Seal energizing systems to maintain seal energization in a downhole well and methods to maintain seal energization in a downhole well
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsChad W. GLAESMAN, Marco Antonio dos Santos FERNANDES
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A seal energizing system to maintain seal energization in a well includes a connector body disposed adjacent a tubular body, the tubular body and connector body forming an inner chamber, the inner chamber isolated from an outer chamber by a seal positioned between the tubular body and the connector body. The system further includes a piston movable relative to the connector body. The piston includes a first piston surface exposed to a fluid of the outer chamber and a second piston surface exposed to fluid of the inner chamber. The first piston surface includes a surface area greater than that of the second piston surface.
Claims20
A seal energizing system to maintain seal energization in a well, the system comprising:
- a connector body disposed adjacent a tubular body, the tubular body and connector body forming an inner chamber, the inner chamber isolated from an outer chamber by a seal positioned between the tubular body and the connector body;
- and
- a piston movable relative to the connector body, the piston have a first piston surface exposed to a fluid of the outer chamber and a second piston surface exposed to fluid of the inner chamber, the first piston surface having a surface area greater than that of the second piston surface.
A method to maintain seal energization in a downhole system, the method comprising:
- providing a piston movable between a first chamber and a second chamber, the piston having a first surface area in contact with a first fluid in the first chamber and a second surface area in contact with a second fluid in the second chamber, the second surface area being smaller than the first surface area;
- exerting a first force with the first fluid on the first surface area of the piston to increase the pressure of the second fluid relative to the first fluid;
- and
- deforming a seal with the increased pressure of the second fluid to provide sealing between the first chamber and the second chamber.
A seal energizing system to maintain seal energization in a well, the system comprising:
- a tubular body;
- an inner tubular positioned within a passage of the tubular body;
- a connector body disposed within a tubular annulus formed between the tubular body and the inner tubular, the connector body having an outer body member and an inner body member, the outer body member having a recessed portion;
- an inner chamber formed between the recessed portion of the outer body member and the tubular body;
- a seal positioned between the outer body member and the tubular body to seal the inner chamber from the tubular annulus;
- and
- a piston slidingly positioned with a connector annulus formed between the outer body member and the inner body member, the piston having a first piston surface exposed to a fluid of the tubular annulus and a second piston surface exposed to fluid of the inner chamber, the first piston surface having a surface area greater than that of the second piston surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.