Cable Support Structure for Indoor Well Heater Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for assembling well heaters in the oil and gas industry are labor-intensive, risky, and inefficient, particularly when dealing with long sections of resistive cables in outdoor environments, requiring significant resources and time, and lack controlled indoor assembly capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method and facility for assembling well heaters that involves injecting coiled tubing into a well, supporting it, and then inserting resistive heating cables, constructing a cable support structure, and configuring the cables for connection to an electrical source, allowing for controlled indoor assembly and efficient deployment of well heaters in vertical or deviated wells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If well heaters are assembled outdoors in existing methods, then assembly can be performed in field conditions, but the process becomes labor-intensive and risky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cable support structure as an intermediary component that facilitates controlled indoor assembly of well heaters. This structure includes support elements positioned within the assembly container to hold cables in proper configuration during assembly, eliminating the need for complex outdoor field operations while maintaining assembly feasibility. The intermediary structure enables safe, controlled assembly indoors without the risks associated with outdoor field work.
2Device complexity
If well heaters are assembled using traditional outdoor methods, then no specialized indoor facility is needed, but assembly time and resource requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the cable support structure within the assembly container before the actual cable assembly process. The support elements are positioned in advance to receive and hold cables in their proper spatial configuration, enabling rapid assembly indoors without requiring complex facility setup or extensive manual positioning during the assembly process itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the well heater assembly into discrete components (cables, support structure, assembly container) that can be independently prepared and then quickly assembled indoors. The cable support structure is divided into multiple support elements that can be independently positioned, allowing for efficient assembly of long cable sections without requiring the entire assembly process to be performed outdoors with extensive manual labor.
3Length of stationary object
If long sections of resistive cables are handled in outdoor environments, then assembly can proceed without indoor facilities, but precision and control during assembly deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cable support structure serves as an intermediary that provides precise positioning and control for long cable sections during indoor assembly. The support elements are designed to hold cables at specific intervals and orientations, ensuring accurate spatial configuration even for cables extending hundreds of feet. This intermediary structure enables precision control that would be difficult to achieve in outdoor environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the environmental parameters from outdoor field conditions to controlled indoor conditions, enabling precise manipulation of long cable sections. The indoor environment provides stable temperature, lighting, and spatial constraints that facilitate accurate cable positioning and configuration. The assembly container creates a defined workspace that maintains precision throughout the assembly process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces assembly time, minimizes risks, and enables the controlled indoor assembly of well heaters, improving efficiency and safety by allowing for the precise configuration and deployment of well heaters in challenging outdoor conditions.
Implementation Method 1
resistance heating (also known as Joule heating and Ohmic heating). This heating mechanism is typically provided using cables with resistive portions that release heat when subjected to electric currents
Implementation Method 2
A cable support structure is constructed at the cut end of the coiled tubing for supporting the weight of the cables against the inner sidewall of the coiled tubing
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly for supporting one or more cables in coiled tubing deployed in a well is described. The assembly includes a receptacle connected to an upper opening of the coiled tubing. A receptacle clamp is connected to the receptacle to provide a circumferential lateral extension surface. A separate extension column having a base portion is supported on the lateral extension surface. The extension column has an upper platform surface separated vertically from the base portion. A cable clamp is supported on the upper platform surface and configured to reversibly grip the one or more cables. The assembly is useful for any process requiring support of cables in coiled tubing deployed in a well, such as a process for assembling a heater for providing underground heat.