METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOWN-HOLE ALIGNMENT OF OPTIC FIBERS

摘要

Methods for communicatively coupling components at down-hole locations within a wellbore include introducing first and second cables through which signals are transmissible into the wellbore. Terminal ends of the cables are coarsely aligned by coupling connector housings associated with the cables within the wellbore. The terminal ends are then finely aligned by activating motors to move at least one of the terminal ends within the connector housings until a signal of sufficient strength is transmissible between the first and second cables.

主权项

1. A method of establishing communication between wellbore components, the method comprising:
introducing a first cable to a down-hole location within a wellbore, the first cable including a first connector housing and a first core through which signals are transmissible, the first core extending into the first connector housing and a defining a first terminal end therein; introducing a second cable to the down-hole location, the second cable including a second connector housing and a second core through which signals are transmissible, the second core extending into the second connector housing and a defining a second terminal end therein; providing a first motor to the down-hole location such that the first motor is operatively associated with the first terminal end for selectively moving the first terminal end with respect to the first connector housing; coupling the first connector housing to the second connector housing such that relative motion between the, first and second connector housings is restricted and the first and second terminal ends are in a coarsely aligned arrangement; and activating the first motor to move the first terminal end with respect to the first connector housing at the down-hole location to arrange the first and second terminal ends in a finely aligned arrangement wherein signals are transmissible between the first and second cores.