Downhole seal apparatus and method thereof
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsJames C. Doane, Gary L. Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of forming a downhole seal between inner and outer tubulars. The method including bonding a sealing element to an insert with a bond that bonds at temperatures less than a first temperature and increasingly breaks down at temperatures higher than the first temperature. Defeating the bond between the sealing element and the insert at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; and, subsequently forming a seal between the inner and outer tubulars with the sealing element. Also included is a downhole sealing apparatus.
Claims20
A method of forming a downhole seal between inner and outer tubulars, the method comprising:
- bonding a sealing element to an insert with a bond that bonds at temperatures less than a first temperature and increasingly breaks down at temperatures higher than the first temperature;
- defeating the bond between the sealing element and the insert at a second temperature higher than the first temperature;
- and,
- subsequently forming a seal between the inner and outer tubulars with the sealing element including axially actuating a swaging cone of the first tubular relative to the insert, and axially actuating the swaging cone includes deforming the insert and sealing element radially outwardly.
A method of forming a downhole seal between inner and outer tubulars, the method comprising:
- bonding a sealing element to an insert with a bond that bonds at temperatures less than a first temperature and increasingly breaks down at temperatures higher than the first temperature;
- defeating the bond between the sealing element and the insert at a second temperature higher than the first temperature;
- and,
- subsequently forming a seal between the inner and outer tubulars with the sealing element;
- wherein bonding the sealing element to the insert includes arranging the sealing element within an indented receiving portion in the insert.
A method of forming a downhole seal between inner and outer tubulars, the method comprising:
- bonding a sealing element to a receiving portion of an insert with a bond that bonds at temperatures less than a first temperature and increasingly breaks down at temperatures higher than the first temperature, the receiving portion of the insert disposed radially between the inner tubular and a full length of the sealing element, and the bond disposed radially between the sealing element and the receiving portion of the insert;
- defeating the bond between the sealing element and the insert at a second temperature higher than the first temperature;
- and,
- subsequently forming a seal between the inner and outer tubulars with the sealing element, the sealing element disposed radially between the insert and the outer tubular;
- wherein defeating the bond includes destroying adhesive characteristics of the bond at the second temperature to provide the sealing element in a non-bonded condition relative to the insert prior to forming the seal.
A downhole sealing apparatus comprising:
- a sealing element;
- a metal insert;
- a bond disposed between the sealing element and the metal insert and formed of a bonding agent configured to bond the sealing element to the metal insert at temperatures less than a first temperature and to eliminate bonding between the sealing element and the metal insert at temperatures greater than a second temperature, at least 50 degrees larger than the first temperature, wherein the bond is configured to be broken prior to actuating the downhole sealing apparatus;
- and,
- an inner tubular including a swaging cone, configured to actuate the downhole sealing apparatus, wherein the sealing element is not deformed diametrically until actuation of the swaging cone.
A downhole sealing apparatus comprising:
- a sealing element;
- a metal insert;
- and,
- a bond formed of a bonding agent configured to bond the sealing element to the metal insert at temperatures less than a first temperature and to eliminate bonding between the sealing element and the metal insert at temperatures greater than a second temperature, at least 50 degrees larger than the first temperature, wherein the bond is configured to be broken prior to actuating the downhole sealing apparatus;
- wherein the metal insert includes an outer wall surface having a seal receiving indent receiving the sealing element therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.