Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
  • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
  • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
  • E21B33/1208—Packers; Plugs characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means
  • E21B33/1216—Anti-extrusion means, e.g. means to prevent cold flow of rubber packing
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B23/00—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells
  • E21B23/06—Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells for setting packers
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
  • E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
  • E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
  • E21B33/128—Packers; Plugs with a member expanded radially by axial pressure
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B2200/00—Special features related to earth drilling for obtaining oil, gas or water
  • E21B2200/01—Sealings characterised by their shape

Definitions

• the field of the invention relates to seal back-ups for wellbore tools often used in oil and gas well applications.
• Sealing members engage movable members in wellbore tools.
• Seal back-ups provide support for the sealing members as well as attempt to reduce an extrusion gap.
• sealing members can extend through the extrusion gap when making sealing contact.
• standard seals can fall through the extrusion gap and limit the amount of the seal surface area engaging an outer surface to form a sealing engagement.
• standard seals can shear and cause fragments of the seal to fall through the extrusion gap (often called the nibbling effect). Over time, prolonged nibbling can cause premature failure of the seal.
• a seal mechanism for use with a downhole component comprises a first tubular member and a second tubular member, wherein the first tubular member is disposed within the second tubular member and separated therefrom by an extrusion gap; a circumferential groove disposed on the first tubular member; a seal disposed within the circumferential groove, wherein the seal is selectively positionable into engagement with the second tubular member; and a high pressure seal back-up disposed within the circumferential groove, wherein the distance between an inside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up and an outside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up is configured to remain substantially constant when pressure increases on the high pressure seal back-up, and wherein the high pressure seal back-up is configured to have an increase in its outer diameter in response to a pressure increase.
• a high pressure seal mechanism for use with a downhole component in a wellbore environment comprises a tubular member and a surface, where the tubular member is disposed adjacent to the surface and separated from the surface by an extrusion gap, a circumferential groove disposed on the tubular member, a seal disposed within the circumferential groove, where the seal is selectively positionable into an engagement with the surface, and a high pressure seal back-up disposed within the circumferential groove, where the distance between an inside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up and an outside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up is configured to remain substantially constant when pressure increases on the high pressure seal back-up.
• a method comprises increasing pressure on a seal and a high pressure seal back-up, where the seal and high pressure seal back-up are disposed with a circumferential groove, extending the high pressure seal back-up into an extrusion gap, and forming a seal between a tubular member and a surface.
• Figure 1 is a cut-away view of an embodiment of a wellbore servicing system.
• Figure 2A is a side view of an embodiment of a high pressure seal mechanism.
• Figure 2B is a cross-section view of an embodiment of a high pressure seal mechanism.
• Figure 3A is a side view of an embodiment of a high pressure seal back-up.
• Figure 3B is a side view of an embodiment of a standard seal back-up.
• Figure 4A is another cross-section view of an embodiment of a high pressure seal mechanism.
• Figure 4B is cross-section view of an embodiment of a high pressure seal back-up.
• Figure 5A is a cross-section view of an embodiment of a standard seal mechanism.
• Figure 5B is a cross-section view of an embodiment of a seal in a standard seal mechanism.
• Figure 5C is cross-section view of an embodiment of a standard seal back-up and a seal in a standard seal mechanism.
• Figure 6 is another cross-section view of an embodiment of a high pressure seal mechanism.
• Figure 7 is another cross-section view of an embodiment of a high pressure seal mechanism.
• Figure 8 is another cross-section view of an embodiment of a high pressure seal mechanism.
• Figure 9 is another cross-section view of an embodiment of a high pressure seal mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
• any use of any form of the terms “connect,” “engage,” “couple,” “attach,” or any other term describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the elements and may also include indirect interaction between the elements described.
• the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to ". Reference to up or down will be made for purposes of description with “up,” “upper,” “upward,” or “upstream” meaning toward the surface of the wellbore and with “down,” “lower,” “downward,” or “downstream” meaning toward the terminal end of the well, regardless of the wellbore orientation.
