Elongated Sealing Member for Downhole Tool
AssigneeSwelltec Limited
InventorsKIM NUTLEY, BRIAN NUTLEY, GLEN ROBITAILLE
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Abstract
A downhole apparatus is described comprising a body and a sealing arrangement located on the body. The body has a longitudinal axis and the sealing arrangement comprises at least one elongated sealing member with an axis of elongation extending around the longitudinal axis. The sealing member comprises a material selected to expand on exposure to at least one predetermined fluid, such as a hydrocarbon or aqueous fluid encountered in a wellbore. A method of forming the apparatus and methods of use are described. Embodiments of the invention relate to wellbore packers.
Claims61
A downhole apparatus comprising:
- a body having a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a sealing arrangement located on the body, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises:
- at least one elongated sealing member with an axis of elongation extending around the longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the sealing member comprises:
- a material selected to expand on exposure to at least one predetermined fluid.
A sealing member for a downhole apparatus, the sealing member comprising:
- a material selected to expand on contact with at least one predetermined fluid, wherein the sealing member is elongated and is configured to be located on a body of a downhole apparatus, such that its axis of elongation extends around the longitudinal axis of the body.
A method of forming a downhole apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a body having a longitudinal axis;
- providing at least one elongated sealing member comprising a material selected to expand on exposure to at least one predetermined fluid;
- and
- forming a sealing arrangement on the body by locating the at least one elongated sealing member on the body, with its axis of elongation extending around the longitudinal axis of the body.
A method of forming a seal in a downhole environment, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a sealing apparatus formed from a body and at least one elongated sealing member arranged on the body, the sealing member comprising a material selected to expand on exposure to at least one predetermined fluid;
- running the sealing apparatus to a downhole location such that the sealing apparatus is disposed adjacent a surface;
- exposing the elongated sealing member to at least one fluid to expand it, thereby forming a seal between the body and the surface.
A method of constructing a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
- assembling a first casing string from a plurality of casing sections;
- forming at least one sealing arrangement on at least one casing section from at least one elongated sealing member comprising a material selected to expand on exposure to at least one predetermined fluid;
- running the first casing string to a downhole location.
A wellbore packer comprising:
- an expanding portion formed from an elongated sealing member coiled around a body, the elongated sealing member comprising a material selected to expand on exposure to at least one predetermined fluid.
An elongated member for forming a wellbore packer, the elongated member comprising:
- a material selected to expand on exposure to at least one predetermined fluid.
An overshot tool comprising:
- a tubular body and an opening configured to be disposed over a body to be coupled in use;
- and
- a sealing arrangement arranged on the inner surface of the tubular body, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises:
- at least one elongated sealing member with an axis of elongation extending around the longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the sealing member comprises:
- a material selected to expand on exposure to at least one predetermined fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.