Device and method to seal boreholes
Assigneee2Tech Limited
InventorNeil Thomson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described that are particularly suited for creating a seal in a borehole annulus. In one embodiment, an outer surface 10s of an expandable conduit 10 is provided with a formation 20 that includes an elastomeric material (e.g. a rubber) that can expand and/or swell when the material comes into contact with an actuating agent (e.g. water, brine, drilling fluid etc). The expandable conduit 10 is located inside a second conduit (e.g. a pre-installed casing, liner or open borehole) and radially expanded. The actuating agent can be naturally occurring in the borehole or can be injected or pumped therein to expand or swell the elastomeric material to create the seal.
Claims42
A seal for use in a borehole, the seal comprising an elastomeric material that is capable of expanding or swelling upon contact with an actuating agent, wherein the elastomeric material is applied to a surface of a radially expandable conduit, the expandable conduit having a first diameter prior to expansion and a second larger diameter after expansion, wherein the seal is an annular seal configured to seal an annulus between the expandable conduit and the borehole.
A sealing apparatus for isolating a tubular, comprising:
- a tubular body configured to be expanded downhole;
- one or more swelling elastomers disposed around an outer surface of the tubular body;
- a tubular expander device;
- and
- a cover at least partially disposed on a portion of the one or more swelling elastomers.
An apparatus for isolating a well, comprising:
- a tubular having a first sealing member and a second sealing member, wherein the tubular has a first diameter and a larger second diameter due to radial expansion of the tubular, wherein each of the sealing members include:
- a tubular body;
- and
- one or more swelling elements disposed around an inner surface of the tubular body.
A method for isolating a well, comprising:
- running a sealing apparatus into the wellbore, the sealing apparatus including:
- a tubular body;
- and
- a swelling element disposed around an outer surface of the tubular body;
- expanding the tubular body;
- and
- causing the swelling element to swell and contact the wellbore.
A method of sealing a wellbore, comprising:
- running a tubular into the wellbore to a predetermined location, the tubular having one or more elements capable of swelling when exposed to an activating fluid;
- exposing the one or more elements to the activating fluid in the wellbore, thereby causing the one or more elements disposed around an outer surface of the tubular to swell;
- expanding the tubular;
- and
- sealing the wellbore as a result of the swelling.
A conduit assembly for use in a wellbore, the assembly comprising:
- a conduit having a first diameter before radial expansion and a second increased diameter after radial expansion;
- a second conduit;
- and
- an elastomeric material adapted to swell on contact with an actuating agent, wherein the expandable conduit is arranged within the second conduit and wherein the elastomeric material is provided therebetween.
A method of sealing two conduits, the method comprising:
- providing a circumferentially continuous walled radially expandable conduit, a second conduit and a swellable elastomeric material, wherein the second conduit is a wellbore;
- locating the circumferentially continuous walled expandable conduit within the second conduit such that the swellable elastomeric material is located between the circumferentially continuous walled radially expandable conduit and the second conduit;
- applying a radial expansion force to the circumferentially continuous walled expandable conduit;
- and
- exposing the elastomeric material to an actuating agent which causes the elastomeric material to swell within an annulus between the conduits.
An annular seal for use in a wellbore comprising:
- a tubular configured to be radially expanded in the wellbore;
- an expansion device for radially expanding the tubular;
- and
- an elastomeric material on an outer surface of the tubular, wherein the material that is configured to expand upon contact with an actuating agent.
A seal for use in a borehole, the seal comprising:
- an elastomeric material that is capable of expanding or swelling upon contact with an actuating agent, wherein the elastomeric material is applied to a surface of a radially expandable conduit, the expandable conduit having a first diameter prior to expansion and a second larger diameter after expansion, wherein a container retaining the actuating agent is located near the elastomeric material and wherein the container releases the actuating agent upon radial expansion of the conduit.
A seal for use in a borehole, the seal comprising:
- an elastomeric material that is capable of expanding or swelling upon contact with an actuating agent, wherein the elastomeric material is applied to a surface of a radially expandable conduit, the expandable conduit having a first diameter prior to expansion and a second larger diameter after expansion, wherein the elastomeric material is at least partially covered in a material selected from the group consisting of a non-swelling elastomeric material, a non-expanding elastomeric material, and a non-swelling polymer.
A seal for use in a borehole, the seal comprising:
- an elastomeric material that is capable of expanding or swelling upon contact with an actuating agent, wherein the elastomeric material is applied to a surface of a radially expandable conduit, the expandable conduit having a first diameter prior to expansion and a second larger diameter after expansion, wherein the actuating agent is a water.
A sealing apparatus for isolating a tubular, comprising:
- a tubular body configured to be expanded downhole the tubular having a first unexpanded diameter and a second larger expanded diameter;
- one or more swelling elastomers disposed around an outer surface of the tubular body;
- and
- a cover at least partially disposed on a portion of the one or more swelling elastomers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.