WO2015179025A1 - Downhole seal protector arrangement - Google Patents

Downhole seal protector arrangement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2015179025A1
WO2015179025A1 PCT/US2015/024075 US2015024075W WO2015179025A1 WO 2015179025 A1 WO2015179025 A1 WO 2015179025A1 US 2015024075 W US2015024075 W US 2015024075W WO 2015179025 A1 WO2015179025 A1 WO 2015179025A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
seal
projections
rigidity
flexibility
intended
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2015/024075
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert S. O'brien
Jason A. Allen
Original Assignee
Baker Hughes Incorporated
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Baker Hughes Incorporated filed Critical Baker Hughes Incorporated
Publication of WO2015179025A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015179025A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP 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
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L21/00—Joints with sleeve or socket
    • F16L21/02—Joints with sleeve or socket with elastic sealing rings between pipe and sleeve or between pipe and socket, e.g. with rolling or other prefabricated profiled rings
    • F16L21/03—Joints with sleeve or socket with elastic sealing rings between pipe and sleeve or between pipe and socket, e.g. with rolling or other prefabricated profiled rings placed in the socket before connection

Definitions

  • Seals are ubiquitous in the downhole environment for many purposes. Types of seals of course range in material, size construction, etc. but in all cases the purpose is to support a differential pressure across the seal. For this reason, it is important to maintain a sealing surface of the seal in an as built condition. More specifically, it is important to avoid significant scratches or other damage that could potentially create a leak path. Damage to the seals can relatively easily occur due to running well equipment past the seal during initial completion of the well of in remediatory activities thereafter. Each item run into the well that can physically reach a surface of a seal is a potential antagonist. One commonly run component that is capable of causing some damage to the seals of the well is a collet.
  • collets are often run and often more than one will be part of a single run into the borehole. This means that the seals must endure several assaults on their integrity in a single run. While present construction has somewhat alleviated the problem with careful planning and seal materials, the art is always receptive to innovations that increase productivity and reduce complexity and cost.
  • a seal protection arrangement including a seal; and one or more projections disposed proximate the seal and having rigidity/flexibility to deflect components passing thereby that are not intended to seal with the seal and rigidity/flexibility to allow a component intended to seal with the seal to engage and seal therewith.
  • a method for protecting a seal in a downhole assembly including disposing one or more projections proximate the seal, the one or more projections having
  • a downhole system including a housing; a seal disposed in the housing; and one or more projections disposed proximate the seal, the projections having
  • Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 2 is the cross section of Figure 1 with a collet represented passing the seal;
  • Figure 3 is the cross section of Figure 1 with the component sealing with the seal.
  • Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the invention.
  • a seal protection arrangement 8 comprises a seal 10 centrally illustrated with one or more projections 12 positioned on one or more longitudinal ends of the seal 10.
  • the projections are one or more fingers.
  • the fingers may be constructed of a number of different materials including metal, controlled electrolytic metal material, polymeric, rubber, Poly ether ether Ketone (PEEK),
  • PTFE Polytetrafluoro ethylene
  • the projections could be nonflexible but corrode away at a selected time to allow for sealing while prior to the selected time protecting the seal.
  • the rigidity/flexibility of the material is to be selected to both cause a deformation of one or more collets passing radially inwardly of the seal during run in or run out while allowing a component (not shown this Figure; see Figure 3) intended to seal against the seal 10 to deflect the one or more fingers and come in sealing contact with the seal 10.
  • the rigidity/flexibility of the one or more fingers 12 must be between the rigidity/flexibility of the collets (or other
  • the component intended to seal against the seal 10 is, in at least one embodiment, a quite rigid construction such as a slick joint. Accordingly, the range of rigidity/flexibility of the one or more fingers is relatively large providing that the endpoints of the range facilitate desired function of keeping passing components off the seal 10 and allowing the component intended to seal with the seal 10 to engage the seal 10 and effect the intended seal.
  • the one or more fingers are configured with a base 14 for affixation to a housing 16 in which the seal 10 is mounted. Further the one or more fingers exhibit a curved section 18 extending from the base 14 in a radially inward direction from the housing. The curved section, as can be appreciated from the illustration extends further radially inwardly than a surface 20 of the seal 10, itself mounted to the housing to support functionality as discussed. Because in this embodiment the one or more fingers are curved however, they also facilitate the one or more fingers moving out of the way when seal contact is appropriate. In action, see Figure 2, prior to sealing, the one or more fingers 12 will cause the deflection of collets 22 moving therepast such that the collets do not contact seal surface 20 as they pass.
  • the one or more projections are configured as one or more wipers 30 (note that combinations of fingers and wipers in any arrangement longitudinally or circumferentially is also contemplated).
  • the wipers 30 may be configured as fully annularly complete or as pieces with the ultimate degree of wiping capability being variable between a maximal wiping when configured as a full ring and lessening wiping action with increasing gap size between annularly grouped individual pieces. Wipers can be beneficial in reducing the amount of proppant or sand that might accumulate under the seal during downhole operations.
  • the one or more wipers comprise the materials listed in connection with figure 1 or materials that support the goals set forth above with regard to Figure 1 in that the rigidity/flexibility of the one or more wipers 30 must be between the rigidity/flexibility of the collets (or other components) being run through the relevant section of the borehole and the rigidity/ flexibility of the component intended to seal against seal 10.
  • the one or more wipers 30 will resilient ly deform to allow sealing.
  • the one or more projections may be configured to form an additional seal against the component intended to seal against the seal 10 in certain embodiments. In other embodiments, the one or more projections may act as a backup seal or near seal against the same component to enhance the functionality of the seal 10.