• references to in or out will be made for purposes of description with “in,” “inner,” or “inward” meaning toward the center or central axis of the wellbore, and with “out,” “outer,” or “outward” meaning toward the wellbore tubular and/or wall of the wellbore.
• Reference to "longitudinal,” “longitudinally,” or “axially” means a direction substantially aligned with the main axis of the wellbore and/or wellbore tubular.
• Reference to "radial” or “radially” means a direction substantially aligned with a line between the main axis of the wellbore and/or wellbore tubular and the wellbore wall that is substantially normal to the main axis of the wellbore and/or wellbore tubular, though the radial direction does not have to pass through the central axis of the wellbore and/or wellbore tubular.
• a completion tool and/or a retrieval tool may comprise a piston having a high pressure seal mechanism.
• the component may be fixedly attached to the tool.
• a tool comprising a high pressure seal mechanism may comprise a seal to engage a surface in the wellbore. This seal may be disposed in a circumferential groove, and the circumferential groove may be disposed circumferentially on a surface of a portion of the wellbore tool.
• Traditional seal back-ups may be used in seals to help maintain the seal under high pressure. However, traditional back-ups do not extend into the extrusion gap, leading to potential leaks and loss of integrity of the seal.
• the high pressure seal back-up disclosed herein extends into the extrusion gap under pressure, supporting the seal in the extrusion gap when the seal is under pressure.
• the high pressure seal mechanism may comprise a high pressure seal back-up disposed with the circumferential groove and configured so that the distance between the inside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up and the outside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up remain substantially constant when pressure increases on the high pressure seal back-up.
• "high pressure” means greater than or equal to about 500 pounds per square inch, greater than or equal to about 1,000 pounds per square inch, greater than or equal to about 5,000 pounds per square inch, or greater or equal to about 10,000 pounds per square inch.
• a "high pressure” scenario exists based on, for example, the operational conditions, the service environment, the type of seal, or any safety concerns.
• a "high pressure” scenario may exist, which may require a high pressure seal back-up, when there is a need for a standard seal back-up.
• the systems and methods described herein may also be used at pressures less than those considered high pressure.
• the seal When the high pressure seal mechanism is under high pressure, the seal extends from the groove, into the extrusion gap, and engages an outside surface.
• the high pressure seal back-up may also extend from the groove and into the extrusion gap.
• the high pressure seal back-up may engage the seal in the extrusion gap, supporting the seal in the extrusion gap, and preventing the seal from falling into the extrusion gap. Preventing the seal from falling into the extrusion gap facilitates a better sealing engagement between the tool and outside surface. Additionally, this feature may also relieve pressure between the seal and the edge of, for example, the circumferential groove or a second seal back-up, reducing any shear force on the seal, and potentially extending the life of the seal.
• the high pressure sealing mechanism may comprise a plurality of second seal back-ups and a plurality of high pressure seal back-ups.
• the plurality of second seal back-ups and the plurality of high pressure seal back-ups provide support for the seal in the circumferential groove.
• a plurality of second seal back-ups and a plurality of high pressure seal back-ups are configured to make the high pressure seal mechanism a two-way seal.
• a plurality of second seal back-ups and a plurality of high pressure seal back-ups are configured to make the high pressure seal mechanism a one-way seal.
• the high pressure seal back-up may have a plurality of locking teeth extending outwardly from the high pressure seal back-up and configured to engage with a plurality of locking teeth extending outwardly from a surface adjacent to the high pressure seal back-up.
• a wedge may be fixedly attached to a surface adjacent to the high pressure seal back-up.
• FIG. 1 an example of a wellbore operating environment in which one or more high pressure seal mechanisms may be used is shown.
