Weatherford/lamb, Inc.

Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC

George J Talmadge

John J Grunbeck

James R Dunphy

James M Sullivan

Robert F Robinson

Joseph F Robbins

John J Sgambelluri

Roddie Robert Smith

Robert J Maron

Guy A Daigle

Khai Tran

Christopher T Chipman

Daniel V Attanasio

Richard Niezgorski

Peter Gumprecht

Bradley A Currier

An optical waveguide feedthrough assembly passes at least one optical waveguide through a bulk head, a sensor wall, or other feedthrough member. The optical waveguide feedthrough assembly comprises a cane-based optical waveguide that forms a glass plug sealingly disposed in a feedthrough housing. For some embodiments, the optical waveguide includes a tapered surface biased against a seal seat formed in the housing. The feedthrough assembly can include an annular gold gasket member disposed between the tapered surface and the seal seat. The feedthrough assembly can further include a backup seal. The backup seal comprises an elastomeric annular member disposed between the glass plug and the housing. The backup seal may be energized by a fluid pressure in the housing. The feedthrough assembly is operable in high temperature and high pressure environments.

Optical waveguide feedthrough assembly

An optical waveguide feedthrough assembly passes at least one optical waveguide through a bulk head, a sensor wall, or other feedthrough member. The optical waveguide feedthrough assembly comprises a cane-based optical waveguide that forms a glass plug sealingly disposed in a feedthrough housing. A seal fills an annular space between the glass plug and the housing. The seal may be energized by a fluid pressure in the housing to establish sealing engagement. Further, the seal may provide bidirectional sealing. The feedthrough assembly is operable in high temperature and high pressure environments.

Optical fiber feedthrough using axial seals for bi-directional sealing

Optical sensors used in harsh environments require a sealed pressure tight passage of an optical waveguide into an interior of the sensor. In one embodiment, a pressure sensor assembly for determining the pressure of a fluid in a harsh environment includes a sensing element suspended within a fluid filled housing. An optical waveguide that provides communication with the sensing element couples to a feedthrough assembly, which includes a cane-based optical waveguide forming a glass plug sealingly disposed in the housing. The glass plug provides optical communication between the optical waveguide and the sensing element. A pressure transmitting device can transmit the pressure of the fluid to the fluid within the housing. The assembly can maintain the sensing element in a near zero base strain condition and can protect the sensing element from shock/vibration.

Pressure transducer with optical waveguide feedthrough assembly

Method and apparatus for feeding on optical waveguide through a partition device, such as a wellhead outlet are disclosed. For some embodiments, the wellhead outlet includes a first chamber having a first port, a second chamber having a second port connected by a path to the first port for feeding an optical waveguide through to the first chamber, and a strain relief member coupled with the first chamber to limit motion of the optical waveguide at or near the first port. The strain relief member can be a rigid curved tube coupled to the first port and/or a fiber management member providing one or more fiber retention pathways.

Feedthrough fiber strain relief

A pressure sensor assembly for determining the pressure of a fluid in a harsh environment includes a pressure sensor suspended within a fluid filled housing. The assembly includes a pressure transmitting device which transmits the pressure of the fluid to sensor and maintains the fluid within the housing in a void free condition. The pressure sensor assembly maintains the sensor in a near zero base strain condition and further protects the sensor from shock and vibration. The pressure sensor assembly further includes bumpers that limit the movement of the sensor within the housing.

Pressure sensor assembly structure to insulate a pressure sensing device from harsh environments

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Clinton, CT, United States of America

George J Talmadge