Metal-to-metal packer seal for downhole disconnectable pipe joint
AssigneeTexaco Inc.
InventorSami Bou-Mikael
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A metal-to-metal packer seal for downhole use in a well that operates in a deleteriously corrosive atmosphere. The seal is formed by the cooperating ends of two pipe sections, one of which is vertically positioned in a well with an upwardly facing metallic socket. The corresponding upper pipe section includes a connector which is lowered onto the socket and carries with it at least one, and preferably a plurality of metal rings which are extruded to form a corrosive resistant circular seal between the engaged pipe socket and pipe connector.
Claims13
In an elongated pipe string comprised of interconnectable pipe lengths which, when engaged, form separable upper and downhole pipe segments, for conducting a treating fluid into a subterranean well, said pipe string including a separable metal-to-metal seal joint adapted to fluid tightly engage said upper and downhole segments, and which is resistant to corrosive deterioration when exposed to a corrosive atmosphere caused by said treating fluid,
- the downhole segment of said pipe string having an upwardly facing end receptacle which defines at least one frusto-conical sealing surface, and a gasket deflecting surface, intersecting said at least one frusto-conical sealing surface,
- the upper segment of said pipe string having a connector at the lower end thereof aligned in axial registry with said upwardly facing end receptacle, and having a peripheral seal area having means to form a first metal-to-metal ring of contact with a portion of said at least one frusto-conical sealing surface, to define an annular extrusion compartment at each opposite side of the said first metal-to-metal ring of contact, between spaced apart contiguous surfaces of the connector and the end receptacle,
- at least two gaskets comprised of an extrudable metal, each of which substantially occupies each of said annular extrusion compartment to form second metal-to-metal annular seals compressed between the pipe string upper segment, and the pipe string downhole segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.