Device and method to seal boreholes
Assigneee2Tech Limited
InventorNeil Thomson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described that are particularly suited for creating a seal in a borehole annulus. In one embodiment, an outer surface 10s of an expandable conduit (10) is provided with a formation (20) that includes an elastomeric material (e.g. a rubber) that can expand and/or swell when the material comes into contact with an actuating agent (e.g. water, brine, drilling fluid etc.). The expandable conduit (10) is located inside a second conduit (e.g. a pre-installed casing, liner or open borehole) and radially expanded. The actuating agent can be naturally occurring in the borehole or can be injected or pumped therein to expand or swell the elastomeric material to create the seal.
Claims19
A seal for use in a borehole, the seal comprising an elastomeric material that is capable of expanding or swelling upon contact with an actuating agent.
A seal according to either preceding claim, wherein the elastomeric material is NITRILE™, VITON™, AFLAS™, Ethylene-propylene rubbers (EPM or EPDM) or KALREZ™.
A seal according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuating agent comprises a water- or mineral-based oil or water.
A seal according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuating agent is naturally occurring downhole, or is injected or pumped into the borehole.
A seal according to any preceding claim, wherein the elastomeric material is applied to an outer surface of a conduit.
A seal according to any preceding claim, wherein the elastomeric material is at least partially covered or encased in a non-swelling and/or non-expanding elastomeric material, or a non-swelling polymer.
A seal according to any preceding claim, wherein the elastomeric material swells upon contact with the actuating fluid due to absorption of the fluid by the material.
A seal according to any preceding claim, wherein the elastomeric material can expand through chemical attack resulting in a breakdown of cross-linked bonds.
A method of creating a seal in a borehole, the method comprising the steps of providing an elastomeric material in the borehole and exposing the material to an actuating agent that causes the elastomeric material to expand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.