Abstract: A method of producing a coated FBG optical fiber involves coating the optical fiber prior to writing the Bragg grating. A system for producing the coated FBG optical fibers includes a high temperature furnace from which to draw the fiber, a coating applicator that may be a carbon coating applicator, a cooling station, and a grating writing station.

Abstract: An optical fiber sensing apparatus includes: a substrate configured to deform in response to an environmental parameter; an optical fiber sensor including a core having at least one measurement location disposed therein and a protective coating surrounding the optical fiber sensor, the protective coating made from a polyimide material; and an adhesive configured to adhere the optical fiber sensor to the substrate, the adhesive made from the polyimide material.

Abstract: A method of removing a polymer material from an optical fiber assembly includes: 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.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable for use in a downhole environment is disclosed. The fiber optic cable includes a tube having an interior region; an optical fiber disposed in the interior region of the tube; a gas in the interior region; and a gel in the interior region, wherein the gel is configured to reduce stress on the optical fiber in the presence of the gas at a temperature substantially near the flashpoint of the gel. One or more seals can be used to seal the gel and the inert gas in the interior region. In various aspects, the fiber optic cable can be used in a downhole environment.

Abstract: An optical fiber seal includes: an annular layer bonded to an outer glass layer of a length of an optical fiber; and a glass sealing layer bonded to an outer surface of the annular layer and configured to withstand conditions in a downhole environment, the glass sealing layer configured to hermetically seal the length of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A apparatus for monitoring a downhole component is disclosed. The apparatus includes: an optical fiber sensor including a plurality of sensing locations distributed along a length of the optical fiber sensor; an interrogation assembly configured to transmit an electromagnetic interrogation signal into the optical fiber sensor and receive reflected signals from each of the plurality of sensing locations; and a processing unit configured to receive the reflected signals, select a measurement location along the optical fiber sensor, select a first reflected signal associated with a first sensing location in the optical fiber sensor, the first sensing location corresponding with the measurement location, select a second reflected signal associated with a second sensing location in the optical fiber sensor, estimate a phase difference between the first signal and the second signal, and estimate a parameter of the downhole component at the measurement location based on the phase difference.

Abstract: A system for measuring downhole parameters is disclosed. The system includes: a carrier configured to be disposed in a borehole in an earth formation; at least one optical fiber sensor in operable communication with the carrier; a measurement assembly including an electromagnetic signal source configured to transmit a first interrogation signal into the optical fiber sensor and a detector configured to receive a reflected signal indicative of a downhole parameter in response to the interrogation signal; and a processor configured to automatically receive scattered signals from the optical fiber sensor, generate distributed scattering data indicative of a condition of the optical fiber sensor and analyze changes in the distributed scattering data to identify changes in the condition of the optical fiber sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a parameter at distributed locations, the apparatus including: an optical fiber having: a first series of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and configured to measure the parameter at a portion of the distributed locations; a second series of FBGs and configured to measure the parameter at another portion of the distributed locations; and an optical interrogator configured to illuminate the optical fiber and to receive light signals resulting from the illumination, the light signals including first light signals from the first series of FBGs within a first range of wavelengths, second light signals from the second series of FBGs within a second range of wavelengths, and other light signals within a third range of wavelengths, the ranges of wavelengths being distinct from each other; wherein the first light signals and the second light signals are used to estimate the parameter at the distributed locations.

Abstract: A downhole component includes a body portion and a photonic crystal waveguide coupled to the body portion that is configured to receive a signal from a device.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes: a first elongated body, the first elongated body having a longitudinal axis; an elongated sleeve disposed coaxially with the first elongated body, the elongated sleeve including a plurality of second elongated bodies wrapped around an exterior surface of the first elongated body; and at least one elongated fiber optic component disposed inside of and coaxially with at least one of the first elongated body and a second elongated body.

