High Performance Wire Marking for Downhole Cables

Abstract

Cables, systems, and methods are disclosed that provide for the monitoring of a cable being deployed to a borehole. Such systems may include a cable having one or more markings at regular intervals. Each marking includes marking data that may be alphanumeric characters, bar codes, ring codes, or a quick-response code. The system also includes a controller that is operable to receive, store, and transmit marking data, and a reader that is operable to read the markings and to transmit marking data to the controller. The marking data may be associated with cable data that is stored in a database to convey information about the cable, such as the origin, mechanical properties, and usage history of the cable.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wellbore cable deployment system for monitoring a downhole cable being deployed to a borehole, the system comprising:
 a downhole cable having at least one marking, such marking including marking data;   a controller operable to receive, store, and transmit marking data; and   a reader operable to read the markings from the downhole cable as the downhole cable is deployed in a wellbore, and to transmit marking data to the controller.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole cable comprises a polymer coating having an inner layer and an outer transparent layer, and wherein the inner layer of the polymer coating comprises the marking. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the marking comprises a member of the group consisting of: alphanumeric characters, bar codes, ring codes, and quick-response code. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reader comprises a stylus having a light source and a photodiode and the marking comprises an optical mark. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reader comprises a laser and a photodiode, and wherein the marking comprises an optical mark. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reader comprises a charge-coupled device operable to read the marking using ambient light. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reader comprises a camera system having a processor, a sensor, and a memory, and wherein the memory comprises instructions for reading the markings using optical character recognition. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the marking data comprises data selected from the group consisting of: the distance between markings, the marking count, a unique identification number, data indicating the material composition of the cable. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , where the controller comprises a database storing cable data, and wherein the marking data is associated with cable data. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cable data comprises the usage history of the downhole cable. 
     
     
         11 . A downhole cable for deployment in a borehole, the downhole cable comprising:
 at least one marking, such marking including marking data that is associated with cable data.   
     
     
         12 . The cable of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one marking comprises a machine-readable marking that can be read by an automated reader, and wherein the at least one marking is selected from the group consisting of a continuous marking arranged along a portion of the cable, and a plurality of markings spaced at regular intervals along the downhole cable. 
     
     
         13 . The cable of  claim 11 , wherein the marking comprises a member of the group consisting of: alphanumeric characters, bar codes, ring codes, and quick-response code. 
     
     
         14 . The cable of  claim 11 , wherein the cable data comprises data selected from the group consisting of: the distance between markings, the marking count, a unique identification number, data indicating the material composition of the downhole cable, and wherein the cable is selected from the group consisting of a wireline cable and a slickline cable. 
     
     
         15 . A method for gathering information about a cable deployed in a borehole, the method comprising:
 reading a marking from a downhole cable as the downhole cable is deployed to a wellbore, such marking including marking data that is associated with cable data;   transmitting the marking data to a control system, the control system having a memory, a processor, and a transceiver; and   receiving the marking data at the control system.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising tracking a length of downhole cable that has entered the well based on marking data from the read markings. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising tracking a length of downhole cable that has entered the well based on the number of markings read. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising determining a cable tension based on marking data from the read markings. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising determining cable deformation based on marking data from the read markings. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising determining permanent cable deformation based on marking data from the marking, comparing the permanent cable deformation to an acceptable amount of permanent cable deformation, and determining whether the downhole cable is suitable for continued use based on whether the data and permanent cable deformation exceeds the acceptable amount of permanent cable deformation.