injected rope socket. Advantages of the system described in FIG. 4 provide for a cable socket 400 that has a very high strength close to the cable breaking strength. Preparation of the cable socket 400 may be such that it is easily prepared with simple components. Other advantages may also be seen through even distribution effort on a longer length of cable, thereby reducing stress.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 5, a prior art configuration of a T-Bar support is shown for a slickline unit. Referring to FIG. 6, a prior art configuration of a T-Bar support is shown of a wireline unit. Referring to both FIGs. 5 and 6, T-Bar supports are used to release tension on a cable from a wireline or a slickline unit to the T-Bar support. In theory, theCOMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERYT-Bar configuration pinches the cable within the T-Bar support configuration to allow for transfer of tension from the wireline drum or slickline drum to the T-Bar. The transfer of tension allows the cable used to continue to be supported, but the support is provided by the T-Bar rather than the prime mover of the wireline or slickline truck. While transfer of the tension to the T-Bar unit is understood, the mechanics of the support transfer have significant drawbacks. For example, and as can be understood, once the T-Bar has been established as the load path, all portions of the cable are placed under tension. As disclosed in FIG. 1 , structural load is placed upon the conductor 102, the insulator 104, the inner armor layer 106 and the outer armor layer 108. The placement of the structural load on the conductor 102 is to be avoided similar to the previous example within FIG. 4. To this end, the T-Bar support shown not only causes a loading on the conductor 102, but hastens the decline of the overall service life of the cable 100. It is therefore desired to limit the weight on the conductor 102. For the above loading reason, multi-conductor cores within cables 100 are especially problematic regarding use with T-Bar supports.

[0034] Cables are normally supported in their entirety by the wireline or slickline truck; therefore, the above support arrangement for a T-Bar support is rare. Although rare, in emergency situations such as prime mover fault or break down, the supported cable must be supported by other means, otherwise the entire cable and potential downhole equipment are lost within the wellbore. If not supported, expensive fishing operations are necessary to remove the wireline and downhole tool from the wellbore. Thus, all wireline operators, as well as slickline operators, are equipped to place an emergency structural support to limit loss of the entire cable and associated components.

[0035] The establishment of the T-Bar support is fairly straightforward. A pile may be driven into the ground. A pinch is established on the cable through use of either the Slickline T-Bar, as illustrated in FIG. 5, or through the wireline T-Bar, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The pile supports the structural load by a restraining and counteracting momentCOMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY produced by the horizontal weight that is equivalent to the vertical weight of the cable and potential downhole tools suspended within the wellbore. It is therefore important to have a pile of sufficient length to resist the overturning moment created by the vertical weight times the height of the structural load placement above the point of contact between the pile and the base plate.

[0036] In other configurations, the T-Bar support may be supported or connected to other stationary objects in the locale to prevent the cable and downhole equipment from traveling down the wellbore. Thus, while shown in FIGs. 5 and 6 as a pile, all that is necessary, is a tension connection that will resist the overall weight of the cable and downhole tools.

[0037] In any of the scenarios described above, slings connecting the T-Bar support to the stationary object (i.e. pile or structure) are used. As illustrated, portions of the cable (i.e. loose end) are unsupported as the structural load path developed by the weight of the cable and downhole tools is supported by the T-Bar support (i.e. either slickline or wireline type), to slings connecting the T-Bar support to the stationary object.

[0038] Pinch is done by auto-clamping effect or by screw. This clamping effect is limited with composite cable, because composite cable is anisotropic and the radial strength is really low. One available solution is to spread the load as much as possible on all fibers, and the clamp should be long (approx. 1 meters) to obtain breaking strength.

[0039] Aspects of the disclosure provide for the use of a metal wireline cable to clamp the composite cable. In one aspect, the cable is unwrapped, thereby opening the internal and external metal armor. In the embodiment, the central conductor may be exposed and slipped through the separated strands of the cable.COMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY

[0040] Advantages of this embodiment of the disclosure provide for a high strength capability for the cable. In this embodiment, stress on the inner multi-conductor core is limited. As will be understood, the amount of stress on the multi-conductor core will not be zero; however, the amount of stress will be greatly reduced. Stress on the multi conductor core would not come from supporting the actual weight of the downhole tools or the cable itself, but rather from friction forces between the multi conductor core and the inner armor portion of strands of the cable. In instances where the multi conductor core has an insulator, the amount of potential stress is limited to the weight of the downhole components and the weight of the suspended cable times the coefficient of friction between the insulator and the inner armor.

[0041] In some instances, the cable may have internal lubrication to protect the individual strands from rubbing and causing premature wear. Such lubrication may also have the beneficial effect of reducing the amount of friction between the inner armor wire layers and the insulator.