Abstract

A seal protection arrangement including a seal. One or more projections disposed proximate the seal and having rigidity/flexibility to deflect components passing thereby that are not intended to seal with the seal. Rigidity/flexibility to allow a component intended to seal with the seal to engage and seal therewith. A method for protecting a seal in a downhole assembly.

Description

DOWNHOLE SEAL PROTECTOR ARRANGEMENT
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 14/286158, filed on May 23, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Seals are ubiquitous in the downhole environment for many purposes. Types of seals of course range in material, size construction, etc. but in all cases the purpose is to support a differential pressure across the seal. For this reason, it is important to maintain a sealing surface of the seal in an as built condition. More specifically, it is important to avoid significant scratches or other damage that could potentially create a leak path. Damage to the seals can relatively easily occur due to running well equipment past the seal during initial completion of the well of in remediatory activities thereafter. Each item run into the well that can physically reach a surface of a seal is a potential antagonist. One commonly run component that is capable of causing some damage to the seals of the well is a collet. As one of skill in the art recognizes, collets are often run and often more than one will be part of a single run into the borehole. This means that the seals must endure several assaults on their integrity in a single run. While present construction has somewhat alleviated the problem with careful planning and seal materials, the art is always receptive to innovations that increase productivity and reduce complexity and cost.
SUMMARY
[0003] A seal protection arrangement including a seal; and one or more projections disposed proximate the seal and having rigidity/flexibility to deflect components passing thereby that are not intended to seal with the seal and rigidity/flexibility to allow a component intended to seal with the seal to engage and seal therewith.
[0004] A method for protecting a seal in a downhole assembly including disposing one or more projections proximate the seal, the one or more projections having
rigidity/flexibility to deflect components passing thereby that are not intended to seal with the seal and rigidity/flexibility to allow a component intended to seal with the seal to engage and seal therewith; running downhole equipment over the projections while not contacting the seal. [0005] A downhole system including a housing; a seal disposed in the housing; and one or more projections disposed proximate the seal, the projections having
rigidity/flexibility to deflect components passing thereby that are not intended to seal with the seal and rigidity/flexibility to allow a component intended to seal with the seal to engage and seal therewith.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the invention;
[0007] Figure 2 is the cross section of Figure 1 with a collet represented passing the seal;
[0008] Figure 3 is the cross section of Figure 1 with the component sealing with the seal; and
[0009] Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Referring to Figure 1, a seal protection arrangement 8 comprises a seal 10 centrally illustrated with one or more projections 12 positioned on one or more longitudinal ends of the seal 10. In the case of Figure 1, the projections are one or more fingers. The fingers may be constructed of a number of different materials including metal, controlled electrolytic metal material, polymeric, rubber, Poly ether ether Ketone (PEEK),
Polytetrafluoro ethylene (PTFE), a composite material having a more rigid core and a softer surface, etc. depending upon rigidity and flexibility required for a particular application. Also note that for the controlled electrolytic material example, the projections could be nonflexible but corrode away at a selected time to allow for sealing while prior to the selected time protecting the seal. Importantly in most embodiments, the rigidity/flexibility of the material is to be selected to both cause a deformation of one or more collets passing radially inwardly of the seal during run in or run out while allowing a component (not shown this Figure; see Figure 3) intended to seal against the seal 10 to deflect the one or more fingers and come in sealing contact with the seal 10. In other words the rigidity/flexibility of the one or more fingers 12 must be between the rigidity/flexibility of the collets (or other
