Mechanical support ring for elastomer seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018334879-A1
Application number	US-201615778928-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 22, 2016
Priority date	Nov 24, 2015
Publication date	Nov 22, 2018
Grant date	—

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 support ring for an elastomer seal in a packer assembly comprising multiple segments;
a back angle; wherein the support ring is expandable

2 . The support ring of claim 1 wherein the support ring comprises 20 segments.

3 . The support ring of claim 1 wherein the back angle is 45 degrees.

4 . The support ring of claim 1 wherein the support ring interacts with an expander cone.

5 . The support ring of claim 4 wherein the expander cone is between the support ring and casing.

6 . The support ring of claim 1 wherein the support ring is comprised of steel.

7 . The support ring of claim 1 wherein the support ring supports an elastomer seal at 7500 psi.

8 . A method of making the support ring comprising forming a single ring; and
cutting the single ring into segments.

9 . A method of supporting an elastomer seal in a packer assembly comprising
placing a support ring in a wellbore, wherein the support ring comprises multiple segments; wherein the support ring comprises a back angle running the support ring into the borehole; running the seal into the borehole; expanding the seal; and expanding the support ring.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the support ring comprises 20 segments.

11 . The method of claim 9 wherein the back angle is 45 degrees.

12 . The method of claim 9 wherein the support ring interacts with an expander cone.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the expander cone is between the support ring and a push ring.

14 . The method of claim 9 wherein expanding the support ring occurs due to internal pressure being applied to a packer, a piston compresses the elastomer seal and pushes the support segments up the expander cones and against the casing wall.

15 . The method of claim 9 wherein a support ring is present at either end of the seal assembly.

16 . A seal assembly comprising at least one center element; at least one element spacer ring; at least one end element; at least one foldback ring; at least one foldback ring retainer; at least one slip retainer; at least one spiral support ring; and at least one expander cone.

17 . The seal assembly of claim 16 wherein the spiral back up ring is comprised of 20 segments.

18 . The seal assembly of claim 16 wherein the spiral support ring comprises a back angle.

19 . The seal assembly of claim 16 wherein the back angle is 45 degrees.

20 . The seal assembly of claim 16 wherein the expander cone is between the support ring and a push ring.

Assignees

• Cnpc Usa Corp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• 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

• E21B33/128

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