Abstract: A lipless tubular oil seal assembly uses a tubular type of seal. The new seals create only enough pressure against the casing to provide an adequate seal under most conditions and the small amount of oil that would leak by on the roughest well casing surfaces acts as a lubricant. The new seal has no lip so it cannot turn under and get stuck in the well casing like a cup seal, even under the roughest conditions.

Abstract: A morphable packer and method of setting the packer in a wellbore. The packer is a tubular member having a throughbore with a central portion having a greater diameter than each end portion with tapered portions there between. Gripping elements are arranged on the tapered portions. Morphing of the tubular member creates a seal between the central portion and an outer cylindrical structure, such as a wellbore or casing, and the gripping elements are moved radially outwards to engage with the cylindrical structure. The gripping elements act as slips which are activated by morphing the tubular member. Embodiments are described with the tubular member being a sleeve on a base pipe and, additionally, sealing and securing features in the form of elastomeric bands, lugs and wedges.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an annular barrier for being expanded in an annulus between a well tubular structure and an inside wall of a borehole downhole. The annular barrier comprises a tubular part for mounting as part of the well tubular structure; an expandable sleeve made of a first metal, surrounding the tubular part and defining a space being in fluid communication with an inside of the tubular part, the expandable sleeve having a longitudinal extension, an inner face facing the tubular part and two ends; a connection part made of a second metal, connecting the expandable sleeve with the tubular part; an opening for letting fluid into the space to expand the sleeve, and a transition area comprising a connection of the sleeve with the connection part.

Abstract: An inflatable packer includes an inflation assembly having an inner expandable bladder, an expandable support position about the bladder, and a reinforced sealing member positioned circumferentially about a portion of the support structure.

Abstract: An inflatable sleeve or packer includes a mandrel that extends along a longitudinal axis and a sealed inflatable jacket which is connected to the mandrel and selectively adopts a rest configuration or a maximum inflation configuration. The sleeve also includes a restraining sheath which covers the inflatable jacket and is at least partially formed by essentially inextensible fibers including peripheral fibers which each extend around the longitudinal axis, the peripheral fibers adopting a pleated configuration for the rest configuration of the jacket and a stretched configuration for the maximum inflation configuration thereof.

Abstract: Inflatable packers are provided with one or more components to improve longevity and/or functionality. One or more of the packer components utilizes reinforced materials incorporated in a manner that enables the improved longevity and/or functionality.

Abstract: A swellable material seal includes a quantity of swellable material disposed in a geometric configuration; and a plurality of openings in the material to enhance wettability thereof by a swelling fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an annular barrier to be expanded in an annulus between a well tubular structure and an inside wall of a borehole downhole, comprising a tubular part for mounting as part of the well tubular structure, said tubular part having a longitudinal axis, an expandable sleeve surrounding the tubular part and having an outer face, each end of the expandable sleeve being fastened by means of a connection part to the tubular part, and an aperture in the expandable sleeve or the connection part, wherein a first connection and a second connection are fastened on the outer face of the expandable sleeve, and a safety sleeve having an opening is fastened to the expandable sleeve by means of the first and the second connections, the safety sleeve and the expandable sleeve defining a space being in fluid communication with the annulus.

Abstract: A packer that is usable with a well includes a tubular inner core and a swellable body that is mounted to the core and is adapted to swell in the presence of a triggering agent to form an annular seal in the well. The swellable body longitudinally extends between first and second ends of the body and includes a first region that is located between the first and second ends of the swellable body to swell at a first rate and at least a second region that is located closer to one of the first and second ends than the first region to swell at a second rate less than the first rate.

Abstract: Downhole apparatus comprises a base pipe and a plurality of non-concentric pressure deformable chambers mounted externally on the pipe. The chambers may be inflated to increase the diameter of the apparatus and engage and support a surrounding bore wall.