components) being run through the relevant section of the borehole and the rigidity/ flexibility of the component intended to seal against seal 10. The component intended to seal against the seal 10 is, in at least one embodiment, a quite rigid construction such as a slick joint. Accordingly, the range of rigidity/flexibility of the one or more fingers is relatively large providing that the endpoints of the range facilitate desired function of keeping passing components off the seal 10 and allowing the component intended to seal with the seal 10 to engage the seal 10 and effect the intended seal.
[0011] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the one or more fingers are configured with a base 14 for affixation to a housing 16 in which the seal 10 is mounted. Further the one or more fingers exhibit a curved section 18 extending from the base 14 in a radially inward direction from the housing. The curved section, as can be appreciated from the illustration extends further radially inwardly than a surface 20 of the seal 10, itself mounted to the housing to support functionality as discussed. Because in this embodiment the one or more fingers are curved however, they also facilitate the one or more fingers moving out of the way when seal contact is appropriate. In action, see Figure 2, prior to sealing, the one or more fingers 12 will cause the deflection of collets 22 moving therepast such that the collets do not contact seal surface 20 as they pass. It will also be appreciated that other well components will be deflected as well. This ensures that no damage can be inflicted on the seal surface 20 during well operations prior to and subsequent to engagement of the seal with the component intended to actually make that engagement. While only one collet finger and two of the one or more fingers are illustrated, it will be appreciated that more may be located about a circumferential completeness of the housing, the Figure only being a cross sectional view. Moreover, it is to be appreciated that the housing is contemplated to be a part of a borehole string (drilling, completion, injection, etc.) and that any number of collets (or other components) may be moved past the arrangement. Referring to Figure 3, the component 24 intended to seal against seal 10 will flatten the curved sections 18 against the housing 16 leaving the seal surface 20 proud of the deflected one or more fingers to facilitate sealing as illustrated.
[0012] In another embodiment, referring to Figure 4, the one or more projections are configured as one or more wipers 30 (note that combinations of fingers and wipers in any arrangement longitudinally or circumferentially is also contemplated). The wipers 30 may be configured as fully annularly complete or as pieces with the ultimate degree of wiping capability being variable between a maximal wiping when configured as a full ring and lessening wiping action with increasing gap size between annularly grouped individual pieces. Wipers can be beneficial in reducing the amount of proppant or sand that might accumulate under the seal during downhole operations. The one or more wipers comprise the materials listed in connection with figure 1 or materials that support the goals set forth above with regard to Figure 1 in that the rigidity/flexibility of the one or more wipers 30 must be between the rigidity/flexibility of the collets (or other components) being run through the relevant section of the borehole and the rigidity/ flexibility of the component intended to seal against seal 10. The one or more wipers 30 will resilient ly deform to allow sealing.
[0013] It is further to be understood that the one or more projections (fingers or wipers) may be configured to form an additional seal against the component intended to seal against the seal 10 in certain embodiments. In other embodiments, the one or more projections may act as a backup seal or near seal against the same component to enhance the functionality of the seal 10.
[0014] 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. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