• the operating environment comprises a drilling rig 106 that is positioned on the earth's surface 104 and extends over and around a wellbore 114 that penetrates a subterranean formation 102 for the purpose of recovering hydrocarbons.
• the wellbore 114 may be drilled into the subterranean formation 102 using any suitable drilling technique.
• the wellbore 114 extends substantially vertically away from the earth's surface 104 over a vertical wellbore portion 116, deviates from vertical relative to the earth's surface 104 over a deviated wellbore portion 136, and transitions to a horizontal wellbore portion 118.
• all or portions of a wellbore may be vertical, deviated at any suitable angle, horizontal, and/or curved.
• the wellbore may be a new wellbore, an existing wellbore, a straight wellbore, an extended reach wellbore, a sidetracked wellbore, a multi-lateral wellbore, and other types of wellbores for drilling and completing one or more production zones.
• the wellbore may be used for both producing wells and injection wells.
• the wellbore may be used for purposes other than or in addition to hydrocarbon production, such as uses related to geothermal energy and/or the production of water (e.g., potable water).
• a wellbore tubular string comprises a seal mechanism may be lowered into the subterranean formation 102 for a variety of drilling, completion, workover, and/or treatment procedures throughout the life of the wellbore.
• the embodiment shown in Figure 1 illustrates the wellbore tubular 120 in the form of a completion string being lowered into the subterranean formation. It should be understood that the wellbore tubular 120 is equally applicable to any type of wellbore tubular being inserted into a wellbore, including as non-limiting examples drill pipe, production tubing, rod strings, and coiled tubing.
• the wellbore tubular 120 comprising the high pressure seal mechanism may be conveyed into the subterranean formation 102 in a conventional manner and may subsequently be used to provide a seal within the wellbore as described herein.
• the drilling rig 106 comprises a derrick 108 with a rig floor 110 through which the wellbore tubular 120 extends downward from the drilling rig 106 into the wellbore 114.
• the drilling rig 106 comprises a motor driven winch and other associated equipment for extending the wellbore tubular 120 into the wellbore 114 to position the wellbore tubular 120 at a selected depth.
• FIG. 1 refers to a stationary drilling rig 106 for lowering and setting the wellbore tubular 120 comprising the seal mechanism within a land- based wellbore 114
• mobile workover rigs such as coiled tubing units
• wellbore servicing units such as coiled tubing units
• a wellbore tubular 120 comprising the seal mechanism may alternatively be used in other operational environments, such as within an offshore wellbore operational environment.
• a vertical, deviated, or horizontal wellbore portion may be cased and cemented and/or portions of the wellbore may be uncased.
• the high pressure seal mechanism 200 serves to provide a seal between two components.
• the high pressure seal mechanism 200 may utilize different configurations than a standard seal mechanism.
• the high pressure seal mechanism 200 generally comprises a first tubular member 202 and a second tubular member 204, a circumferential groove 206, a seal 208, and a high pressure seal back-up 210.
• the circumferential groove 206 is disposed on the first tubular member 202.
• the first tubular member 202 and second tubular member 204 are separated by an extrusion gap 212.
• the seal 208 may be disposed within the circumferential groove 206 so that the seal 208 is selectively positionable into engagement with the second tubular member 204.
• the high pressure seal back-up 210 may be disposed at least partially within the circumferential grove 206 so that when pressure increases on the high pressure seal back-up 210 the outer diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 210 increases while the distance between an inside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 210 and an outside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 210 remain substantially constant.
• Figure 2A illustrates a side view of the high pressure seal mechanism 200
• Figure 2B illustrates the same embodiment of the high pressure seal mechanism 200 in cross-section.
• an embodiment of the high pressure seal mechanism 200 comprises a first tubular member 202 and a second tubular member 204, the first tubular member 202 and the second tubular member 204 are separated by an extrusion gap 212.
• the second tubular member 204 may also be a flat surface, a surface such as a bore, (e.g., in a wall of a component, within a tubular member, etc.) or any other type of surface as long as an extrusion gap 212 exists between the first tubular member 202 and the second tubular member 204.
