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US 5,040,283 AGranted
Method for placing a body of shape memory metal within a tube
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorJacob J. Pelgrom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A body of shape memory metal is placed within a tubing by a running sub which transports the body to a desired location within the tubing while the shape memory metal is in its martensitic phase whereupon the shape memory metal is heated so as to regain its original shape which is tailored to its application inside the tubing.
Claims12
A method for placing a body of shape memory metal within a tubing of a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
- preshaping the body of shape memory metal while it is at a temperature above its austenitic/martensitic transition range into a special shaped construction tailored for use in the tubing such that, after installation, the construction tends to expand against an inner wall of the tubing;
- attaching the body to a running sub between a plurality of protecting stabilizer blades;
- deforming the special shaped construction into a shape which allows free movement of the special shaped construction through said tubing, said deforming including scrolling the constriction around a cylindrical section of the running sub while holding the temperature of the construction below said transition range;
- moving the running sub with the body of shape memory metal attached thereto through said tubing while maintaining the construction at a temperature below said transition range;
- maneuvering the running sub to a location in said tubing where the construction is to be placed;
- heating the construction to above said transition range, thereby causing the construction to deform, expand and seal against the inner wall of the tubing and thereby secure a flow path therethrough;
- detaching the running sub from the expanded construction;
- and
- retrieving the running sub from the tubing.
6 more elements
A method for placing a body of shape memory metal within a tubing of a subterranean hydrocarbon production well, the method comprising the steps of:
- preshaping a body of shape memory metal into a construction of a desired special shape while the shape memory metal is at a temperature above its austenitic/martensitic transition range, said special shape being tailored to use the construction within said tubing such that the construction tends to expand against an inner wall of the tubing after installation;
- cooling the construction to a temperature below said transition range;
- deforming the construction to a shape which allows free movement of the construction through the tubing, comprising:
- attaching the construction to a mid-section of a running sub having a plurality of stabilizers mounted above and below the mid-section;
- and
- scrolling the construction around a cylindrical section of the mid-section of the running sub while holding the temperature of the construction below the transition range, thereby allowing free movement of the construction through the tubing;
- moving the running sub with the construction attached thereto through said tubing while maintaining the construction at a temperature below said transition range;
- maneuvering the running sub to a location in said tubing where the construction is to be placed;
- heating the construction to above said transition range, thereby causing the construction to deform to said desired special shape by expanding against the inner wall of the tubing;
- detaching the running sub from the expanded construction;
- and
- retrieving the running sub from the tubing.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.