Partially bonded seals for well systems

A system comprising:

• a partially bonded seal configured to be actuatable to provide a fluid seal between a first conduit and a second conduit positioned within a wellbore, the partially bonded seal comprising a hanger body and a sealing element, the sealing element positioned in contact with and encircling an outer surface of the hanger body for some longitudinal distance along the hanger body, wherein the sealing element comprises a sleeve including a plurality of ring shaped teeth that encircle the outer surface of the hanger body, the teeth configured to engage a surface of the first conduit positioned adjacent to the sleeve when the partially bonded seal is activated, wherein a first portion of the sealing element is adjacent to and is bonded to the outer surface of the hanger body, and wherein a second portion of the sealing element that is adjacent to the outer surface of the hanger body is not bonded to the outer surface of the hanger body;
• and
• a seal expansion tool configured to be inserted into a liner passageway extending longitudinally through the hanger body and encircled by the partially bonded seal, the seal expansion tool configured to be moved in a longitudinal direction through the liner passageway in order to radially expand a reduced diameter portion of the hanger body that includes the sealing element and thereby bring one or more surfaces of the sealing element into contact with a surface of the second conduit in order to form the fluid seal between the first conduit and the second conduit.

A method comprising:

• positioning a wellbore liner including an expandable partially bonded seal adjacent to and within a conduit passageway of a conduit positioned with a wellbore, the expandable partially bonded seal comprising a hanger body and a sealing element, the sealing element positioned in contact with and encircling an outer surface of the hanger body for some longitudinal distance along the hanger body, wherein the sealing element comprises a sleeve including a plurality of ring shaped teeth that encircle the outer surface of the hanger body, the teeth configured to engage a surface of the conduit positioned adjacent to the sleeve when the partially bonded seal is activated,
• wherein a first portion of the sealing element is adjacent to and is bonded to the outer surface of the hanger body, and
• wherein a second portion of the sealing element is adjacent to and is not bonded to the outer surface of the hanger body;
• inserting a seal expansion tool into a liner passageway that extends longitudinally through and is encircled by the expandable partially bonded seal;
• and
• actuating the expandable partially bonded seal using the seal expansion tool to expand the hanger body and bring one or more surfaces of the sealing element into contact with a surface of the conduit in order to form a fluid seal between the wellbore liner and the conduit.