• a circumferential groove 206 is disposed on the first tubular member 202.
• the circumferential groove 206 may be disposed radially, for example, on the first tubular member 202 such that the circumferential groove 206 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular member 202.
• the circumferential groove 206 may extend at a non- perpendicular angle to the longitudinal axis of the first tubular member 202.
• the circumferential groove 206 may also be disposed elliptically, for example, such that the distance from the center point of the circumferential groove 206 on the longitudinal axis of the first tubular member 202 to the circumferential groove 206 is not constant.
• a seal 208 is disposed with the circumferential groove 206.
• the seal 208 may be an o-ring, for example, or it may be any other member that could provide a seal between the first tubular member 202 and the second tubular member 204.
• the seal 208 may rest inside, on, or adjacent to the circumferential groove 206. When pressure is not applied, the seal 208 may sit inside the circumferential groove 206 without extending radially into the extrusion gap 212, the seal 208 may at least partially extend into the extrusion gap 212, or the seal 208 may engage the second tubular member 204.
• a high pressure seal back-up 210 is disposed with the circumferential groove 206.
• the high pressure seal back-up 210 may rest inside, on, or adjacent to the circumferential groove 206.
• the high pressure seal back-up 210 may sit inside the circumferential groove 206 without extending radially into the extrusion gap 212, or the high pressure seal back-up 210 may at least partially extend radially into the extrusion gap 212.
• an embodiment of the high pressure seal back-up 210 depicted in Figure 3 A, depicts how the high pressure seal back-up 210 has two main faces that generally face in the direction that a normal force would be applied as shown.
• the main faces of the high pressure seal back-up 210 are such that they are located on at least two planes which intersect when pressure is not applied to the main faces of the high pressure seal back-up 210.
• the high pressure seal back-up 210 may partially flatten out and radially expand.
• the high pressure seal back-up 210 may at radially expand by at least about 1%, at least about 2%, at least about 3%, at least about 4%, at least about 5%, at least about 6%, at least about 7%, at least about 8%, at least about 9%, or at least about 10% of the outer radius of the high pressure seal back-up 210 in an uncompressed and un-expanded state.
• the inside and outside diameters of the high pressure seal back-up 210 may increase when axially compressed.
• the high pressure seal back-up 210 may flatten out and the inside and outside diameters of the high pressure seal back-up 210 may increase.
• This feature of the high pressure seal back-up 210 allows the distance between an inside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 210 and an outside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 210 to remain substantially constant when the high pressure seal back-up 210 is under high pressure.
• the high pressure seal back-up 210 comprises a wave spring, which can comprise any ring having one or more wave-like features and/or radially expands upon being axially compressed.
• Figure 3B depicts how a standard seal back-up has two main faces that generally face in the direction that a normal force would be applied as shown. However, the main faces of the standard seal back-up are such that they are located on parallel planes. In this configuration, the outside and inside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 210 remain substantially constant even when a load is applied. This configuration relies more heavily on the elastic or inelastic malleable characteristics of its composition under a normal force.
• the various components of the sealing mechanism may be formed from materials selected to withstand downhole conditions including heat and/or various acidic or basic fluids.
• suitable materials may include, but are not limited to, fluoropolymers, polyethylene polymers, silicone polymers, urethane polymers, and any combination thereof.
• Nonlimiting examples of suitable elastomeric compounds include, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), fluoroelastomers (FKM) [Viton®], perfluoroelastomers (FFKM) [Kalrez®, Chemraz®, Zalak®], flouoropolymer elastomers [Viton®], polytetrafluoroethylene, copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and propylene (FEPM) [Aflas®], and polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketone (PEK), polyamide-imide (PAI), polyimide [Vespel®], polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and any combination thereof.
