Abstract:
A cable retainer for a downhole tubing string includes a body; a detent extending from the body; a relief between the detent and the body facilitating deflection of the detent to allow passage of a cable; and a detent lip extending from the detent. A method for securing a cable to a tubular.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In the drilling and completion industry, trends are toward more and more information about real time conditions downhole. Fiber optic and other cables are used to provide such information. In order for cables to be effective and protected however, it is generally necessary to secure the cables to the string being run in the hole using one or more retainers. Sometimes, securement needs to be across a sand screen and as a subset, while some cables are distributed temperature sensing (DTS) others may also monitor sand screen deflection as well. Securement for this subset requires that a retainer more rigidly maintain the cable. While some methodologies and configuration have been tried, the art is always receptive to simpler or more effective configurations. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     A cable retainer for a downhole tubing string includes a body; a detent extending from the body; a relief between the detent and the body facilitating deflection of the detent to allow passage of a cable; and a detent lip extending from the detent. 
     A method for securing a cable to a tubular includes aligning a cable section with a retainer; urging the cable against the retainer at a portion thereof to cause a detent to deflect into a relief allowing passage of the cable; and allowing the detent to rebound to a natural position with a lip overhanging the cable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a retainer as described herein; 
         FIG. 2  is a representation of a tubular string with the retainer of  FIG. 1  illustrated thereon and a cable prior to engagement; 
         FIG. 3  is a representation similar to that of  FIG. 2  but with the cable shown in an engaged position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a retainer  10  is illustrated with a mirror image retainer  12  positioned in operable proximity thereto. While the discussion herein will relate to the figure and hence both of retainers  10  and  12 , it is to be appreciated that either of the retainers may be used independently of the other providing some structure exists opposite one of the retainers against which a cable  14  may be urged. Further, as the retainers  10  and  12  are mirror images of each other, numbering and identification will be focused upon one of them with the recognition that each of the numerals and description apply to both. Retainer  10  comprises a tapered block body  16  that acts to provide affixation to a tubular body  18  as well as presenting a bumper to protect the cable  14 . The tapered configuration as shown helps to avoid the body  16  impacting a structure downhole with enough force to remove the body  16  from the tubular  18 . Affixation may be effected by fasteners, adhesives, welding, straps, etc. Retainer  10  also includes a relief area  20  that provides for deflection of a detent  22  in order to allow the cable  14  to pass a detent lip  24 . It should be appreciated that detent lip  24  has a chamfered surface  26  to aid in insertion of the cable  14  past the detent  22  during engagement of the cable  14  to the retainer  10 . In other words, after aligning the cable with the retainer  10 , urging of the cable toward the tubular  18  will cause the cable to contact the chamfered edge and deflect the detent into the relief  20 , thereby allowing the cable to pass the detent. 
     The relief  20  into which the detent  22  deflects to allow passage of the cable  14  may in some embodiments present the possibility for escape of the cable  14  at an undesirable time. Accordingly in one embodiment, a relief occupier  28  is added to the retainer to prevent deflection of the detent  22  other than at times when such deflection is desired. As illustrated, the occupier  28  is a threaded member  30  that is introduced to retainer  10  through opening  32 . In one iteration, the threaded member  30  is a set screw. In any event, the occupier  28  is adjusted to occupy at least a portion of the volume into which the detent  22  may otherwise deflect thereby limiting or preventing that deflection and ensuring that the detent  22  remains engaged with the cable  14 . When the cable  14  is engaged with the retainer, the detent lip  24  overhangs the surface of the cable  14  as can be easily seen in  FIG. 3  to prevent the cable moving radially outwardly from the tubular  18 . The detent is then allowed to rebound to its natural position placing the detent lip over the cable. 
     Where two of the retainers, such as retainer  10  and  12  are used together, they operate in the same way as described above but in opposite directions and retain cable  14  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . A benefit of the retainer disclosed herein is that it is effective not only for cables such as DTS cables where the cable is not used for measuring deformation of the tubular but also for deformation measuring cables which require a more rigid affixation to the tubular in order to properly and reliably sense deformation of the tubular or screen over which the cable  14  runs. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the retainers may be paired with bumpers  34  to further protect the cable  14  from impact during running. Bumpers may be of any convenient material including metals, polymers, etc. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should further be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity). 
     The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.