Method and apparatus to utilize a metal to metal seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10214996-B2
Application number	US-201615192206-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2016
Priority date	Jun 24, 2016
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

In one aspect, a downhole device for use in a wellbore to selectively isolate a first pressure and a second pressure is disclosed, including a first piston including: a first sealing face to selectively isolate the first pressure and the second pressure; a first pressure face to receive the first pressure; and a second pressure face to receive the second pressure; and a second piston selectively coupled to the first piston, the second piston including a third pressure face to receive the second pressure; and a fourth pressure face to receive the first pressure, wherein the fourth pressure face is larger than the first pressure face.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A downhole device for use in a wellbore to selectively isolate a first pressure and a second pressure, the downhole device comprising:
a first piston including:
a first sealing face to selectively isolate the first pressure and the second pressure;
a first pressure face to receive the first pressure; and
a second pressure face to receive the second pressure; and

a second piston selectively coupled to the first piston, the second piston including:
a third pressure face to receive the second pressure; and
a fourth pressure face to receive the first pressure, wherein the fourth pressure face is larger than the first pressure face so that, in response to the exposure of the fourth pressure face and the first pressure face to the first pressure, the second piston is urged into the first piston to urge the first sealing face into a position for isolating the first pressure from the second pressure.

2. The downhole device of claim 1 , wherein the first piston and the second piston are spaced apart in response to the second pressure being greater than the first pressure.

3. The downhole device of claim 1 , wherein first piston and the second piston are coupled in response to the first pressure being greater than the second pressure.

4. The downhole device of claim 3 , wherein third pressure face of the second piston engages the second pressure face of the first piston in response to the first pressure being greater than the second pressure.

5. The downhole device of claim 1 , further comprising a preload device to engage the first sealing face.

6. The downhole device of claim 5 , wherein the preload device is a spring coupled to the first piston.

7. The downhole device of claim 1 , wherein the first sealing face is metal.

8. The downhole device of claim 1 , wherein the second piston is a sleeved piston and is at least partially disposed around the first piston.

9. The downhole device of claim 1 , wherein a tool translates the first piston and the second piston.

10. A method to selectively isolate a first pressure and a second pressure in a wellbore, the method comprising:
receiving the first pressure via a first pressure face of a first piston;
receiving the second pressure via a second pressure face of the first piston;
receiving the second pressure via a third pressure face of a second piston;
receiving the first pressure via a fourth pressure face of the second piston, wherein the fourth pressure face is larger than the first pressure face;
selectively coupling the first piston and the second piston based on the first pressure being greater than the second pressure; and
selectively isolating the first pressure and the second pressure via a first sealing face of the first piston based on a force on the fourth pressure face being greater than a force on the first pressure face, thereby urging the first sealing face into a position for isolating the first pressure from the second pressure.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
spacing apart the first piston and second piston in response to the second pressure being greater than the first pressure.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising coupling the first piston and the second piston in response to the first pressure being greater than the second pressure.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising engaging the third pressure face of the second piston to the second pressure face of the first piston in response to the first pressure being greater than the second pressure.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first sealing face is metal.

15. A downhole system for use in a wellbore, comprising:
a casing disposed in the wellbore;
a tubular disposed in the casing to define an annulus, the tubular having a tubular pressure and the annulus having an annular pressure; and
a downhole device, including:
a seal body;
a first piston associated with the seal body, the first piston including:
a first sealing face to selectively isolate the tubular pressure and the annular pressure;
a first pressure face to receive the tubular pressure; and
a second pressure face to receive the annular pressure; and

a second piston selectively coupled to the first piston, the second piston including:
a third pressure face to receive the annular pressure; and
a fourth pressure face to receive the tubular pressure, wherein the fourth pressure face is larger than the first pressure face so that, in response to the exposure of the fourth pressure face and the first pressure face to the tubular pressure, the second piston is urged into the first piston to urge the first sealing face into a position for isolating the tubular pressure from the annular pressure.

16. The downhole system of claim 15 , wherein the first sealing face is engaged to the seal body to isolate the annular pressure from the tubular in response to the annular pressure being greater than the tubular pressure.

17. The downhole system of claim 15 , wherein the first piston and the second piston are coupled and the first sealing face is engaged to the seal body in response to the tubular pressure being greater than the annular pressure.

18. The downhole system of claim 17 , wherein third pressure face of the second piston engages the second pressure face of the first piston in response to the tubular pressure being greater than the annular pressure.

19. The downhole system of claim 15 , wherein the downhole device is disposed around the tubular.

20. The downhole system of claim 15 , wherein the first sealing face is metal.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Webber Andrew
• Bryant Drayton W

Classifications

• E21B17/00

  Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; {Cables;} Casings; Tubings · CPC title

• E21B34/14 Primary

  operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools {(E21B34/066 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E21B33/12 Primary

  Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) · CPC title

• E21B33/1212

  including a metal-to-metal seal element · CPC title