• EPDM ethylene propylene diene monomer
• FKM fluoroelastomers
• FFKM perfluoroelastomers
• FEPM tetrafluoroethylene and propylene
• PEEK polyetheretherketone
• PEK polyether
• various metals suitable for use in forming the high pressure seal back-up may be used (e.g., spring steel and the like).
• metals that experience plastic deformation may be used when, for example, the seal back-up does not need to act as a dynamic seal.
• Various other components may be used in combination with any of the listed materials.
• FIG. 4A another embodiment of the high pressure seal mechanism 200 depicts the high pressure seal mechanism 200 under a pressure differential.
• the seal 208 acting under a normal force created by the differential pressure e.g., a higher pressure on the right of the seal 208 than on the left of the seal 208 in Figure 4A
• the differential pressure extends into the extrusion gap 212 engaging the second tubular member 204.
• the high pressure seal back-up 210 acting under a normal force created by the differential pressure expands and extends into the extrusion gap 212 while keeping the distance between the inside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 210 and the outside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 210 substantially constant relative to the distance between the inside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 210 and the outside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 210 when pressure is not applied.
• the inside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 210 begins to move a distance 404 from the base of circumferential groove 206.
• the outside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 210 begins to move a distance 404 into the extrusion gap.
• the distances 402 and 404 are substantially the same.
• the high pressure seal back-up 210 engages both the wall of the circumferential groove 206 and the seal 208. This feature prevents the seal 208 from falling through the extrusion gap 212 and engages more surface area of the seal 208 with the second tubular member 204 creating a stronger seal, as more closely shown in Figure 4B. This feature also substantially reduces the shearing and nibbling effect on the seal 208 by preventing the seal 208 from falling through the extrusion gap 212 and shearing the seal 208 with an edge.
• the high pressure seal back-up 210 may also engage the second tubular member 204.
• FIG. 5A another embodiment depicts the effect a standard seal mechanism 500 has on a seal 508 under a pressure differential.
• the seal 508 is allowed to extend through the extrusion gap 512 reducing the engagement that could take place between the seal 508 and the second tubular member 204, as shown in Figure 5B, and shearing the seal 508 producing a nibbling effect that accelerates the wear on the seal 508, as shown in Figure 5B.
• the standard seal back-up 514 depicted in Figure 5 A and Figure 5B relies more heavily on the elastic or inelastic malleable characteristics of its composition under a normal force and does not substantially extend into the extrusion gap 512.
• the standard back-up seal 514 may not be as effective at preventing the seal 508 from falling through the extrusion gap 512 as the high pressure seal back-up described herein.
• FIG. 6 another embodiment discloses a second seal back-up 614 disposed adjacent to the seal 608 and adjacent to the high pressure seal back-up 610.
• the second seal back-up 614 is disposed between the high pressure seal backup 610 and the seal 608, the second seal back-up 614 may also be positioned on lower pressure side from the high pressure seal back-up 610, a higher pressure side from the seal 608, or anywhere disposed with the circumferential groove 606.
• This configuration provides extra support in the circumferential groove 606 for the high pressure seal back-up 610 and the seal 608 and helps to provide a uniform force on the high pressure seal back-up 610 helping to uniformly compress the high pressure seal back-up 610 in the axial direction.
• the high pressure seal back-up 610 still prevents the seal 610 from falling through the extrusion gap 612 and thus greatly reduces the shearing between the second seal back-up 614 and the seal 608.
• FIG. 7 another embodiment discloses the use of a plurality of high pressure seal back-ups 710 as well as a plurality of second seal back-ups 714.
• This configuration provides extra support for the seal 708 in the circumferential groove 706.
• the positions of the seal 708, the plurality of high pressure seal back-ups 710, and the plurality of second seal backups 714 may be disposed in any combination with the circumferential groove 706.
• the high pressure seal mechanism 700 may be a two-way seal.
• a two-way seal comprises a seal configured to maintain a pressure differential in a first direction that is substantially similar to a pressure differential in a second direction.