[0042] In one embodiment of the description provided above, referring to FIG. 7, a configuration preventing stress on an interior conductor or multi-conductors is shown. In FIG. 7, the inner multi-conductor is exposed and allowed to penetrate the inner armor and exterior armor. Thus, when the cable is supported from the end, tension forces are placed upon the inner armor and exterior armor, rather than the conductor core. As will be understood, such a configuration may be used for a single or multi-core conductor. Advantages of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 are numerous. Such advantages include, but are not limited to, high relative strength for the overall cable including the cable ends. In many applications, cables are limited by the amount of stress that may be placed on the T-Bar connection point, as the T-Bar connection point is relatively weaker than the cable itself. Such limitations are not present here as the T-Bar connection points may be increased in strength to values greater than the strength of the wireline or slickline asCOMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY crushing of the interior conductor or multi-conductor is prevented. Such configurations are easily portable to the jobsite and do not have to be created at the wellbore site. These configurations may be standardized allowing for operators to know the true ratings of the entire wireline or slickline assemblies as suspended within the wellbore.

[0043] As will also be apparent, aspects described herein are extremely low-cost solutions to problems that exist within everyday field operations for hydrocarbon recovery operations. In instances such as that described in FIG. 7, the mere rearrangement of components already existing within the cable provide a significantly enhanced cable. In other embodiments, existing cables may be reworked to enable existing cables to be retrofitted with the new configuration. As will be understood, it is commonplace that cable rope sockets are made for ends of cables. Such sockets are made by workers that unwind the individual strands of armor for the exterior armor and interior armor. These strands are cleaned to remove oil and then the strands are placed into a mold with the strands separated. The mold is shaped in a cone shape and molten metal is poured into the mold, providing a cone shaped end that is formed during the cooling process. The result is a bell-shaped end piece that distributes stress forces to each individual wire, producing an end connection that is as strong as the cable itself. To this end, fabrication of the end of existing wireline or slickline cables may be manufactured in a similar process. Such a process would entail unwinding, from the end of the wireline or slickline, the armor layers surrounding the conductor core. In such applications, any number of armor layers may be unwound so descriptions pertaining to an inner and outer armor core should not be considered limiting.

[0044] With the armor of the cable now separated into individual strands, the inner conductor core may extend outside of the protective armor and be exposed. The cable may then be rewound, as needed, or an end block may be created where the individual wire strands (armor only) are placed into a mold and metal poured into the mold to evenlyCOMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY distribute forces to all of the armor layers. Such a configuration prevents structural forces from being exerted onto the conductor or multi-conductor core.

[0045] As will be understood, precautions may be provided to protect the inner conductor or multi-conductor from harm against binding against the armor wires as the conductor or multi-conductor penetrates the armor. A simple sleeve made of a sacrificial material may be installed around the inner conductor or multi-conductor. This sleeve may be replaced after each project is completed. Ends of the sleeve may be chamfered to prevent sharp edges from binding on the conductor.

[0046] Aspects of the disclosure will now be described. Such aspects of the disclosure should not be considered limiting. In one non-limiting embodiment, a composite cable mechanical rope socket is disclosed. The composite cable mechanical rope socket comprises an outer cone configured in a cup shape, wherein an inside diameter of the outer cone is configured to fit over an exterior diameter of a cable, the outer cone configured with a central hole at a first end, the central hole configured to allow an interior portion of the cable to penetrate the outer cone. The composite cable mechanical rope socket further comprises a first clamp configured to intersect with the cable at a junction between a first exterior armor section of cable and a second interior armor section of cable. The composite cable mechanical rope socket also comprises a second clamp configured to intersect with the second interior armor section of cable and the interior portion of the cable.

[0047] In another example embodiment, the composite cable mechanical rope socket may be configured wherein the cable is a wireline cable.

[0048] In another example embodiment, the composite cable mechanical rope socket may be configured wherein the cable is a slickline cable.COMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY

[0492] In another example embodiment, the composite cable mechanical rope socket may be configured, wherein the interior portion of the cable includes at least one insulator and at least one cable placed within the insulator.

[0050] In another example embodiment, the composite cable mechanical rope socket may be configured wherein the interior portion of the cable includes at least one cable placed within the insulator.

[0051] In another example embodiment, the composite cable mechanical rope socket may be configured wherein at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp are made of metal.

[0052] In another example embodiment, the composite cable mechanical rope socket may be configured wherein at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp are made of plastic.

[0053] In another example embodiment, the composite cable mechanical rope socket may further comprise a housing encompassing at least a portion of the outer cone and the first and second clamps.

