U.S. patent application number 12/029175 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-13 for radially supported seal and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Alan B. Emerson.
Application Number | 20090200042 12/029175 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40937912 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090200042 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Emerson; Alan B. |
August 13, 2009 |
RADIALLY SUPPORTED SEAL AND METHOD
Abstract
A seal includes a mandrel having a plurality of radially
directed openings therethrough; a plurality of members disposed
within the openings and radially displacable therein; and an
element disposed about the mandrel and radially displacable by the
plurality of members and method.
Inventors: |
Emerson; Alan B.; (Cypress,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CANTOR COLBURN, LLP
20 Church Street, 22nd Floor
Hartford
CT
06103
US
|
Assignee: |
BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
HOUSTON
TX
|
Family ID: |
40937912 |
Appl. No.: |
12/029175 |
Filed: |
February 11, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/387 ;
166/122 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 33/1208 20130101;
E21B 33/12 20130101; E21B 23/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/387 ;
166/122 |
International
Class: |
E21B 33/126 20060101
E21B033/126 |
Claims
1. A seal comprising; a mandrel having a plurality of radially
directed openings therethrough; a plurality of members disposed
within the openings and radially displacable therein; and an
element disposed about the mandrel and radially displacable by the
plurality of members.
2. The seal as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a force
spreading arrangement located as a point of contact between at
least one of the plurality of members and the element.
3. The seal as claimed in claim 2 wherein the force spreading
arrangement is a plurality of packer ribs.
4. The seal as claimed in claim 2 wherein the force spreading
arrangement is a mesh.
5. The seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the element comprises a
material that is at least partially nonelastic.
6. The seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the element comprises a
material that is at least partially an elastic material.
7. The seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the element comprises a
swellable material.
8. The seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of members
are evenly distributed about the mandrel and over a length
thereof.
9. The seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of members
are distributed about the mandrel and restricted to at least one
axial region of the mandrel adjacent the element.
10. The seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of members
are distributed about the mandrel and restricted to two axial
regions of the mandrel, one adjacent each axial end of the
element.
11. The seal as claimed in claim 10 wherein the axial regions bound
a region of the mandrel supporting a primary element.
12. The seal as claimed in claim 11 wherein the primary element is
a swellable material.
13. The seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of members
are responsive to a pressure change inside the mandrel to radially
extend into contact with the element.
14. The seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of members
are responsive to a ramped structure passed into the mandrel to
radially extend into contact with the element.
15. The seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of members
are actuated via solenoid.
16. A method for creating a seal comprising: running the seal of
claim 1 into a downhole environment; causing the plurality of
members to radially displace thereby contacting the element; and
urging the element into loaded contact with a separate
structure.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the causing is by
pressuring up on an inside dimension of the mandrel.
18. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the causing is by
running a cone through an inside dimension of the mandrel.
19. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the causing is by
actuating a solenoid.
20. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the contacting the
element includes spreading a contact force of at least one of the
plurality of members over a surface area of the element greater
than a surface area of that member.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] In the hydrocarbon recovery industry, seals are often
required in the downhole environment for a plethora of reasons that
are familiar to one of ordinary skill in the art. Setting of these
seals can be accomplished in a number of ways including mechanical
axial compression, inflation, etc. While mechanical compression is
reliable, the seals tend to be regularly annular and may not always
seal well in an open hole or irregularly shaped cased hole because
the setting environment is other than regularly annular.
Inflatables are more conformable to the exact shape of the setting
hole but suffer from temperature induced pressure changes that can,
under some conditions, deleteriously affect the sealing contact
pressure and therefore promote leaks. Since sealing in the downhole
environment is both important and not likely to be supplanted in
the foreseeable future, alternate configurations to create and
maintain a seal are always well received by the art.
SUMMARY
[0002] A seal includes a mandrel having a plurality of radially
directed openings therethrough; a plurality of members disposed
within the openings and radially displacable therein; and an
element disposed about the mandrel and radially displacable by the
plurality of members.
