Armored flat cable signalling and instrument power acquisition

Abstract

Measurement and/or control units located within a borehole are inductively coupled to a flat three phase power cable segment without piercing the armor around the cable. For drawing power from the cable, C-shaped, L-shaped or straight core(s) with winding(s) around at least a portion thereof are positioned proximate to one or both end conductors, outside the armor, with significantly overlapping the center conductor. For impressing or detecting signals on the cable, straight core(s) with winding(s) around at least a portion thereof are disposed on one or both sides of the cable, outside the armor, across all three conductors with the core oriented transverse to the cable conductors.

1 . An inductive coupling device comprising: 
 a core having a shape sized to fit around at least a portion of a periphery for an end conductor within a flat three phase power cable segment, outside armor for the cable, without significantly overlapping a periphery for a center conductor within the cable; and    a winding around at least a portion of the core, the winding inductively drawing power from three phase power transmitted on the cable when the inductive coupling device is positioned proximate to the end conductor and the cable segment carries three phase power.    
   
   
       2 . The inductive coupling device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an other core sized to fit around at least a portion of a periphery for another end conductor within the flat three phase power cable segment, outside armor for the cable segment, without significantly overlapping the periphery for the center conductor within the cable segment; and    a winding around at least a portion of the other core.    
   
   
       3 . The inductive coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the core has a C-shape, an L-shape, or is straight.  
   
   
       4 . The inductive coupling device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a straight core disposed proximate the cable segment outside the armor, the straight core oriented transverse to conductors within the cable segment and having a length substantially spanning a width across the conductors; and    a winding around at least a portion of the straight core and inductively impressing or detecting signals on the cable segment.    
   
   
       5 . A borehole production system including the inductive coupling device according to  claim 1 , the borehole production system further comprising: 
 a three phase power cable including the cable segment, wherein the cable electrically connects artificial lift equipment within a borehole to a surface system;    one or more measurement and/or control units coupled to the cable by the inductive coupling device.    
   
   
       6 . An inductive coupling device comprising: 
 a straight core disposed proximate a flat three phase power cable segment on one side of the cable segment and outside armor for the cable segment, the straight core oriented transverse to conductors within the cable segment; and    a winding around at least a portion of the straight core and inductively impressing or detecting signals on the cable segment.    
   
   
       7 . The inductive coupling device according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 an other straight core disposed proximate the cable segment on an opposite side of the cable segment and outside armor for the cable segment, the straight core oriented transverse to conductors within the cable segment; and    a winding around at least a portion of the other straight core.    
   
   
       8 . The inductive coupling device according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a C-shaped core sized to fit around an end conductor within the cable segment, the C-shaped core disposed outside armor for the cable segment;    a winding around at least a portion of the C-shaped core, the winding inductively drawing power from three phase power transmitted on the cable segment.    
   
   
       9 . A borehole production system including the inductive coupling device according to  claim 6 , the borehole production system further comprising: 
 a three phase power cable including the cable segment, wherein the cable electrically connects artificial lift equipment within a borehole to a surface system;    one or more measurement and/or control units coupled to the cable segment by the inductive coupling device.    
   
   
       10 . An inductive coupling method comprising: 
 fitting a C-shaped core around an end conductor within a flat three phase power cable segment and outside armor for the cable segment;    inductively drawing power from three phase power transmitted on the cable segment with a winding around at least a portion of the C-shaped core.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 fitting an other C-shaped core around an other end conductor with the cable segment and outside the armor; and    inductively drawing power from three phase power transmitted on the cable segment with a winding around at least a portion of the other C-shaped core.    
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 disposing a straight core proximate the cable segment, outside the armor, and oriented transverse to conductors within the cable segment; and    inductively impressing or detecting signals on the cable segment with a winding around at least a portion of the straight core.    
   
   
       13 . An inductive coupling method comprising: 
 disposing a straight core proximate a flat three phase power cable segment on one side of the cable segment and outside armor for the cable segment, the straight core oriented transverse to conductors within the cable segment; and    inductively impressing or detecting signals on the cable segment with a winding around at least a portion of the straight core.    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 disposing an other straight core proximate the cable segment on an opposite side of the cable segment and outside armor for the cable segment, the straight core oriented transverse to conductors within the cable segment; and    inductively impressing or detecting signals on the cable segment with a winding around at least a portion of the other straight core.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 fitting a C-shaped core around an end conductor within the cable segment and outside armor for the cable segment;    inductively drawing power from three phase power transmitted on the cable segment with a winding around at least a portion of the C-shaped core.