Packer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A packer for a well, the packer comprising:
- a seal element; and
a seal setting apparatus comprising a plurality of elongate elements disposed so as to engage a portion of an inside surface of the seal element, each elongate element having a first end and a second end, the seal setting apparatus being moveable with respect to the seal element in a setting direction to apply a setting force to the seal element to move the seal element from a run-in configuration to a set configuration;
wherein, in use, the packer is arranged such that in the set configuration;
the second ends of the elongate elements extend radially outwards;
the seal element comprises a cup seal forming a contact seal with a conduit wall; and
a pressure differential across the packer, which creates a force in the setting direction, will increase the setting force applied by the seal setting apparatus to the seal element to maintain the contact seal.
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Abstract
A packer for a well. The packer comprises a seal element and seal setting apparatus. The seal setting apparatus is moveable with respect to the seal element in a setting direction to apply a setting force to the seal element to move the seal element from a run-in configuration to a set configuration in which, in use, the seal element forms a contact seal with a conduit wall. In use, the packer is arranged such that, in the set configuration, a pressure differential across the packer, which creates a force in the setting direction, will increase the setting force applied by the seal setting apparatus to the seal element to maintain the seal.
52 Citations
74 Claims
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1. A packer for a well, the packer comprising:
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a seal element; and a seal setting apparatus comprising a plurality of elongate elements disposed so as to engage a portion of an inside surface of the seal element, each elongate element having a first end and a second end, the seal setting apparatus being moveable with respect to the seal element in a setting direction to apply a setting force to the seal element to move the seal element from a run-in configuration to a set configuration;
wherein, in use, the packer is arranged such that in the set configuration;the second ends of the elongate elements extend radially outwards; the seal element comprises a cup seal forming a contact seal with a conduit wall; and a pressure differential across the packer, which creates a force in the setting direction, will increase the setting force applied by the seal setting apparatus to the seal element to maintain the contact seal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A method of sealing a conduit, the method comprising the steps of:
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actuating a packer from a run-in configuration to a set configuration by moving a seal setting apparatus comprising a plurality of elongate elements in a setting direction, the elongate elements disposed so as to engage a portion of an inside surface of a cup seal element and each having a first end and a second end; and extending the second ends of the elongate elements radialy outwards to apply a setting force to the cup seal element, the cup seal element forming a contact seal with a wall of the conduit;
wherein, a pressure differential across the packer which creates a force in the setting direction will increase the setting force applied by the seal setting apparatus to the seal element to maintain the seal. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73)
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74. A packer for a well, the packer comprising:
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a seal element; and a seal backup; and a seal setting apparatus comprising a plurality of elongate elements having a first end and a second end, the seal setting apparatus being moveable with respect to the seal element in a setting direction to apply a setting force to the seal element to move the seal element from a run-in configuration to a set configuration;
wherein, in use, the packer is arranged such that in the set configuration;the second ends of the elongate elements extend radially outwards; the seal element comprises a cup seal forming a contact seal with a conduit wall; and a pressure differential across the packer, which creates a force in the setting direction, will increase the setting force applied by the seal setting apparatus to the seal element to maintain the contact seal.
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Specification