Mechanical support ring for elastomer seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11603734-B2
Application number	US-201615778928-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2016
Priority date	Nov 24, 2015
Publication date	Mar 14, 2023
Grant date	Mar 14, 2023

Abstract

A support ring prevents an elastomer seal from extruding. The support ring is expanded and supports the expanded seal, preventing the elastomer seal failing due to extrusion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seal assembly configured to be positioned around a mandrel of an open hole packer, the seal assembly comprising:
a seal member having a center element, a first seal member end on one side of the center element and a second seal member end opposite said first seal member end;
a first foldback ring,
wherein said first seal member end is between said center element and said first foldback ring,
wherein the first foldback ring being comprised of a first foldback inner portion and a first foldback portion, and
wherein said first foldback portion is angled outwardly toward the first seal member end from said first foldback inner portion;
a first slip retainer being comprised of a first slip retainer inner portion, and a first slip retainer outer portion, said first slip retainer outer portion being comprised of a plurality of first slip retainer segments,

wherein the first slip retainer segments are angled outwardly from said first slip inner portion and away from said first seal member end,
wherein each first slip retainer outer portion is angled outwardly from said first slip inner portion and away from said first seal member end, and
wherein the first slip retainer inner portion extends outwardly past the first foldback inner portion so as to prevent bending deformation of the first foldback inner portion away from said sealing member;
wherein the first slip retainer inner portion and the first slip retainer outer portion are shorter in length than the first foldback inner portion and the first foldback portion so as to prevent extrusion of said sealing member;
a first spiral support ring being comprised of a plurality of first spiral support ring segments, each first spiral support ring segment having a first spiral support ring slant portion, a first spiral support ring parallel portion, and a first spiral support ring collar portion,
wherein each first spiral support ring segment has an initial configuration with each first spiral support ring parallel portion coplanar with a corresponding end of a respective first slip retainer outer portion and each first spiral support ring collar portion adjacent to a corresponding opposite end of a respective first slip retainer inner portion so as to be configured to support said first foldback ring against extrusion of said sealing member by extension of each first spiral support ring parallel portion concurrent with the corresponding end of the respective first slip retainer outer portion,
wherein each first spiral support ring slant portion is angled outwardly away from the first seal member end, and
wherein said first slip retainer is between said first spiral support ring and said first foldback ring; and
a first cone element having a first cone end angled section in sliding engagement to said first spiral support ring slant portion,
wherein said first cone end angled section is angled inwardly toward the first seal member end.

2. The seal assembly, according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first seal member end is comprised of a first end element and a first element spacer ring between the center element.

3. The seal assembly, according to claim 1 ,
wherein said first foldback portion is comprised of a first foldback outer portion and a first foldback thickness change portion.

4. The seal assembly, according to claim 1 ,
wherein said first foldback portion is comprised of a plurality of first foldback segments.

5. The seal assembly, according to claim 4 ,
wherein each first foldback segment is comprised of a first foldback outer segment and a first foldback thickness change segment.

6. The seal assembly, according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first foldback retainer ring adjacent to the first foldback ring, the first foldback ring being between the first seal member end and the first foldback retainer ring,
wherein the first foldback retainer ring being comprised of a first foldback retainer inner portion and a first foldback retainer portion, and
wherein said first foldback retainer portion is angled outwardly toward the first seal member end from said first foldback retainer inner portion.

7. The seal assembly, according to claim 6 ,
wherein said first foldback retainer ring is comprised of another first foldback ring.

8. The seal assembly, according to claim 6 ,
wherein said first foldback retainer portion is comprised of a plurality of first foldback retainer segments.

9. The seal assembly, according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second foldback ring,
wherein said second seal member end is between said center element and said second foldback ring,
wherein said second foldback ring being comprised of a second foldback inner portion and a second foldback portion,
wherein said second foldback portion is angled outwardly toward the second end element from said second foldback inner portion, and
wherein said second foldback ring is a mirror image of said first foldback ring;
a second slip retainer being comprised of a second slip retainer inner portion, and a second slip retainer outer portion, said second slip retainer outer portion being comprised of a plurality of second slip retainer segments,

wherein the second slip retainer segments are angled outwardly from said second slip inner portion and away from said second seal member end,
wherein each second slip retainer outer portion is angled outwardly from said second slip inner portion and away from said second seal member end,
wherein the second slip retainer inner portion extends outwardly past the second foldback inner portion so as to prevent deformation of the second foldback inner portion bent away from said sealing member, and
wherein the second slip retainer inner portion and the second slip retainer outer portion are shorter in length than the second foldback inner portion and the second foldback portion so as to prevent extrusion of said sealing member;
a second spiral support ring being comprised of a plurality of second spiral support ring segments, each second spiral support ring segment having a second spiral support ring slant portion, a second spiral support ring parallel portion, and a second spiral support ring collar portion,

wherein each second spiral support ring segment has an initial configuration with each second spiral support ring parallel portion coplanar with a corresponding end of a respective second slip retainer outer portion and each second spiral support ring collar portion adjacent to a corresponding opposite end of a respective second slip retainer inner portion so as to be configured to support said second foldback ring against extrusion of said sealing member by extension of each second spiral support ring parallel portion concurrent with the corresponding end of the respective second slip retainer outer portion,
wherein each second spiral support ring slant portion is angled outwardly away from said second seal member end, and
wherein said second slip retainer is between said second spiral support ring and said second foldback ring; and
a second cone element having a second cone end angled section in sliding engagement to said second spiral support ring slant portion,

wherein said second cone end angled section is angled inwardly toward said second seal member end.

10. The seal assembly, according to claim 9 ,
wherein the second seal member end is comprised of a second end element and a second element spacer ring between the center element.

11. The seal assembly, according to claim 9 ,
wherein said second foldback portion is comprised of a second foldback outer portion and a second foldback thickness change portion.

12. The seal assembly, accordin

Assignees

• Cnpc Usa Corp

Inventors

• Yue Jianpeng
• Patsy Matthew
• Tran Anthony
• Xu Jianhui
• Cheng Peng

Classifications

• E21B33/128

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

• E21B33/1293 Primary

  with means for anchoring against downward and upward movement (E21B33/1291, E21B33/1295 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/1208 Primary

  characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means (E21B33/1277 takes precedence) · CPC title