• the high pressure seal mechanism may be a one-way seal.
• a one-way seal comprises a seal configured to maintain a first pressure differential in a first direction and a second differential in a second direction, where the first pressure differential and the second pressure differential are different.
• the seal may maintain a seal at a higher pressure differential when the higher pressure is applied to the seal side than when the higher pressure is applied to the high pressure seal back-up side.
• the pressure may bias the high pressure seal back-up away from the wall of the groove and not axially compress the high pressure seal back-up.
• FIG. 8 another embodiment discloses a plurality of locking teeth 816 extending outwardly from the high pressure seal back-up 810 and configured to engage with a plurality of locking teeth 816 extending outwardly from a surface adjacent to the high pressure seal back-up 810.
• Figure 8 depicts the plurality of locking teeth 816 engaging the high pressure seal back-up 810 with the second seal back-up 814.
• the plurality of locking teeth 818 may engage the high pressure seal back-up 810 with any surface disposed with the circumferential groove 806 including the wall of the circumferential groove 806.
• the plurality of locking teeth 816 are configured to limit the reduction of the outside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 810 when pressure decreases.
• This configuration keeps the high pressure seal back-up 810 in the extrusion gap 812 when, for example, there is a sudden drop in differential pressure followed quickly by a rise in differential pressure where otherwise the seal 808 might fall into the extrusion gap 812 before the high pressure seal back-up 810 has time to move back into the extrusion gap 812 and prevent the seal 808 from falling through the extrusion gap 812.
• the plurality of locking teeth 816 prolong the time the high pressure seal back-up 810 remains extended into the extrusion gap 812 before the high pressure seal back-up 810 resets into the low pressure condition.
• the high pressure seal back-up 810 When the high pressure seal back-up 810 axially expands, it may no longer fully engage the locking teeth 816 and may eventually disengage from the locking teeth 816 upon a sufficient amount of axial expansion. Once the plurality of locking teeth 816 are no longer engaged, the high pressure seal back-up 810 contracts into the circumferential grove 806 and into the low pressure condition.
• FIG. 9 another embodiment discloses a wedge 918 fixedly attached to a second surface adjacent to the high pressure seal back-up 910 and configured to limit the reduction on the outside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up 910 when pressure decreases on the high pressure seal back-up 910.
• Figure 9 depicts the wedge 918 fixedly attached to a second seal back-up 914, however, the wedge 918 can be fixedly attached to any surface disposed with the circumferential groove 906 and adjacent to the high pressure seal back-up 910.
• the wedge configuration keeps the high pressure seal back-up 910 in the extrusion gap 912 when, for example, there is a sudden drop in differential pressure followed quickly by a rise in differential pressure where otherwise the seal 908 might fall into the extrusion gap 912 before the high pressure seal back-up 910 has time to move back into the extrusion gap 912 and prevent the seal 908 from falling through the extrusion gap 912.
• the wedge 918 prolongs the time the high pressure seal backup 910 remains extended into the extrusion gap 912 before the high pressure seal back-up 910 resets into the low pressure condition.
• the high pressure seal back-up 910 When the high pressure seal back-up 910 axially expands, it may no longer fully engage the wedge 918 and may eventually disengage from the wedge 918 upon a sufficient amount of axial expansion. Once the wedge 918 no longer engages the high pressure seal back-up 910, the high pressure seal back-up 910 contracts into the circumferential grove 906 and into the low pressure condition.
• a seal mechanism may be assembled using any technique known in the art.
• the seal mechanism may be assembled by first constructing the seal mechanism on the first tubular member.
• a circumferential groove may be disposed on the first tubular member and a seal may be disposed at least partially within the circumferential groove.
