Metal sealing wireline plug
AssigneeTuboscope (UK) Ltd.
InventorColin S. Boyle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plug for creating a pressure barrier within an oil or gas well comprises a plug body (5) and a metal primary seal element (7) having a frusto-conical seal face (7A) adapted to engage a corresponding seal surface of a profiled well conduit to create a metal-to-metal seal having a relatively large contact area. The primary seal is energised by pressure applied above the plug, prior to the plug been set by a running tool which operates an actuating member (5) to displace locking keys (4) radially outwards so as to engage corresponding formations in the well profile and lock the plug against axial movement within the well conduit. The plug may be retrieved using a pulling tool and re-used, and includes a secondary elastomeric or polymeric seal (6).
Claims15
A plug for use in an oil or gas well for creation of a pressure barrier within a well conduit having a profiled inner surface, said plug comprising a plug body, a solid cylindrical metal primary sealing element attached to the plug-body and holding means for holding the plug body in place in said well conduit,
- wherein said primary sealing element has a primary sealing barrier comprising a metal tubular member located at the forward end of said primary sealing element, said tubular member being integral with and connected to said primary sealing element at the rearward end of said tubular member, the forward end of said tubular member being free,
- and wherein the tubular member has a thickness which reduces from said rearward end to said forward end, the outer surface of said tubular member forming a frusto-conical seal surface adapted sealingly to engage a corresponding frusto-conical portion of said profiled inner surface of the well conduit by radially inward deflection of said forward end of said tubular member, thus providing means of energisation of said primary sealing barrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.