# US 2010/0163250 A1 · Well equipment for heated fluid recovery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0163250 A1 - Document ID: US20100163250A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/347,793 - Filed: 2008-12-31 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-31 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Roger L. Schultz; Travis W. Cavender; Robert L. Pipkin; David J. Steele - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100163250A1 ## CPC - E21B 17/07: Telescoping joints for varying drill string lengths; Shock absorbers - E21B 23/00: Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells (setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10) - E21B 43/24: using heat, e.g. steam injection - F16L 27/12: allowing substantial longitudinal adjustment or movement (by use of screw-thread F16L15/02) - E21B 2200/01: Sealings characterised by their shape - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A device has a first elongate tubular body and a second elongate tubular body coupled to the first tubular body, both adapted to reside in the wellbore. The device is changeable between the first tubular body axially fixed against movement in a first direction relative to the second tubular body and axially moveable in the first direction relative to the second elongate tubular body in response to temperature. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device, comprising: a first elongate tubular body adapted to reside in a wellbore; and a second elongate tubular body coupled to the first tubular body and adapted to reside in the wellbore; and the device changeable between the first tubular body axially fixed against movement in a first direction relative to the second tubular body and axially moveable in the first direction relative to the second elongate tubular body in response to temperature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first elongate tubular body is changeable between axially fixed against movement in the first direction relative to the second tubular body and axially movable in the first direction relative to the second tubular body in response to temperature above a specified temperature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, further comprising a phase change material that is solid below the specified temperature and flowable above the specified temperature, the phase change material residing about the second tubular body and, when solid, axially fixing the first tubular body against movement in the first direction relative to the second elongate tubular body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the phase change material grips a profile defined by the first and second tubular bodies when solid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the phase change material resides in an annulus defined between the first tubular body and the second tubular body; and the first tubular body is sealed to the second tubular body with two or more split metal seal rings arranged so that a gap in one seal ring is overlapped by an adjacent seal ring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, further comprising: a hydraulic volume about the second tubular body; a phase change material that is solid below the specified temperature and flowable above the specified temperature, the phase change material sealing the hydraulic volume when the phase change material is solid and not sealing the hydraulic volume when the phase change material is flowable; and a fluid in the hydraulic volume that, when sealed in the hydraulic volume, axially fixes the first tubular body against movement in a first direction relative to the second tubular body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a shape memory metal that is resides in a first shape below the specified temperature and resides in a second, different shape above the specified temperature, the shape memory metal residing between the first tubular body and the second tubular body and, when in the first shape, engaging the first tubular body to the second tubular body and, when in the second shape, allowing axial movement in the first direction of the first tubular body relative to the second tubular body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the first elongate tubular body is telescopically received within the second elongate tubular body and wherein the shape memory alloy resides in interference between the first tubular body and the second tubular body when in the first shape and out of interference when in the second shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the specified temperature is less than 200° C. ### Claim 10 A method, comprising: pushing a string into a wellbore with a rigid joint; and changing the joint, in response to temperature, to allow axial retraction of the joint. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein changing the joint in response to temperature comprises changing the joint to allow axial retraction when steam is communicated in the wellbore through the string. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein changing the joint comprises changing a phase change material from solid to flowable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein changing the joint comprises changing a shape memory metal from a first shape to a second shape. ### Claim 14 A downhole tool system, comprising: a first tubing associated; a second tubing, the first and second tubings concentrically arranged; a first metallic split seal ring carried on the second tubing and sealed to the second tubing, the first seal ring springingly biased in sealing contact against the first tubing; and a second metallic split seal ring carried on the second tubing and abutting the first seal ring, the second seal ring springing biased in sealing contact against the first tubing, the first and second seal rings arranged with a split in the first seal ring is overlapped by the second seal ring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The downhole tool system of claim 14, wherein the first seal ring is C-shaped having a gap between ends of the seal ring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The downhole tool system of claim 15, wherein the second seal ring has a protrusion on a lateral surface thereof configured to fit in the gap of the first seal ring and retain the first seal ring relative to the second seal ring so that the gap of the first seal ring is overlapped by the second seal ring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The downhole tool system of claim 14, wherein the first tubing is a housing of an expansion joint and the second tubing is a body of the expansion joint; and the downhole tool system further comprising a phase change material residing between the housing and body, the phase change material being solid below a specified temperature and flowable above the specified temperature, the phase change material, when solid, gripping the housing and the body and axially fixing the body relative to the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The downhole tool system of claim 14, wherein the first tubing is a housing of an expansion joint and the second tubing is a body of the expansion joint; and the downhole tool system further comprising: a hydraulic volume about the body; a phase change material that is solid below the specified temperature and flowable above the specified temperature, the phase change material sealing the hydraulic volume when the phase change material is solid and not sealing the hydraulic volume when the phase change material is flowable; and a fluid in the hydraulic volume that, when sealed in the hydraulic volume, axially fixes the body against movement in a first direction relative to the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The downhole tool system of claim 14, wherein the first tubing is coupled to a permeable liner and the second tubing is a heated fluid injection string. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The downhole tool system of claim 14, wherein the first and second seal rings are retained against a shear ring frangibly affixed to the second tubing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The downhole tool system of claim 14, wherein the first and second seal rings maintain sealing at 250° C. and greater. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The downhole tool system of claim 14, wherein the first and second seal rings are not substantially plastically deformed in sealing. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The downhole tool system of claim 14, further comprising a spring carried on the second tubing and biasing the first seal ring to abut the second seal ring. ### Claim 24 A method, comprising: receiving a flow of fluid of between a first and second concentrically arranged tubings, the flow being at a temperature of approximately 250° C. or greater; and sealing against the flow with a plurality of metal split seal rings residing between the first and second tubings. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising sealing against passage of flow through the split of one of the seal rings with another of the seal rings. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising retaining the seal ring relative to the second tubing with a shear ring frangibly affixed to the second tubing. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, releasing the shear ring from the second tubing to release the seal ring from sealing between the first and second tubings. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein releasing is performed by shearing a shear member affixing the shear ring to the second tubing.