Claims

What is claimed:
1 A seal protection arrangement (8) characterized by:
a seal (10); and
one or more projections (12) disposed proximate the seal (10)and having
rigidity/flexibility to deflect components (24) passing thereby that are not intended to seal (10) with the seal (10) and rigidity/flexibility to allow a component (24) intended to seal (10) with the seal (10) to engage and seal (10) therewith.
2 A seal protection arrangement (8) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more projections (12) are fingers.
3 A seal protection arrangement (8) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more fingers are curved away from the seal (10).
4 A seal protection arrangement (8) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more projections (12) are metal.
5 A seal protection arrangement (8) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more projections (12) are rubber.
6 A seal protection arrangement (8) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more projections (12) comprise a composite material.
7 A seal protection arrangement (8) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more projections (12) are wipers (30).
8 A seal protection arrangement (8) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more projections (12) are a controlled electrolytic material.
9 A seal arrangement (8) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more projections (12) act as a seal (10) or a backup seal (10) for the component (24) and the seal(10) .
10 A method for protecting a seal (10) in a downhole assembly characterized by: disposing one or more projections (12) proximate the seal (10) , the one or more projections (12) having rigidity/flexibility to deflect components (24) passing thereby that are not intended to seal (10) with the seal (10) and rigidity/flexibility to allow a component (24) intended to seal (10) with the seal (10) to engage and seal (10) therewith;
running downhole equipment over the projections (12) while not contacting the seal
(10).
11 The method as claimed in claim 10 further including engaging a component (24) intended to seal (10) with the seal (10) and creating a seal (10). 12 A downhole system characterized by:
a housing;
a seal (10) disposed in the housing; and
one or more projections (12) disposed proximate the seal (10), the projections (12) having rigidity/flexibility to deflect components (24) passing thereby that are not intended to seal (10) with the seal (10) and rigidity/flexibility to allow a component (24) intended to seal (10) with the seal (10) to engage and seal (10) therewith.
PCT/US2015/024075 2014-05-23 2015-04-02 Downhole seal protector arrangement WO2015179025A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14/286,158 2014-05-23
US14/286,158 US20150337614A1 (en) 2014-05-23 2014-05-23 Downhole seal protector arrangement

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2015179025A1 true WO2015179025A1 (en) 2015-11-26

Family

ID=54554487

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2015/024075 WO2015179025A1 (en) 2014-05-23 2015-04-02 Downhole seal protector arrangement

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20150337614A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2015179025A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170218721A1 (en) * 2016-02-02 2017-08-03 Baker Hughes Incorporated Secondary slurry flow path member with shut-off valve activated by dissolvable flow tubes

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4041718A (en) * 1974-11-14 1977-08-16 Deep Sea Grouting Packers, Inc. Sealing devices
US5503404A (en) * 1993-10-14 1996-04-02 Newton; John R. Protector for drive shaft lip seal
US20050199401A1 (en) * 2004-03-12 2005-09-15 Schlumberger Technology Corporation System and Method to Seal Using a Swellable Material
US20070261863A1 (en) * 2004-06-11 2007-11-15 Iain Macleod Sealing system
US20110179620A1 (en) * 2010-01-22 2011-07-28 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Seal protector assembly

