System for coating tubing encapsulated cable for insertion into coil tubing

Abstract

Tubing encapsulated cable consists of one or more electrical conductors and possibly one or more fiber optic cables sheathed in a corrosion resistant metallic alloy. However, pumping during the installation of tubing encapsulated cable is required to overcome the capstan effect of the tubing encapsulated cable inside the coil tubing as the tubing encapsulated cable travels through the coiled up wraps of coil tubing. One way to overcome the capstan effect is to reduce the contact between the coil tubing and the tubing encapsulated cable by installing standoffs along the length of the tubing encapsulated cable. Other additional friction between inner surface of the coil tubing and the tubing encapsulated cable that occurs during the installation of the tubing encapsulated cable and the inner surface of the coil tubing may be reduced by adding standoffs along the length of the coil tubing. In some instances the standoffs may be dissolvable so that the standoffs do not impede fluid flow through the interior of the coil tubing during intervention work.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool for downhole use comprising:
 a coil tubing,   a tubing encapsulated cable,   wherein the tubing encapsulated cable includes at least two standoffs,
 wherein the standoffs are spaced along the tubing encapsulated cable. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, the at least two standoffs are dissolvable. 
     
     
         3 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, the at least two standoffs are erodable. 
     
     
         4 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, the at least two standoffs are non-metallic. 
     
     
         5 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, the at least two standoffs have a first part and a second part. 
     
     
         6 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, the standoff first part and the standoff second part are held in place against each other by at least one screw. 
     
     
         7 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, the standoff first part and the standoff second part are held in place against each other by an adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, the standoff is fixed in place along the tubing encapsulated cable. 
     
     
         9 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, the standoff is fixed in place along the tubing encapsulated cable by friction. 
     
     
         10 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 1  wherein, the standoff is fixed in place along the tubing encapsulated cable by an adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . Method of installing a tool in a coil tubing comprising,
 attaching a standoff to a tubing encapsulated cable,
 wherein the tubing encapsulated cable has a first end and a second end, 
   inserting the first end into a coil tubing,   minimizing contact between the tubing encapsulated cable and the coil tubing,   moving the tubing encapsulated cable into the coil tubing.   
     
     
         12 . The method of installing a tool in a coil tubing of  claim 11  wherein, the tubing encapsulated cable is drawn into the coil tubing by pumping. 
     
     
         13 . The method of installing a tool in a coil tubing of  claim 11  wherein, the tubing encapsulated cable is drawn into the coil tubing by pulling. 
     
     
         14 . The method of installing a tool in a coil tubing of  claim 11  wherein, the standoff is dissolvable. 
     
     
         15 . The method of installing a tool in a coil tubing of  claim 11  wherein, the standoff is erodable. 
     
     
         16 . The method of installing a tool in a coil tubing of  claim 11  wherein, the standoff is non-metallic. 
     
     
         17 . The method of installing a tool in a coil tubing of  claim 11  wherein, the standoff has a first part and a second part. 
     
     
         18 . The method of installing a tool in a coil tubing of  claim 11  wherein, the standoff first part and the standoff second part are held in place against each other by at least one screw. 
     
     
         19 . The method of installing a tool in a coil tubing of  claim 11  wherein, the standoff first part and the standoff second part are held in place against each other by an adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . The method of installing a tool in a coil tubing of  claim 11  wherein, the standoff is fixed in place along the tubing encapsulated cable. 
     
     
         21 . The method of installing a tool in a coil tubing of  claim 11  wherein, the standoff is fixed in place along the tubing encapsulated cable by friction. 
     
     
         22 . The method of installing a tool in a coil tubing of  claim 11  wherein, the standoff is fixed in place along the tubing encapsulated cable by an adhesive. 
     
     
         23 . A tool for downhole use comprising:
 a coil tubing,   a tubing encapsulated cable,   a coating on the tubing encapsulated cable,
 wherein the diameter of the coating is at least 0.375 inches. 
   
     
     
         24 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 23  wherein, the diameter of the coating is at least 0.4375 inches. 
     
     
         25 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 23  wherein, the coating is a dissolvable material. 
     
     
         26 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 23  wherein, the coating is an erodible material. 
     
     
         27 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 23  wherein, the coating is a non-metallic material. 
     
     
         28 . A tool for downhole use comprising:
 a coil tubing,   a tubing encapsulated cable,   an at least two standoffs,
 wherein the diameter of the at least two standoffs is at least 0.375 inches. 
   
     
     
         29 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 28  wherein, the diameter of the standoffs is at least 0.4375 inches. 
     
     
         30 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 28  wherein, the at least two standoffs are erodable. 
     
     
         31 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 28  wherein, the at least two standoffs are non-metallic. 
     
     
         32 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 28  wherein, the at least two standoffs have a first part and a second part. 
     
     
         33 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 28  wherein, the standoff first part and the standoff second part are held in place against each other by at least one screw. 
     
     
         34 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 28  wherein, the standoff first part and the standoff second part are held in place against each other by an adhesive. 
     
     
         35 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 28  wherein, the standoff is fixed in place along the tubing encapsulated cable. 
     
     
         36 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 28  wherein, the standoff is fixed in place along the tubing encapsulated cable by friction. 
     
     
         37 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 28  wherein, the standoff is fixed in place along the tubing encapsulated cable by an adhesive. 
     
     
         38 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 28  wherein, the standoff is molded in place along the tubing encapsulated cable. 
     
     
         39 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 28  wherein, a portion of the coating is removed to form standoffs along the tubing encapsulated cable. 
     
     
         40 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 28  wherein, a portion of the coating is thermally extruded. 
     
     
         41 . The tool for downhole use of  claim 40  wherein, the thermally extruded coating is shaped into standoffs.