Abstract: Systems, program product, and methods for monitoring linearity of a down-hole pumping system assembly during deployment within a bore of a casing of a well positioned to extract hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir and selecting an optimal operational position for the down-hole pumping system assembly within the bore of the casing, are provided. Various embodiments of the systems allow an operator to ensure that a motor and pump of a down-hole pumping system assembly are installed in an optimal position in a well by ensuring alignment across the pump stages casing and motor casing. The alignment and linearity of the pump and motor can be crucial to run life of the pump and/or motor.

Abstract: An interferometer has its performance enhanced by being suspended in a housing that is optionally evacuated. The frame that supports the interferometer is secured to a cover for the housing with a plurality of studs having mechanical vibration isolators. The frame comprises a support flange with a foam layer beneath the interferometer. An optics tray is disposed above the interferometer and holds the assembly to the support flange. The fibers that are connected to the interferometer enter the side of the housing and the entry is sealed off to allow the interior of the housing to be evacuated.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating at least one parameter includes: a deformable member configured to deform in response to the at least one parameter; a housing surrounding at least a portion of an external surface of the deformable member to define an isolated region around the portion and an isolated surface of the deformable member; and at least one optical fiber sensor disposed on the isolated surface and held in an operable relationship with the isolated surface, the at least one optical fiber sensor configured to generate a signal in response to a deformation of the deformable member.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a parameter, the apparatus includes: an optical fiber; a component in communication with the optical fiber and configured to interact with light at a wavelength related to the parameter; and an optical interrogator in communication with the optical fiber and configured to: illuminate the optical fiber with a series of light inputs, each light input in the series having a substantially constant unique optical wavelength and swept-frequency amplitude modulation; and receive a resulting light signal associated with each light input in the series; wherein the resulting light signals associated with the series of light inputs are used to estimate the parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a property includes a hollow core tube and an input light guide disposed at least partially within hollow core tube. The apparatus also includes a second gap disposed within the hollow core tube and separated from the input light guide by an air gap width. The second gap is formed of a first solid material and has a second gap width. The apparatus also includes a third gap disposed at least partially within the hollow core tube and being further from the input light guide than the second gap. The third gap is formed of a second solid material and has a third gap width.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a property, the apparatus includes: a hollow core tube having a first opening and a second opening; a first optical waveguide disposed within the first opening; and a second optical waveguide disposed within the second opening and spaced a distance from the first optical waveguide, the distance being related to the property; wherein a portion of at least one of the optical waveguides within the tube is perimetrically isolated from the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a parameter at distributed locations, the apparatus including: an optical fiber having: a first series of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and configured to measure the parameter at a portion of the distributed locations; a second series of FBGs and configured to measure the parameter at another portion of the distributed locations; and an optical interrogator configured to illuminate the optical fiber and to receive light signals resulting from the illumination, the light signals including first light signals from the first series of FBGs within a first range of wavelengths, second light signals from the second series of FBGs within a second range of wavelengths, and other light signals within a third range of wavelengths, the ranges of wavelengths being distinct from each other; wherein the first light signals and the second light signals are used to estimate the parameter at the distributed locations.

Abstract: A pump monitoring system includes a monitoring device configured for attachment to a cable harness of a pump, a strain gauge configured to measure dynamic loading of at least one cable of the cable harness as the pump operates, a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the dynamic loading measurement, and an external device configured to receive the transmitted dynamic loading measurement.

Abstract: A method in a portable electronic device (100) including inputting a first word component, for example, a letter or stroke, displaying a first candidate list having at least a first completion candidate including the first word component, inputting a second word component, displaying a second candidate list having a second completion candidate, the second completion candidate including the first and second word components, and de-prioritizing the first completion candidate of the first candidate list relative to at least one other candidate of the second candidate list.

Abstract: A method of communicating among wireless devices includes providing a frequency hopping schedule to a target device. The frequency hopping schedule includes a sequence of frequencies. The method also includes, at the target device, alternately sleeping and listening on a frequency in the sequence of frequencies according to the frequency hopping schedule, exchanging time base information between the target device and the transmitting device, at the transmitting device, using the time base information to determine a current frequency of the target device, from the transmitting device, and transmitting a packet of information uniquely addressed to the target device.