# US 8,950,438 B2 · Method and compositions for delivery of a concentrated quantity of sealing elements to a leak site in a vessel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,950,438 B2 - Document ID: US8950438B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/264,047 - Filed: 2010-04-16 - Published: 2012-03-22 - Granted: 2015-02-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-16 - Assignees: Brinker Technology Limited - Applicants: Nicholas John Ryan - Inventors: Nicholas John Ryan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8950438B2 ## CPC - F16L 55/164: a sealing fluid being introduced in the pipe (F16L55/1645 takes precedence) - E21B 29/10: Reconditioning of well casings, e.g. straightening - E21B 33/138: Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation - F16L 55/1645: a sealing material being introduced inside the pipe by means of a tool moving in the pipe - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A method of delivering a concentrated quantity of sealing elements to a leak site in a vessel includes deploying a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element into fluid flowing within the vessel upstream of the leak site. The body of material transports the sealing elements through the vessel to the leak site where the body of material is drawn to the leak by fluid flow created by a pressure differential at the leak site. The sealing element(s) are constrained by the body of material at the leak site such that the sealing element(s) become(s) entrained within the leak. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of delivering a concentrated quantity of sealing elements to a leak site in a vessel, the method comprising: deploying a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element into fluid flowing within the vessel upstream of the leak site; the body of material transporting the at least one sealing element through the vessel to the leak site where the body of material is drawn to a leak of the leak site by fluid flow created by a pressure differential at the leak site; wherein the at least one sealing element is constrained by the body of material at the leak site such that the sealing element(s) become(s) entrained within the leak; and wherein the body of material is contained within a frangible membrane and the method further comprises rupturing the membrane upon impact with the leak site to deliver the at least one sealing element directly to the leak site. ### Claim 2 A sealing composition comprising a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element, the body of material being adapted to transport the at least one sealing element in a controllable and targeted manner to a leak site within a vessel and to constrain the at least one sealing element at the leak site; and wherein the body of material is adapted to undergo a change or degrade for based upon the temperature within the vessel, a change in temperature within the vessel or within the fluid flowing in the vessel, a reaction to an agent such as a chemical agent deployed into the vessel or in response to light stimulation, such as by ultraviolet light. ### Claim 3 A sealing composition comprising a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element, the body of material being adapted to transport the at least one sealing element in a controllable and targeted manner to a leak site within a vessel and to constrain the at least one sealing element at the leak site; and wherein a lubricant is applied to the outer surface of the body of material to assist in transport of the body of material and the at least one sealing element through the vessel. ### Claim 4 A method of delivering a concentrated quantity of sealing elements to a leak site in a vessel, the method comprising: deploying a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element into fluid flowing within the vessel upstream of the leak site; the body of material transporting the at least one sealing element through the vessel to the leak site where the body of material is drawn to a leak of the leak site by fluid flow created by a pressure differential at the leak site; wherein the at least one sealing element is constrained by the body of material at the leak site such that the at least one sealing element becomes entrained within the leak; and wherein the at least one sealing element is introduced into the vessel downstream of the body of material such that as the body of material flows along the vessel it drives the at least one sealing element through the vessel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, wherein the body of material prevents the at least one sealing element from rising to the surface of the vessel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, wherein the at least one sealing element is located in front of the interface between the body of material and the fluids flowing within the vessel. ### Claim 7 A method of delivering a concentrated quantity of sealing elements to a leak site in a vessel, the method comprising: deploying a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element into fluid flowing within the vessel upstream of the leak site; the body of material transporting the at least one sealing element through the vessel to the leak site where the body of material is drawn to a leak of the leak site by fluid flow created by a pressure differential at the leak site; wherein the at least one sealing element is constrained by the body of material at the leak site such that the at least one sealing element becomes entrained within the leak; and wherein the passage of the body of material through the vessel is controlled by varying the density of the body of material to ensure that the body of material flows through the vessel at the optimum position to be drawn to the leak site; and wherein the density of the body of material is selected in response to the position of the leak site upon the inner surface of the vessel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein the passage of the body of material through the vessel is controlled by varying the density of the at least one sealing element element(s). ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein the density of the body of material is selected in response to the density of the fluids flowing within the vessel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one sealing element is provided on or within the body of material and is/are transported on or within the body of material to the leak site. