Cement Head Fiber Sheath for Pressure-Integrity Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current plug containers in the oil and gas industry cannot deploy a fiber for continuous data communication from a pressurized wellbore environment to the surface during pumping operations without pressure leakage, and existing solutions fail to protect the fiber from fluid-induced stress, which can damage the fiber and hinder accurate cement placement.
Innovation Solution
A modified plug container with a pass-through mechanism, such as a bladder or pack-off, allows a fiber to transmit data from high-pressure conditions to atmospheric conditions, and a protective fiber sheath is used to absorb fluid-induced stress, ensuring the fiber's integrity and accurate data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a fiber is deployed during pumping operations to enable continuous data communication, then data transmission capability is improved, but pressure leakage occurs compromising pressure integrity
Solution Approach 1:
A bladder is introduced as an intermediary element between the pressurized wellbore environment and the fiber optic cable. The bladder maintains pressure containment while allowing the fiber to pass through, thus enabling data transmission without compromising pressure integrity. The bladder acts as a mediator that isolates the fiber from the high-pressure environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber optic cable is nested within a protective sheath that extends from the plug container through the wellbore. This nested structure provides multiple layers of protection, with the sheath enclosing the fiber and the bladder providing an additional containment layer, allowing the fiber to traverse the pressurized environment without direct exposure.
2Loss of information
If a fiber is deployed during pumping operations, then data communication is enabled, but the fiber is exposed to fluid-induced stress which can damage the fiber
Solution Approach 1:
A protective sheath made of flexible material is used to enclose the fiber optic cable. This sheath protects the fiber from direct contact with pumping fluids and the stress they induce, while still allowing the fiber to move and transmit data. The flexible nature of the sheath allows it to accommodate the dynamic environment without restricting fiber function.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sheath acts as an intermediary barrier between the fiber and the harmful pumping fluids. It absorbs and distributes fluid-induced stress, preventing direct transmission of damaging forces to the fiber while maintaining the fiber's ability to transmit data.
3Measurement precision
If pressure variations are monitored to track plug location, then position information can be obtained, but small pressure variations may not be detected or may be incorrectly interpreted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pressure monitoring with optical fiber-based sensing. The fiber optic cable can detect pressure variations through optical properties (such as Brillouin scattering or Rayleigh scattering) with much higher sensitivity and precision than traditional mechanical pressure sensors, allowing accurate detection of small pressure changes related to plug position.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber optic cable serves as an intermediary sensing element that translates pressure variations into optical signal changes. This intermediary mechanism provides enhanced measurement capability, converting subtle pressure changes into detectable optical variations that can be precisely measured and interpreted for accurate plug location tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for modifying a plug container to permit a fiber pass-through allowing data to be communicated from a pressurized environment into a non-pressurized environment. The systems and methods including surrounding a communication line with a protective sheath coupled with a top plug and a cap of a plug container including an elongated body having a flow path therethrough. The cap including a pass-through for receiving the communication line and obtaining data corresponding to one or more wellbore conditions including at least a temperature, a pressure, and a top plug location.