Abstract: An annular sealing element to seal between metal surfaces for use in flanges, joints, packers and the like, located in oil and gas exploration and production equipment. The sealing element has inner and outer metal deformable surfaces joined at ends, defining an interior volume which is entirely filled with a plastic deformable material. The surfaces are arranged such that on compression of the element from the ends, the element will deform in a controlled manner on a cantilever principle. The volume of filler and the interior volume remain substantially equal during compression so that delamination does not occur. Thus the sealing element provides a seal combining the flexibility of elastomer seals with the integrity of a metal to metal seal.

Abstract: A method of completing a well having a casing hanger set in a subsea wellhead housing includes attaching a running tool to a tubular bridging hanger. A metal-to-metal inner seal is attached to a lower exterior portion of the bridging hanger and a metal-to-metal outer seal is located on an upper exterior portion of the bridging hanger. The assembly is lowered into the well and the lower exterior portion of the bridging hanger is inserted into the casing hanger. The inner seal is wedged between the casing hanger and the bridging hanger in response to weight of the running string. The running tool is actuated to set the outer seal between the upper exterior portion of the bridging hanger and the wellhead housing. Then, a tubing hanger is landed and sealed in the interior of the bridging hanger.

Abstract: A packer for temporarily closing a well or a pipe including a support and an inflatable tubular element attached to the support, the element having a wall of elastic material that is deformable radially outwards under the action of internal pressure so as to press hermetically against the wall of the well or pipe and is reinforced with multistrand metal cables embedded in the wall of the material, wherein the spaces between the strands forming the metal cables contain a fluid impermeable material so that fluid is unable to flow through the spaces of the cables.

Abstract: A reinforced stripper rubber assembly with a stripper rubber body including a drillstring engaging portion having a drillstring bore extending axially therethrough. The drillstring engaging portion of the stripper rubber body is made from an elastomeric material, has an inner surface that engages a drillstring when the drillstring is dispose therein and has a reinforcing insert receiving recess within an exterior surface thereof extending at least partially around the drillstring bore. A reinforcing insert is disposed within the reinforcing insert receiving recess. The reinforcing insert includes an elastomeric material bonded to the stripper rubber body within the reinforcing insert receiving recess. A support structure is disposed within a support structure engaging portion of the stripper rubber body. The support structure includes a central opening generally aligned with the drillstring bore thereby allowing the drillstring to pass jointly through the central opening and the drillstring bore.

Abstract: An energized composite metal to metal seal. A sealing device includes a metal seal with a metal sealing surface facing radially outward, and another metal sealing surface facing radially inward; and a nonmetal seal including a nonmetal sealing surface positioned proximate one metal sealing surface and facing radially outward, and another nonmetal sealing surface positioned proximate the other metal sealing surface and facing radially inward. A method of sealing between a housing assembly and a closure member includes applying a pressure differential across the sealing device while the sealing device seals between the housing assembly and the closure member, and the pressure differential increasing contact pressure in a metal to metal seal between the housing assembly and a metal sealing surface on the metal seal, and increasing contact pressure in a metal to metal seal between the closure member and another metal sealing surface on the metal seal.

Abstract: The present invention regards a packer element (20) for use in a stuffing box (5) for sealing between to relative movable elements for instance a shaft (1) and house (2). The packer element (20) comprises an inner elastic material (21) comprising an inner void (23) and an outer abrasion layer (22). The inner void (23) is mostly fluid tight and comprises means providing at least one opening to the outside of the packer element (20), for pressurizing of the inner void (23). The invention also regards a method for producing the packer elements and method for installing it.

Abstract: A swellable element includes a mandrel, a swellable material disposed about the mandrel and at least one cut in the swellable material and method.

Abstract: An integral bodied composite packer is constructed entirely of a composite material. It can include an expandable middle portion with an elastomeric cover to engage an exterior surface of a well bore. The expandable portion can include continuous strands of polymeric fibers to reinforce the body and prevent extrusion. The packer body can have longitudinal cuts or slats to provide rigidity of the body after expansion. The slats can overlap. The packer can include an elastomeric cover or layer therein to engage the well bore. The expandable portion can include a reinforcement member in a laminar portion of the body made from high strength alloys, fiber-reinforced polymers and/or elastomers, nanofiber, nanoparticle, and nanotube reinforced polymers and/or elastomers.

