# US 11,905,780 B2 · Stuffing box environmental seal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,905,780 B2 - Document ID: US11905780B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/065,161 - Filed: 2022-12-13 - Published: 2023-04-13 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-11 - Assignees: AWA Oilfield Services, Inc. - Applicants: Awa Oilfield Services, Inc. - Inventors: Kyle Semlinger; Harold E Armstrong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11905780B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/03: Well heads; Setting-up thereof - E21B 33/08: Wipers; Oil savers - E21B 43/127: {Adaptations of walking-beam pump systems} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract An annular seal configured to prevent fluid from outside the wellbore from entering a well head stuffing box and tripping an anti-pollution control device. The seal comprising an elastomeric material and having a seam configured to allow the seal to installed on or in a stuffing box without dismantling well-head equipment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A secondary seal for a polished rod stuffing box, wherein the stuffing box has a primary seal pack disposed below a stuffing box cap, the secondary seal comprising: a body having an inner surface and an outer surface separated by a first wall thickness, and an inner side surface and an outer side surface separated by a second wall thickness; a cylindrical opening in the body through the first wall thickness, the opening defined by a first diameter; a separation in the body from the cylindrical opening to the outer side surface and extending through the first and second wall thicknesses, the separation forming a fluid seal when the separation is closed; wherein the separation can be opened and the cylindrical opening placed about a portion of a polished rod above the stuffing box cap to fluidly seal against the polished rod; and wherein when the inner surface of the body contacts an outer top surface of the stuffing box cap, and the inner side surface of the body contacts an outer side surface of the stuffing box cap, the separation is closed and the stuffing box is sealed against fluid intrusion from above the stuffing box cap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The secondary seal of claim 1 wherein the polished rod reciprocates within the cylindrical opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The secondary seal of claim 1, wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The secondary seal of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical opening is further defined by a cylinder having an upper end extending above the body outer surface and a lower end extending below the body inner surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The secondary seal of claim 4, wherein the cylinder has an inner sealing surface extending from the upper end to the lower end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The secondary seal of claim 4, wherein a portion of the cylinder extending below the inner surface extends into the stuffing box cap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The secondary seal of claim 4, further comprising at least one secondary seal reinforcing member disposed in the cylinder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The secondary seal of claim 1, further comprising a retaining member that secures the seal to the stuffing box cap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The secondary seal of claim 8, wherein the outer side surface of the body comprises a channel and the retaining member resides in the channel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The secondary seal of claim 9, wherein the retaining member comprises a worm gear band clamp. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The secondary seal of claim 9, wherein the band clamp is reusable. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The secondary seal of claim 1, further comprising at least one secondary seal reinforcing member disposed in the second thickness. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The secondary seal of claim 1, further comprising at least one secondary seal reinforcing member disposed in the first thickness. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method of sealing a polished rod stuffing box against fluid intrusion from above the stuffing box using the secondary seal of claim 1, comprising: providing the secondary seal of claim 1; opening the separation in the secondary seal; placing the secondary seal about a portion of a polished rod above the stuffing box so that the polished rod is disposed in the cylindrical opening; closing the separation; engaging the inner surface of the secondary seal with a top surface of a stuffing box cap and engaging the inner side surface of the secondary seal with an outer side surface of the stuffing box cap; and securing the secondary seal to the stuffing box. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein securing the secondary seal comprises tightening a worm gear band clamp to squeeze the secondary seal to the stuffing box cap. ### Claim 16 A secondary seal for a polished rod stuffing box, wherein the stuffing box has a primary seal pack disposed within the stuffing box and below a stuffing box cap, the secondary seal comprising: a body having an inner surface and an outer surface separated by a first wall thickness, and an inner side surface and an outer side surface separated by a second wall thickness, wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness; a cylindrical opening in the body through the first wall thickness, the opening defined by an inner surface of a cylinder having an upper end extending above the body outer surface and a lower end extending below the body inner surface, the inner cylinder surface comprising a polished rod sealing surface; a separation in the body from the cylindrical opening to the outer side surface and extending through the first and second wall thicknesses, the separation forming a fluid seal when the separation is closed; a retainer contacting the seal body to retain the seal on the stuffing box cap; at least one reinforcement disposed in the body such that movement of the seal is restricted when the polished rode reciprocates through the cylindrical opening; and wherein when the inner surface of the body contacts an outer top surface of the stuffing box cap, and the inner side surface of the body contacts an outer side surface of the stuffing box cap, the separation is closed and the stuffing box is sealed against fluid intrusion from above the stuffing box cap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The secondary seal of claim 16, wherein a portion of the cylinder extending below the inner surface extends into the stuffing box cap. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The secondary seal of claim 16, wherein the outer side surface of the body comprises a channel and the retaining member resides in the channel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The secondary seal of claim 18, wherein the retaining member comprises a worm gear band clamp. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The secondary seal of claim 19, wherein the band clamp is reusable.