Armor-Piercing Cable Shunt for Tool-Free ESP Grounding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for shunting ESP cables in oilfield operations are cumbersome and unsafe due to the need for extensive tools and protective gear, as they require cutting through armor to expose conductors, posing risks during the process.
Innovation Solution
A shunting device with an attachable, armor-piercing mechanism featuring a pivotable attachment body, piercing elements, and a cable attachment element that securely penetrates and grounds the cable without the need for additional tools, allowing for safer and more efficient cable shunting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional shunting techniques are used to ground armored cables, then the cable can be safely shunted, but the process requires considerable effort, multiple tools, and extensive protective gear
Solution Approach 1:
The shunting device merges multiple functions into a single integrated tool: the attachment body with piercing elements combines cable clamping, armor penetration, and conductor grounding capabilities. This eliminates the need for separate tools for each operation and reduces the need for extensive protective gear while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The shunting device is designed as a universal tool that can handle armored cables of different types and sizes. The attachment body can be configured with different piercing element arrangements, and the device performs multiple operations (clamping, penetrating, grounding) in sequence, making it adaptable to various shunting scenarios without requiring specialized equipment.
2Reliability
If conventional shunting techniques are used to ground armored cables, then the cable can be safely shunted, but the process becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The shunting device performs preliminary actions by automatically clamping the cable and positioning the piercing elements before the actual cutting operation. The attachment body is pre-configured with piercing elements that will penetrate the armor and contact conductors in the correct sequence, eliminating the need for manual preparation steps and reducing operational difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The shunting device is designed to perform many operations automatically once attached to the cable. The piercing elements self-position and penetrate the armor, the conductors are automatically contacted and grounded, and the device maintains its own positioning throughout the process, reducing the skill level and effort required by the operator.
3Productivity
If conventional shunting techniques are used, then the cable can be shunted, but the process requires cutting into the cable and exposing conductors, creating electrical hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The shunting device acts as an intermediary between the operator and the live cable conductors. The insulated attachment body and integrated grounding mechanism provide a safe interface that allows the operator to ground the cable without direct contact with exposed conductors, eliminating the need to manually expose and handle live wires.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary grounding of the armor and conductors through the piercing elements before any cutting operations occur. This ensures that the cable is already grounded and safe to handle when the armor is penetrated and conductors are exposed, eliminating the window of electrical hazard that exists in conventional methods.
4Reliability
If conventional shunting techniques are used, then the cable can be shunted, but extensive tools and protective gear are required
Solution Approach 1:
The shunting device combines multiple safety functions and operational capabilities into a single tool, eliminating the need for multiple separate tools and extensive protective gear. This integration reduces the time required to gather and prepare equipment while maintaining all necessary safety compliance features.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs its own safety functions internally through integrated grounding mechanisms and insulated construction, eliminating the need for operators to don extensive protective gear and use multiple separate safety tools. This self-contained approach maintains safety compliance while significantly reducing preparation and execution time.
Data Source
AI summary
An attachable, armor-piercing shunting device utilizing a reversibly engageable enclosure configured to receive a cable such as an electric submersible pump cable. Piercing elements arranged around the enclosure body are passed through the enclosure body's sides to contact and penetrate any cable armor and shunt the cable. The enclosure body may be hinged with a reversible locking mechanism (such as a spring pin) to facilitate installation of the enclosure body around a cable.