Abstract: Improved inflatable packers are provided. A packer may be constructed from hybrid structures including slat structures and weave structures. A packer may include a bladder and a cover, with a plurality of slats disposed therebetween, and/or a weave structure or anti-extrusion layer disposed therebetween. The slats may vary in width and thickness, and be provided with a plurality of reinforcement members. The reinforcement members may be longitudinally and/or transversely disposed in the slats. One or more of the various components of the packer preferably include a fiber, a wire, a cable, a nanofiber, a nanotube, and/or a nanoparticle modified elastomer. Anchors may be attached to or embedded in the outer cover. The packer may include a carcass having an end coupling including a plurality of slats. Improved packer cups are also disclosed, and preferably include a body member reinforced with a nanotube or similar material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, particularly useful for isolating zones in a hydrocarbon wellbore. The apparatus includes a tubular section, such as a length of casing or liner tubular, arranged to be run into and secured within the wellbore which may be open hole or already cased. At least one sleeve member is positioned on the exterior of the tubular section and is sealed thereto. A pressure control device, which typically consists of a pressurised hydraulic fluid delivery device, can be used to increase the pressure within the sleeve member to cause the sleeve member to move outwardly and bear against an inner wall of the wellbore.

Abstract: Grip between a tubular being expanded and the surrounding tubular is enhanced by disposing a wire in a groove. The wire is preferably harder than the surrounding tubular so that it can dig in upon expansion. The wire is mounted in the groove so that it is not stretched due to the expansion and for that reason doesn't increase the effort required for the expansion. The wire can take the shape of the groove that it is in or it can have some other shape. The wire can be solid or hollow and can be in segments such as rings or can be a longer continuously extending wire in a groove that, for example, can be helically disposed on the tubular being expanded or even on a sleeve surrounding it.

Abstract: An inflatable packing element for a bridge plug. The packing element has an anchor portion and a sealing cover portion, each of which is expanded in order to engage and seal a surrounding string of casing or borehole. The anchor portion has a minimum length defined by 2.63× the inner diameter of the surrounding pipe or other wellbore opening. At the same time, the anchor portion has a maximum length defined by approximately 49% of the length of the expanded portion of the packing element engaging the surrounding pipe or other wellbore opening.

Abstract: An improved inflatable packer 10 is provided having a pre-stretched bladder to minimize Z-folding. An expandable outer body 11 includes an inner elastomeric bladder layer 12, a reinforcement layer 14 which may include overlapping slats or cable, and an outer elastomer cover layer 16 which may cover only a portion of the reinforcement layer 14. The bladder 12 may expand non-uniformly due to the variations in the cross-section of the borehole 20, irregularities in construction of the bladder 12, and/or difference in resistance to expansion between the covered portion and the exposed portion of the reinforcement layer 14. An improved inflatable packer and method comprises pre-stretching the bladder 12 to keep the bladder in tension and minimize the occurrence of Z-folds.

Abstract: Extrusion resistant inflatable tool having a biaxially oriented woven material disposed about at least one elastomeric element of the inflatable tool and radially inwardly of a rib structure of the inflatable tool. The woven material prevents extrusion of the elastomeric element between individual ribs of the ribs structure during the inflation of the tool.

