Device and method to seal boreholes
First Claim
1. 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 an outer surface of a conduit and wherein the conduit has a first diameter prior to expansion and a second larger diameter after expansion; and
a soluble material disposed around the elastomeric material, wherein the soluble material is configured to at least partially dissolve upon contact with a fluid.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A seal for use in a borehole, the seal comprising:
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an elastomeric material that is capable of expanding or swelling upon contact with an actuating agent, wherein the elastomeric material is applied to an outer surface of a conduit and wherein the conduit has a first diameter prior to expansion and a second larger diameter after expansion; and a soluble material disposed around the elastomeric material, wherein the soluble material is configured to at least partially dissolve upon contact with a fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of creating a seal in a borehole, the method comprising:
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providing an elastomeric material in the borehole; exposing the material to an actuating agent that causes the elastomeric material to expand; and controlling the direction of expansion of the elastomeric material, wherein the direction is controlled by an outer cover that covers a portion of the elastomeric material and wherein the cover is a non-swelling elastomeric material band that encases a top portion and a side portion of the elastomeric material. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A sealing apparatus for isolating a tubular, comprising:
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an expandable tubular body; one or more swelling elastomers disposed around an outer surface of the expandable tubular body; and an outer cover disposed on a portion of each swelling elastomer, wherein the outer cover is configured to control the direction of swelling as the swelling elastomer expands and wherein the outer cover is a non-swelling elastomeric material band that encases a top portion and a side portion of the elastomeric material. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for isolating a well, comprising:
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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; and expanding the sealing apparatus to allow the swelling element to contact the wellbore as the swelling element swells. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A sealing apparatus for isolating a tubular, comprising:
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a tubular body; one or more swelling elastomers disposed around an outer surface of the tubular body, wherein each elastomer is a band having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end surface and a second end surface and wherein the inner surface of the band is in contact with the tubular body; and a lip-type seal disposed adjacent each swelling elastomer, wherein the lip-type seal is configured to control the direction of swelling as the swelling elastomer expands and wherein the lip-type seal is positioned adjacent the first end surface and not the second end surface. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A seal for use in a borehole, the seal comprising:
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an elastomeric material that is capable of expanding or swelling upon contact with an actuating agent, wherein the elastomeric material is applied to an outer surface of a conduit and wherein a container of the actuating agent is located near the elastomeric material such that the container bursts upon radial expansion of the conduit; and a soluble material disposed around the elastomeric material, wherein the soluble material is configured to at least partially dissolve upon contact with a fluid.
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24. A seal for use in a borehole, the seal comprising:
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an elastomeric material that is capable of expanding or swelling upon contact with an actuating agent, wherein the elastomeric material is applied to an outer surface of a conduit and wherein the conduit is radially expanded; and a soluble material disposed around the elastomeric material, wherein the soluble material is configured to at least partially dissolve upon contact with a fluid. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method of creating a seal in a borehole, the method comprising:
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positioning a tubular body having a swelling elastomer in the borehole, wherein the swelling elastomer is a band having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end surface and a second end surface and wherein the inner surface of the band is in contact with the tubular body; exposing the swelling elastomer to an actuating agent that causes the swelling elastomer to expand; and controlling the direction of expansion of the swelling elastomer by a lip-type seal disposed adjacent the swelling elastomer, wherein the lip-type seal is positioned adjacent the first end surface and not the second end surface.
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27. A sealing apparatus for isolating a tubular, comprising:
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a tubular body; a swelling elastomer disposed around the tubular body, wherein the elastomer is a band having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end surface and a second end surface and wherein the inner surface of the band is in contact with the tubular body; and a lip-type seal disposed adjacent the swelling elastomer, wherein the lip-type seal is configured to control the direction of swelling as the swelling elastomer expands and wherein the lip-type seal is positioned adjacent the first end surface and not the second end surface. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification