Tractor for installing tubing encapsulated cable into coil tubing

Abstract

Tubing encapsulated cable is generally difficult to place in the interior of coil tubing. In various embodiments of the present invention tubing encapsulated cable is placed in the interior of coil tubing by attaching the tubing encapsulated cable to a tractor and allowing the tractor to pull the tubing encapsulated cable into the coil tubing. The tractor drive system may be a fluid drive system where an electric or other motor supplies power to a propeller or jet pump. The tractor drive system could also be a friction drive were electric or other motor supplies power to a drive wheel or treads. The tractor drive system could also be a push me pull me system where electric or other motor locks a portion of the tractor in place while moving the other portion forwards.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tractor to install a tubing encapsulated cable in coil tubing comprising:
 a housing,   a power source,   a connection to the tubing encapsulated cable, and   a friction driver.   
     
     
         2 . The tractor of  claim 1  wherein, the housing is sealed to prevent a fluid from entering the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The tractor of  claim 1  wherein, the housing has lengthwise grooves. 
     
     
         4 . The tractor of  claim 3  wherein, the lengthwise grooves allow fluid to pass the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The tractor of  claim 3  wherein, the lengthwise grooves assist in dissipating heat. 
     
     
         6 . The tractor of  claim 1  wherein, the power source is in the interior housing. 
     
     
         7 . The tractor of  claim 1  wherein, the power source is outside of the coil tubing and is accessed through the tubing encapsulated cable. 
     
     
         8 . The tractor of  claim 1  wherein, the friction driver is a wheel. 
     
     
         9 . The tractor of  claim 1  wherein, the friction driver is a track. 
     
     
         10 . The tractor of  claim 1  further comprising a sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The tractor of  claim 10  wherein, the sensor is a strain gauge. 
     
     
         12 . A tractor to install a tubing encapsulated cable in coil tubing comprising:
 a housing,   a power source,   a connection to the tubing encapsulated cable, and   a fluid driver.   
     
     
         13 . The tractor of  claim 12  wherein, the housing is sealed to prevent a fluid from entering the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The tractor of  claim 12  wherein, the housing has lengthwise grooves. 
     
     
         15 . The tractor of  claim 14  wherein, the lengthwise grooves allow fluid to pass the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The tractor of  claim 14  wherein, the lengthwise grooves assist in dissipating heat. 
     
     
         17 . The tractor of  claim 12  wherein, the power source is in the interior housing. 
     
     
         18 . The tractor of  claim 12  wherein, the power source is outside of the coil tubing and is accessed through the tubing encapsulated cable. 
     
     
         19 . The tractor of  claim 12  wherein, the fluid driver is a propeller. 
     
     
         20 . The tractor of  claim 12  wherein, the fluid driver is a pump. 
     
     
         21 . The tractor of  claim 12  further comprising a sensor. 
     
     
         22 . The tractor of  claim 21  wherein, the sensor is a strain gauge. 
     
     
         23 . A tractor to install a tubing encapsulated cable in coil tubing comprising:
 a frame,   a power source,   a connection to the tubing encapsulated cable, and   a driver moving the first portion forwards and then a second portion forwards.   
     
     
         24 . The tractor of  claim 23  wherein, the power source is on the frame. 
     
     
         25 . The tractor of  claim 23  wherein, the power source is outside of the coil tubing and is accessed through the tubing encapsulated cable. 
     
     
         26 . The tractor of  claim 23  wherein, the first portion engages the coil tubing while the second portion moves forward. 
     
     
         27 . The tractor of  claim 23  wherein, the second portion engages the coil tubing while the first portion moves forward. 
     
     
         28 . The tractor of  claim 23  wherein, the first portion engages the coil tubing with slips. 
     
     
         29 . The tractor of  claim 23  wherein, the first portion engages the coil tubing with brushes. 
     
     
         30 . The tractor of  claim 23  further comprising a sensor. 
     
     
         31 . The tractor of  claim 30  wherein, the sensor is a strain gauge.