Novel Wireline-Tool Adapter Sleeve

Abstract

A system and method for adapting a wireline tool to operate in environments for which it was not designed is disclosed. The system includes a pressure housing within which a wireline tool may be secured between a first connector subassembly mated to one end of the pressure housing and a second connector subassembly mated to the other end of the pressure housing. The first connector subassembly includes an electrical connector subassembly by which the wireline tool may be electrically connected to the wireline. The method includes disposing a wireline tool within a pressure housing between a first connector subassembly mated to one end of the pressure housing and a second connector subassembly mated to the other end of the pressure housing and electrically connecting the wireline tool to an electrical connector subassembly in the first connector subassembly, by which the wireline tool may be electrically connected to the wireline.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for adapting a wireline tool having two ends and an electrical connector to operate in environments for which the wireline tool was not designed, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a pressure housing having two ends;   (b) a first connector subassembly adapted to mate to one end of the pressure housing, the first connector subassembly comprising:
 (i) a first electrical connector subassembly compatible with the electrical connector of the wireline tool; and 
 (ii) a first chassis; and 
   (c) a second connector subassembly adapted to mate to the other end of the pressure housing, the second connector subassembly comprising a second chassis;   (d) wherein the pressure housing, the first connector subassembly, and the second connector subassembly define a space within which the wireline tool may be securely disposed when the first connector subassembly is mated to one end of the pressure housing and the second connector subassembly is mated to the other end of the pressure housing.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a liner shaped to be disposed between the wireline tool and the pressure housing. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the liner is a Dewar flask. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first electrical connector subassembly comprises:
 (a) a line conductor; 
 (b) a wireline-tool conductor; and 
 (c) a switch operable to electrically connect the line conductor to the wireline-tool conductor. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the switch is operable by application of a predetermined voltage on the line conductor. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second connector subassembly further comprises a second electrical connector subassembly electrically connected to the first electrical connector assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the second connector subassembly further comprises a second electrical connector subassembly; and 
 (b) the first electrical connector assembly comprises:
 (i) a line conductor; 
 (ii) a wireline-tool conductor; and 
 (iii) a switch selectively operable to electrically connect the line conductor either to the wireline-tool conductor or to the second electrical connector subassembly. 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the switch is selectively operable through application of a predetermined voltage on the line conductor. 
     
     
         9 . An adapted wireline-tool apparatus comprising:
 (a) a pressure housing having two ends;   (b) a first connector subassembly mated to the first end of the pressure housing, the first connector subassembly comprising:
 (i) a first electrical connector subassembly; and 
 (ii) a first chassis; 
   (c) a second connector subassembly mated to the second end of the pressure housing, the second connector subassembly comprising a second chassis; and   (d) a wireline tool having two ends and an electrical connector;   (e) wherein the wireline tool is disposed within the pressure housing between the first connector subassembly and the second connector subassembly such that one end of the wireline tool is secured by contact with the first chassis and the other end of the wireline tool is secured by contact with the second chassis; and   (f) wherein the first electrical connector subassembly is electrically connected to the wireline tool's electrical connector.   
     
     
         10 . The adapted wireline-tool apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a liner disposed within the pressure housing between the wireline tool and the pressure housing and between the first connector subassembly and the second connector subassembly. 
     
     
         11 . The adapted wireline-tool apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the liner is a Dewar flask. 
     
     
         12 . The adapted wireline-tool apparatus of  claim 9  wherein:
 (a) the wireline tool further comprises a second electrical connector; and 
 (b) the second connector subassembly further comprises a second electrical connector subassembly electrically connected to the wireline tool's second electrical connector. 
 
     
     
         13 . The adapted wireline-tool apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the first electrical connector subassembly comprises:
 (a) a line conductor; 
 (b) a wireline-tool conductor electrically connected to the wireline tool's electrical connector; and 
 (c) a switch operable to electrically connect the line conductor to the wireline-tool conductor. 
 
     
     
         14 . The adapted wireline-tool apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the switch is operable by application of a predetermined voltage on the line conductor. 
     
     
         15 . The adapted wireline-tool apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the second connector subassembly further comprises a second electrical connector subassembly electrically connected to the first electrical connector subassembly. 
     
     
         16 . The adapted wireline-tool apparatus of  claim 9  wherein:
 (a) the second connector subassembly further comprises a second electrical connector subassembly; and 
 (b) the first electrical connector subassembly comprises:
 (i) a line conductor; 
 (ii) a wireline-tool conductor electrically connected to the wireline tool's electrical connector; and 
 (iii) a switch selectively operable to electrically connect the line conductor either to the wireline-tool conductor or to the second electrical connector subassembly. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The adapted wireline-tool apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the switch is selectively operable through application of a predetermined voltage on the line conductor. 
     
     
         18 . A method of adapting a wireline tool to operate in environments for which the wireline tool was not designed, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a pressure housing having two ends;   (b) providing a first connector subassembly comprising:
 (i) a first electrical connector subassembly; and 
 (ii) a first chassis; 
   (c) providing a second connector subassembly comprising a second chassis;   (d) disposing a wireline tool having two ends and an electrical connector within the pressure housing between the first connector subassembly and the second connector subassembly such that one end of the wireline tool is secured by contact with the first chassis and the other end of the wireline tool is secured by contact with the second chassis; and   (e) electrically connecting the first electrical connector subassembly to the wireline tool's electrical connector.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 :
 (a) wherein the first electrical connector subassembly comprises:
 (i) a line conductor; 
 (ii) a wireline-tool conductor; and 
 (iii) a switch operable to electrically connect the line conductor to the wireline-tool conductor; and 
   (b) wherein the step of electrically connecting the first electrical connector subassembly to the wireline tool's electrical connector comprises electrically connecting the wireline-tool conductor to the wireline tool's electrical connector; and   (c) further comprising operating the switch to connect the line conductor to the wireline-tool conductor.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of operating the switch comprises applying a predetermined voltage to the line conductor.