Seal apparatus and methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11168536-B2
Application number	US-201816625802-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2018
Priority date	Jun 28, 2017
Publication date	Nov 9, 2021
Grant date	Nov 9, 2021

Abstract

A seal apparatus and method of use is described. The apparatus comprises a seal assembly comprising a plurality of seal elements assembled together to form a ring structure around a longitudinal axis. The ring structure is operable to be moved between an expanded condition and a collapsed condition by movement of the plurality of seal elements. The plurality of seal elements is operable to be moved between the expanded and collapsed conditions by sliding with respect to one another along respective contact surfaces. Each of the plurality of seal elements is each formed from a compliant, compressible or resilient material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A seal apparatus comprising:
a seal assembly comprising a plurality of seal elements assembled together to form a ring structure around a longitudinal axis;
wherein the ring structure is operable to be moved between an expanded condition and a collapsed condition by movement of the plurality of seal elements;
and wherein the plurality of seal elements is operable to be moved between the expanded and collapsed conditions by sliding with respect to one another along respective contact surfaces;
wherein each of the plurality of seal elements is each formed from a compliant, compressible or resilient material;
wherein at least some of the plurality of seal elements are formed from different materials, or formed with different material characteristics; and
wherein sequential seal elements in the ring structure are alternately formed from different materials and/or different material characteristics.

2. The seal apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seal elements are formed from a plastic, rubber, or elastomeric material.

3. The seal apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seal elements are fully formed from the compliant, compressible or resilient material.

4. The seal apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of one or more of the plurality of seal elements is coated with a low friction material.

5. The seal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ring structure is operable to be expanded to a seal diameter, at which the plurality of elements are presented to a surface in use, wherein the seal diameter is an outer diameter of the ring structure.

6. The seal apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the surface is an inner surface of a tubular, tool or borehole.

7. The seal apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising one or more anti-extrusion and/or support rings for the seal assembly.

8. The seal apparatus according to claim 7 , comprising one or more additional expanding and collapsing ring structures, which function as anti-extrusion and/or support rings for the seal assembly.

9. The seal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each seal element comprises a first contact surface and second contact surface respectively in abutment with first and second adjacent seal elements.

10. The seal apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first contact surface and/or the second contact surface converge towards one another in a direction towards an inner surface of the ring structure.

11. The seal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seal elements are provided with interlocking profiles for interlocking with an adjacent seal element.

12. The seal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ring structure is a solid ring structure in its expanded condition.

13. A seal apparatus comprising:
a seal assembly comprising a plurality of seal elements assembled together to form a ring structure around a longitudinal axis;
wherein the ring structure is operable to be moved between an expanded condition and a collapsed condition;
wherein in the expanded condition, the plurality of elements combine to form a solid seal ring structure having a surface;
wherein each of the plurality of seal elements is formed from a compliant, compressible or resilient material;
wherein each element comprises a first contact surface and second contact surface respectively in abutment with first and second adjacent seal elements; and
wherein the first contact surface and/or the second contact surface converge towards one another in a direction towards an inner surface of the ring structure.

14. The seal apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the surface comprises a first surface portion configured for sealing with an external surface to the seal assembly.

15. The seal apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the surface comprises a second surface portion configured for sealing with an internal surface to the seal assembly.

16. The seal apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the surface comprises a third surface portion, axially separated from the second surface portion, configured for sealing with an internal surface to the seal assembly.

17. A seal apparatus comprising:
a seal assembly comprising a plurality of seal elements assembled together to form a ring structure around a longitudinal axis;
wherein the ring structure is operable to be moved between an expanded condition and a collapsed condition by movement of the plurality of seal elements;
and wherein the plurality of seal elements is operable to be moved between the expanded and collapsed conditions by sliding with respect to one another along respective contact surfaces;
wherein each of the plurality of seal elements is each formed from a compliant, compressible or resilient material;
wherein each element comprises a first contact surface and second contact surface respectively in abutment with first and second adjacent elements; and
wherein the first contact surface and/or the second contact surface converge towards one another in a direction towards an inner surface of the ring structure.

18. The seal apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the surface is a smooth surface.

Assignees

• Peak Well Systems Pty Ltd
• Peak Well Systems Ltd
• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Brown Gareth Edward George

Classifications

• E21B33/128

  with a member expanded radially by axial pressure (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16J15/3284

  characterised by their structure; Selection of materials · CPC title

• E21B33/06

  Blow-out preventers {, i.e. apparatus closing around a drill pipe, e.g. annular blow-out preventers (rotating blow-out preventers E21B33/085)} · CPC title

• F16J15/3292

  Lamellar structures · CPC title

• F16J15/3232

  having two or more lips · CPC title