Family Cites Families (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3947944A (en) * 1974-09-12 1976-04-06 Borg-Warner Corporation Shaft seal unitized transfer fixture
US4293116A (en) * 1979-01-02 1981-10-06 Acf Industries, Incorporated Metallic seat assembly for valves
US4218813A (en) * 1979-01-31 1980-08-26 Garlock Inc. Method and tool for installing shafts through seals
US4719971A (en) * 1986-08-18 1988-01-19 Vetco Gray Inc. Metal-to-metal/elastomeric pack-off assembly for subsea wellhead systems
GB2194993B (en) * 1986-09-10 1990-02-07 Ha Rubber & Plastics Contact seal
US5076356A (en) * 1989-06-21 1991-12-31 Dril-Quip, Inc. Wellhead equipment
US5503408A (en) * 1993-09-16 1996-04-02 John Crane Inc. Lip seal for a rotary shaft
US7059608B2 (en) * 2002-03-13 2006-06-13 Ashbridge & Roseburgh Inc. Installation and deployment sleeves for lip seals
WO2008016358A1 (en) * 2006-08-03 2008-02-07 Welldynamics, Inc. Metal to metal seal for downhole tools
US7828300B2 (en) * 2006-09-21 2010-11-09 Nok Corporation Sealing device for reciprocating shaft
DE102006055298A1 (en) * 2006-11-23 2008-06-05 Elringklinger Ag sealing arrangement
JP5203094B2 (en) * 2008-04-03 2013-06-05 矢崎総業株式会社 Connector packing structure
US8561996B2 (en) * 2009-05-25 2013-10-22 Aktiebolaget Skf Bearing assembly, particularly for use in agricultural applications
US8328200B2 (en) * 2010-04-22 2012-12-11 Freudenberg-Nok General Partnership Multiple use installation aid for radial shaft seals
US9394998B2 (en) * 2012-10-04 2016-07-19 Federal-Mogul Corporation Radial shaft seal assembly with snap in auxiliary member

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4041718A (en) * 1974-11-14 1977-08-16 Deep Sea Grouting Packers, Inc. Sealing devices
US5503404A (en) * 1993-10-14 1996-04-02 Newton; John R. Protector for drive shaft lip seal
US20050199401A1 (en) * 2004-03-12 2005-09-15 Schlumberger Technology Corporation System and Method to Seal Using a Swellable Material
US20070261863A1 (en) * 2004-06-11 2007-11-15 Iain Macleod Sealing system
US20110179620A1 (en) * 2010-01-22 2011-07-28 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Seal protector assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20150337614A1 (en) 2015-11-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9835252B2 (en) Multi-elastomer seal
CN105318008B (en) Polymeric seal element
WO2017184449A3 (en) Expandable backup ring
US10221646B2 (en) Anti-extrusion ram seal for blowout preventer
US10041325B2 (en) High pressure seal with composite anti-extrusion mechanism
WO2014038956A1 (en) Seal assembly
US11041356B2 (en) Wireline sealing assembly
GB2554217A (en) Expandable seal
CN105545244A (en) Pre-oxidized carbon fiber packer element and compression packer
MY187466A (en) Downhole expandable metal tubular
US20130008672A1 (en) Annulus Seal Utilizing Energized Discrete Soft Interfacial Sealing Elements
AU2013249788B2 (en) Packer, sealing system and method of sealing
US20180106125A1 (en) Structurally Supported Seal Element Assembly
WO2015179025A1 (en) Downhole seal protector arrangement
WO2014130786A8 (en) Wellhead annulus seal having a wickered surface
EP3284979A2 (en) Bonded seal with integral backup ring
US20140284883A1 (en) System, Method and Apparatus for Lip Seal Assembly
US20100072711A1 (en) Expandable metal-to-metal seal
AU2014214855A1 (en) Multi-component diffuser assembly
EP2527585A3 (en) Packer for sealing against a wellbore wall
NO20161394A1 (en) Modular annular debris barrier with rotationally locked segments
AU2012391813B2 (en) Well tools having energized seals
US9228659B2 (en) Seal with replaceable lip
WO2014038955A1 (en) Seal assembly
CN104879493A (en) Sealing element

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 15796816

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 15796816

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1