[0054] In another example embodiment of the disclosure, a composite cable for holding a load for one of a wireline and a slickline downhole application is disclosed. The composite cable may comprise an interior portion of the cable configured to transmit and receive electrical signals from a surface operation and a downhole operation. The composite cable may also comprise at least a first section of interior armor configured around the interior portion of the cable, the first section of interior armor configured toCOMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY provide a portion of a structural load path. The composite cable may also comprise at least a second section of exterior armor configured to provide a second portion of the structural load path and wherein a portion of the first section of interior armor and second section of exterior armor are separated to allow an end of the interior portion of the cable to protrude and be connected to at least one apparatus located at the surface operation.

[0055] In another example embodiment of the disclosure the composite cable may be further configured wherein the inner portion further comprises an insulator configured to abut the interior armor and at least one conductor placed within the insulator.

[0056] In another example embodiment of the disclosure, the composite cable may be configured wherein there are multiple conductors.

[0057] In another example embodiment of the disclosure, the composite cable may be configured wherein each of the multiple conductors has an insulator placed around the conductor.

[0058] In another example embodiment of the disclosure, the composite cable may further comprise a sleeve, wherein the end of the interior portion of the cable is configured to pass through the sleeve and wherein the sleeve is inserted in the separation at the end of the cable.

[0059] In another example embodiment of the disclosure, the composite cable may be configured wherein the sleeve is made of a non-corrosive material.

[0060] In another example embodiment of the disclosure, the composite cable may be configured wherein the non-corrosive material is metal.COMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY

[0061] In another example embodiment of the disclosure, the composite cable may be configured wherein the non-corrosive material is plastic.

[0062] In another example embodiment of the disclosure, the composite cable may be configured wherein the plastic is a thermoplastic.

[0063] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

[0064] While embodiments have been described herein, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments are envisioned that do not depart from the inventive scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present claims or any subsequent claims shall not be unduly limited by the description of the embodiments described herein.

Claims

COMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERYCLAIMSWhat is claimed is:1 . A composite cable mechanical rope socket (400), comprising: an outer cone (404) configured in a cup shape, wherein an inside diameter of the outer cone (404) is configured to fit over an exterior diameter of a cable (412), the outer cone (404) configured with a central hole (406) at a first end, the central hole (406) configured to allow an interior portion of the cable (412) to penetrate the outer cone (404); a first clamp (414) configured to intersect with the cable (412) at a junction between a first exterior armor section of cable (412) and a second interior armor section of cable (412); and a second clamp (416) configured to intersect with the second interior armor section of cable and the interior portion of the cable (412).

2. The composite cable mechanical rope socket according to claim 1 , wherein the cable (412) is a wireline cable or a slickline cable.

3. The composite cable mechanical rope socket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interior portion of the cable (412) includes at least one insulator and at least one cable placed within the insulator.

4. The composite cable mechanical rope socket according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the first clamp (414) and the second clamp (416) are made of metal.

5. The composite cable mechanical rope socket according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the first clamp (414) and the second clamp (416) are made of plastic.COMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY6. The composite cable mechanical rope socket according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a housing encompassing at least a portion of the outer cone (404) and the first and second clamps (414, 416).

7. A composite cable for holding a load for one of a wireline and a slickline downhole application, comprising: an interior portion of the cable (412) configured to transmit and receive electrical signals from a surface operation and a downhole operation; at least a first section of interior armor configured around the interior portion of the cable (412), the first section of interior armor configured to provide a portion of a structural load path; and at least a second section of exterior armor configured to provide a second portion of the structural load path and wherein a portion of the first section of interior armor and second section of exterior armor are separated to allow an end of the interior portion of the cable to protrude and be connected to at least one apparatus located at the surface operation.

8. The composite cable according to claim 7 wherein the inner portion further comprises: an insulator configured to abut the interior armor; and at least one conductor placed within the insulator.

9. The composite cable according to claim 7 or 8, wherein there are multiple conductors.

10. The composite cable according to claim 9, wherein each of the multiple conductors has an insulator placed around the conductor.COMPOSITE CABLE AND CONNECTIONS FOR COMPOSITE CABLES USED IN DOWNHOLE WIRELINE AND SLICKLINE OPERATIONS FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY11 . The composite cable according to any one of claims 7 to 10, further comprising a sleeve, wherein the end of the interior portion of the cable (412) is configured to pass through the sleeve and wherein the sleeve is inserted in the separation at the end of the cable.

12. The composite cable according to claim 11 , wherein the sleeve is made of a non-corrosive material.

13. The composite cable according to claim 12, wherein the non-corrosive material is metal.

14. The composite cable according to claim 12, wherein the non-corrosive material is plastic.

15. The composite cable according to claim 14, wherein the plastic is a thermoplastic.

Images