Swellable energizers for oil and gas wells
AssigneeFreudenberg Oil & Gas, LLC
InventorSantiago Galvez Porta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seal stack including a sealing element including an annular seal ring having a diameter and an axis defined therethrough perpendicular to the diameter, a groove defined in the seal ring, wherein the groove has an opening at a first end of the seal ring, and a swellable energizer disposed in the groove, wherein the swellable energizer swells upon exposure to a solvent causing the seal ring to expand. The seal stack also includes a first annular back-up and a second annular back-up provided at opposing ends of the sealing element, wherein said first back-up includes an interior surface that receives a second end of the sealing element.
Claims20
A seal stack, comprising:
- a sealing element including an annular seal ring having a diameter and an axis defined therethrough perpendicular to said diameter, a groove defined in said seal ring, wherein said groove has an opening at a first end of said seal ring;
- and
- a swellable energizer disposed in said groove, wherein said swellable energizer swells upon exposure to a solvent causing said seal ring to expand;
- and
- a first annular back-up and a second annular back-up provided at opposing ends of said sealing element, wherein said first back-up includes an interior surface that receives a second end of said sealing element;
- wherein:
- said opening is at least partially defined by projections extending past said swellable energizer;
- and
- at least one of said projections comprises an internal surface proximate an outer surface of said swellable energizer, said internal surface comprising a circumferential passage extending radially around said groove, the circumferential passage defining a space between said swellable energizer and said at least one internal surface.
A cup seal sub-assembly, comprising:
- a carriage including an interior surface and an exterior surface, a leg portion forming a portion of the inner diameter of said carriage, and a body portion;
- a finger extending from said body portion of said carriage;
- a cup seal positioned between said leg portion of said carriage and said finger, wherein said cup seal includes a sealing projection and at least a portion of an external surface of said sealing projection contacts an internal surface of said finger;
- and
- a swellable energizer positioned between said leg portion of said carriage and said cup seal, wherein upon swelling said swellable energizer extends said sealing projection and finger outward from said carriage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.