Apparatus for stripping optical fibers and optical fiber assemblies

Abstract

An apparatus for performing a downhole operation includes: a carrier configured to be deployed in a borehole in an earth formation; and an optical fiber assembly disposed at the carrier, the optical fiber assembly including an optical fiber and a polymer material bonded to a length of the optical fiber. A portion of the polymer material has been removed by: disposing a liquid metallic material proximate to the polymer material, the polymer material being bonded to the optical fiber; heating the liquid metallic material to a temperature sufficient to burn the polymer material and de-bond the polymer material from a surface of the optical fiber; and removing the polymer material and liquid metal from the surface of the optical fiber.

1 . An apparatus for performing a downhole operation comprising:
 a carrier configured to be deployed in a borehole in an earth formation; and   an optical fiber assembly disposed at the carrier, the optical fiber assembly including an optical fiber and a polymer material bonded to a length of the optical fiber, a portion of the polymer material having been removed by:   disposing a liquid metallic material proximate to the polymer material, the polymer material being bonded to the optical fiber;   heating the liquid metallic material to a temperature sufficient to burn the polymer material and de-bond the polymer material from a surface of the optical fiber; and   removing the polymer material and liquid metal from the surface of the optical fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer material is a polyimide material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer material is selected from at least one of an optical fiber coating and an adhesive material configured to adhere the optical fiber to the carrier. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the carrier is a metallic component of a fiber optical cable. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the carrier is a borehole string. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein disposing includes applying the liquid metallic material to a surface of the polymer material and a portion of a surface of the carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein applying includes immersing a portion of the polymer material and the optical fiber into a container containing the liquid metallic material. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer material includes:
 a protective coating surrounding the optical fiber, the protective coating made from a polyimide material; and   an adhesive configured to adhere the optical fiber to the carrier, the adhesive made from the polyimide material.