[0003] A method for creating a seal includes running into a
downhole environment a mandrel having a plurality of radially
directed openings therethrough; a plurality of members disposed
within the openings and radially displacable therein; and an
element disposed about the mandrel and radially displacable by the
plurality of members; causing the plurality of members to radially
displace thereby contacting the element; and urging the element
into loaded contact with a separate structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are
numbered alike in the several Figures:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a
radially supported seal as disclosed herein in a run-in
position;
[0006] FIG. 2 is the configuration of FIG. 1 in a deployed
position;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a
radially supported backup for a seal as disclosed herein in a
run-in position; and
[0008] FIG. 4 is the configuration of FIG. 3 in a deployed
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] Referring to FIG. 1, a configuration 10 capable of
mechanically producing a radially supported seal structure is
illustrated in the run-in position. The configuration 10 includes a
mandrel 12, upon which is mounted an element 14. Element 14 may be
mounted upon mandrel 12 in a number of commercially recognizable
ways, one of which being by end rings 16 and 18 that limit ends of
the element against unintended axially or radially movement
relative to the mandrel 12. The foregoing sentence should be
understood to indicate that fixation can be achieved or that
intended movement can be achieved while unintended movement is
inhibited. It will be appreciated that in some constructions of
element 14, axial shortening or the run-in length dimension between
rings 16 and 18 is required for the element 14 to move radially
outwardly as is necessary for sealing against an open or cased hole
in which the configuration is intended to be set. Whether or not
this is the case depends upon the type of element and its mode of
action. More specifically, if the element itself is not
substantially elastic in at least the axial direction, shortening
will be necessary. Alternatively, if elasticity is available in the
element 12, axial movability may be reduced or eliminated.
[0010] In either case, the configuration 10 utilizes a plurality of
radially extensible members 20. The members are each positioned in
openings 22 extending through the mandrel in a substantially radial
direction. In one embodiment, the openings are smooth bore
structures while in other embodiments, the openings are configured
to allow movement of the members 20 therethrough in a single
direction. As illustrated, the direction is radially outward
although it will be appreciated that they could be configured for
radially inward movement.
[0011] As illustrated, the members 20 are actuatable in a radially
outward direction based upon the application of a force at a
radially inward end 24 of each member 20. This force may be applied
via a fluid pressure or may be applied via a mechanical or
electrical actuator such as a ramped structure (e.g. a cone), or a
solenoid, respectively, for example. In the event that a smooth
bore is exhibited in openings 22, a radial force must be maintained
on the members 20 to keep them in position. Alternatively, if they
are not smooth but rather are configured to allow movement of the
members 20 in only one direction, such as in the case of a ratchet
profile and suitable ratchet following structure on the members 20,
then the radial force on the members need only be maintained until
the setting procedure is complete whereafter because the members 20
would not be able to retract, there is no reason to maintain the
radial force thereon.
[0012] The members 20, regardless of smooth or profiled bore
embodiments, are positioned to be capable of contacting an inside
dimension of the element 14 and urging that element radially so
that it comes into loaded contact with a casing or open hole with
which the element is intended to create a seal. Reference is made
to FIG. 2 wherein the deployed or sealed position of the
configuration 10 is illustrated. The members 20 are intended to
remain in the extended position illustrated in FIG. 2 for the
duration of the life of the seal. This will ensure that the element
14 remains in contact with the casing or open hole even with
changes in temperature in the wellbore.
[0013] In a variation of this embodiment, the element 14 includes
at a surface 26 thereof with which the members 20 are to come in
contact, a force spreading arrangement. This is because the members
20 are contemplated to be about 1 to about 2 inches in diameter
meaning they are relatively small and will thus cause a significant
point load on the element 14 if not used with a force spreading
arrangement. At least one of the members is configured to contact
the force spreading arrangement. One force spreading arrangement
contemplated includes a number of traditional packer ribs, while
another arrangement includes a reinforcing fabric or mesh material.
Further, combinations of such force spreading arrangements are also
contemplated.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an alternate embodiment is
illustrated wherein the concept discussed in connection with FIGS.
1 and 2 is applied as a backup configuration for an element in a
seal configuration. One seal configuration that can benefit from
the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 is a swellable element 114.
Swellable elements are by nature composed of relatively soft
material. Because, hereof, they are also subject to being swabbed
off the mandrel on which they are mounted. Such a condition, of
course, will defeat any seal the swellable material had previously
created when set. As this is clearly undesirable, configurations
capable of backing-up the swellable element are useful. The concept
as described above employing radially moving members to support a
material in loaded contact with a wall, is utilized for this backup
purpose as is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0015] Several members 120 are positioned at each axial end of the
configuration 110. The members 120 are actuated identically to
those discussed hereinabove. Because of the mechanical backup of
the backup elements 130, the element 114 cannot be extruded easily.
In addition hereto, it is further noted that the element 14 may
also comprise a swellable material for additional sealing
capability.
[0016] While preferred embodiments have been shown and described,
modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly,
it is to be understood that the present invention has been
described by way of illustrations and not limitation.
* * * * *