Weatherford/lamb, Inc.

Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC

Robert F Robinson

James R Dunphy

John J Grunbeck

James M Sullivan

George J Talmadge

John J Sgambelluri

Joseph F Robbins

Arthur D Hay

Peter C Ogle

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

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

An apparatus and method for determining the position of a hydraulically actuated sliding sleeve valve in real time is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a reference sensor and a position sensor, both of which constitute fiber optic windings wound around the hydraulic fluid cavity used to activate the sleeve. The sensors measure the pressure exerted by the hydraulic fluid in the cavity, with the reference sensor circumferentially lengthening to create an optical time delay indicative of the base line pressure of the hydraulic fluid. As the sleeve moves, the position sensor becomes increasingly exposed to the hydraulic fluid pressure and also begins to experience a time delay, which can be compared to the reference sensor's time delay to determine sleeve position.

Fiber optic based method and system for determining and controlling position of a sliding sleeve valve

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Middletown, CT, United States of America

Robert F Robinson