• the seal may comprise an elastomeric material that may be stretched and passed over the first tubular member before contracting into the groove
• a high pressure seal back-up may be disposed at least partially within the circumferential groove by compressing the high pressure seal back-up to radially expand both the inner and outer diameters, placing the high pressure seal back-up around the axis of the first tubular member so that the first tubular member fits through the inside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up, moving the high pressure seal back-up along the axis of first tubular member until it is radially positioned with the circumferential groove, and decompressing the high pressure seal back-up allowing the inside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up to contract.
• the first tubular member may then be disposed within the second tubular member.
• a cut e.g., a radial cut
• the high pressure seal back-up may then be moved over the first tubular member. Once the high pressure seal back-up is radially in position with the circumferential groove, the high pressure seal back-up gap may contract, reducing the diameter of the high pressure seal back-up, and positioning the high pressure seal back-up at least partially within the circumferential groove. The further axial compression of the high pressure seal back-up during use may serve to close the cut.
• the seal mechanism may be used to form a seal between two surfaces.
• the pressure on the seal and the high pressure seal back-up may be increased when the seal and the high pressure seal back-up are disposed at least partially within the circumferential groove.
• the high pressure seal back-up may be extended into the extrusion gap, and the seal may engage a tubular member and a surface to form a sealing engagement between the tubular member and the surface.
• the high pressure seal back-up may extend into extrusion gap in response to an axial compression, which may result from the application of a pressure differential across the seal mechanism. As the high pressure seal back-up expands, the distance between an inside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up and an outside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up may remain substantially constant.
• the seal mechanism may then maintain a seal while the pressure differential is maintained across the seal mechanism.
• the high pressure seal back-up may extend into the extrusion gap and contact the surface, thereby forming an engagement between both the tubular member and the surface.
• locking teeth may be used. In this configuration, the locking teeth on the high pressure seal back-up may engage the corresponding features on an adjacent surface (which may comprise one-way features), thereby preventing the high pressure seal back-up from radially contracting until the pressure differential has fallen below a threshold.
• a wedge disposed on an adjacent surface to the high pressure seal back-up may be used. In this configuration, the wedge on the adjacent surface may engage the high pressure seal back-up, thereby preventing the high pressure seal back-up from radially contracting until the pressure differential has fallen below a threshold.
• the high pressure seal back-up may radially contract away from the surface while maintaining a substantially constant distance between an outside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up and an inside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up.
• the high pressure seal back-up may contract out of the extrusion gap.
• the wedge may slow the reduction of the outside diameter of the high pressure seal back-up when pressure decreases on the high pressure seal back-up.
• the locking features may slow the reduction of the outside diameter of the high pressure seal backup when pressure decreases on the high pressure seal back-up.
• the high pressure seal back-up may axially expand and disengage from any locking features, thereby allowing the high pressure seal back-up to contract into the circumferential groove.
• the pressurization/depressurization cycle may be repeated any number of times and the seal mechanism may be used to form a seal across the extrusion gap.
• R R ls and an upper limit, R u
• any number falling within the range is specifically disclosed.
• R R ls and an upper limit, R u
• any numerical range defined by two R numbers as defined in the above is also specifically disclosed.

Landscapes

• Geology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Sealing Devices (AREA)
• Gasket Seals (AREA)
• Mechanical Sealing (AREA)
• Flanged Joints, Insulating Joints, And Other Joints (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=49916448

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 2012
  • 2012-07-13 BR BR112015000504A patent/BR112015000504A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2012-07-13 CA CA2878925A patent/CA2878925A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-07-13 US US13/989,783 patent/US20140084547A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-07-13 WO PCT/US2012/046813 patent/WO2014011194A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-07-13 EP EP12880802.9A patent/EP2872731A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-07-13 EA EA201590009A patent/EA201590009A1/ru unknown
  • 2012-07-13 MX MX2015000498A patent/MX2015000498A/es unknown
  • 2012-07-13 AU AU2012384933A patent/AU2012384933A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-07-13 SG SG11201500032SA patent/SG11201500032SA/en unknown

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events