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one sealing element is located on the interface between the body of material and the fluids flowing within the vessel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the shape and size of the body of material is selected to match the interior shape and size of the vessel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein the body of material is pumped into the vessel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein upon deployment the body of material fills the entire diameter or internal cross-section of the vessel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, in which the vessel is a valve, pipe, o-ring or a duct. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein the body of material and the at least one sealing element are deployed in a sealed container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the body of material and the at least one sealing element are deployed within a pipeline pig or a wireline tool. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein as the container approaches the leak site, or alternatively once it reaches the leak site, the body of material and the at least one sealing element are forced from the container onto the leak site. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of sealing the container in position within the vessel at or adjacent the leak site prior to forcing the body of material and the at least one sealing element from the container. ### Claim 20 A sealing composition comprising a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element, the body of material being adapted to transport the at least one sealing element in a controllable and targeted manner to a leak site within a vessel and to constrain the at least one sealing element at the leak site; and wherein the sealing composition further comprises a membrane, the membrane surrounding the body of material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the body of material and the at least one sealing element form a composition slug which is transportable through the vessel by fluids flowing within the vessel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the body of material comprises a gel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the at least one sealing element is elastomeric. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the membrane is relatively thin in comparison to the size of the body of material. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the at least one sealing element is element(s) is/are provided on the outer surface of the body of material. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the at least one sealing element is provided on an interface of the body of material and the fluid flowing within the vessel. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the at least one sealing element is provided on an interface of the body of material and the interior surface of the vessel. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the body of material is adapted to degrade over time such that the body will eventually dissolve within the fluids flowing in the vessel. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the body of material has a higher viscosity than the fluid(s) flowing within the vessel. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the body of material comprises a material similar or identical to the fluids flowing in the vessel. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the sealing composition comprises a range of different sized sealing elements. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the at least one sealing element comprises at least one of an elastomeric material, silicone rubbers, polyurethane rubbers, natural rubbers, nitrile rubbers, a flouropolymer elastomer. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the at least one sealing element is formed into a shape corresponding to any one of planar-oblong, cubes, spheres, pyramids, octahedrons, tetrahedrons, filament shaped or an irregular shape. ### Claim 34 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the membrane comprises an elastomeric material. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) A sealing composition according to claim 34, wherein the membrane comprises at least one of latex, natural rubber, NBR, HNBR and FKM. ### Claim 36 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the body of material comprises a viscosifier. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) A sealing composition according to claim 36, wherein the sealing composition comprises Xanthium gum or guar gum crosslinked with agents including borax or sodium borate. ### Claim 38 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the membrane is be frangible. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) A sealing composition according to claim 38, wherein the membrane is adapted to rupture upon impact with the leak site to ensure that a concentration of the at least one sealing element is delivered to the leak site. ### Claim 40 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the density of the body of material and or the density of the at least one sealing element is selected depending upon the density of the fluids flowing in the vessel. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) A sealing composition according to claim 40, wherein the density of the body of material and or the density of the at least one sealing element is selected such that the sealing composition floats within the fluid flowing in the vessel. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) A sealing composition according to claim 40, wherein the density of at least one of the body of material and the density of the at least one sealing element is selected such the sealing composition travels along the vessel at a submerged position within the fluid flow. ### Claim 43 (depends on 20) A sealing composition according to claim 20, wherein the at least one sealing element is element(s) is/are suspended in the body of material. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) A sealing composition according to claim 43, wherein the at least one sealing element is uniformly distributed through the body. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) A sealing composition according to claim 43, wherein the at least one sealing element is randomly distributed through the body of material.