Abstract: A device and method for sealing a first cylinder in a fixed position inside a second concentric cylinder. The inner cylinder has an annular depression in its wall at the point of sealant placement, which causes the wall of the inner cylinder to intrude inwardly. The depression is filled with a partially compressible fluid and is covered over by a malleable/ductile sleeve. The inner cylinder is placed within the outer cylinder with the covered annular depression positioned at the desired sealing point. A cylindrical displacement device is directed through the inside of the inner cylinder where it encounters the intrusion of the annular depression. The displacement device is forced past the annular intrusion and pushes the wall outward. The partially compressible fluid is forced to expand outward under the malleable/ductile cover in a manner that intrudes into the annular space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and into contact with the outer cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for sealing and/or anchoring against the inside surface of an outer tubular. In one embodiment, a radially expandable sleeve has at least one radially expandable separate rings located there about. The at least one ring is capable of radical expansion without appreciable deformation of the at least one edge for improved engagement between the at least one edge and the inside surface of the outer tubular. In another embodiment, the present invention provides an inflatable metal to metal seal packer that is able to accommodate out of round casing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wall thickness program onto an elastomeric tubular component, such as an expandable bladder and/or cover element, for incorporation into a packing device for use in a subterranean well includes steps of contouring upon a surface a diametrical configuration defining a wall thickness program for the tubular component. The diametrical configuration is transferred from the surface onto at least one of the walls of the tubular component as a wall thickness program whereby the transfer diametrical configuration conforms substantially as a mirror image of the program on the contoured surface. An elongated mandrel may be provided as the surface onto which the diametrical configuration of the wall thickness program is contoured, such as by machining. Thereafter, the elastomeric tubular component may be prepared on the mandrel, such as by wrapping elastomeric ribbon in layers therearound as the mandrel is manipulated.

Abstract: Inflation control arrangement including a non-oriented continuous strand material bound between concentric layers of elastomeric material in an inflatable tool. Where the continuous strand material is located, inflation will be delayed.

Abstract: An inflatable packing device for use in a subterranean well provides a sophisticated cover means which results in a uniform expansion profile and exceptionally low angles of expansion propagation during inflation of the bladder to set the device, whereby well fluids between the wall of the well bore and the exterior of the cover of the device are swept away from the area of subsequent sealing of the cover. The propensity for rib kinking and rib cutting, pinching, folding, cracking and tearing of the bladder during inflation are eliminated. Correspondingly, reduced stresses and strains in cover segments combined with near ideal inflation profiles result in enhanced expansion propagation of the inflation element and improved service performance and reliability of the downhole device.

Abstract: An inflatable packing device for use in a subterranean well provides a sophisticated bladder, either alone or in combination with a sophisticated cover, which results in a uniform expansion profile and exceptionally low angles of expansion propagation during inflation of the bladder to set the device, whereby well fluids between the wall of the well bore and the exterior of the cover of the device are swept away from the area of subsequent sealing of the cover. The propensity for rib kinking and rib cutting, pinching, folding, cracking and tearing of the bladder during inflation are eliminated. Correspondingly, reduced stresses and strains in cover segments combined with near ideal inflation profiles result in enhanced expansion propagation of the inflation element and improved service performance and reliability of the downhole device.

Abstract: An inflatable packer having a sealing section, with noncontinuous ribs, is provided in combination with a ribbed element, which provides anchoring capabilities in tandem with the partially ribbed element which provides sealing capabilities in downhole applications.

Abstract: An inflatable packer is provided for introduction into a subterranean well bore on a conduit. A pinch can form in the inflatable elastomeric bladder of the packer during inflation or deflation, forming a seal which obstructs the effective passage of pressured fluid, thereby obstructing inflation and deflation of the bladder. Additionally, ribs on the exterior of the bladder can cut into the bladder during nonuniform inflation or deflation of the bladder. The packer provides a series of shape-controllers to cause uniform inflation along the length of the bladder to eliminate these problems.

Abstract: An inflatable packer includes a packer mandrel and an inflatable element reinforced across its entire length and attached at each end to the packer mandrel. The inflatable element is formed of multiple layers of elastomeric material including reinforcing plies of an elastomeric base material reinforced with helically wound strands of a reinforcing material. The reinforcing strands are evenly spaced and parallel to one another and are oriented at a predetermined helical angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the packer. The helical angle and modulus of elasticity of the reinforcing strands can be selected to allow the inflatable element to expand by a predetermined amount even though its ends are fixed.

Abstract: An annular sealing element to seal between metal surfaces for use in flanges, joints, packers and the like, located in oil and gas exploration and production equipment. The sealing element has inner and outer metal deformable surfaces joined at ends, defining an interior volume which is entirely filled with a plastic deformable material. The surfaces are arranged such that on compression of the element from the ends, the element will deform in a controlled manner on a cantilever principle. The volume of filler and the interior volume remain substantially equal during compression so that delamination does not occur. Thus the sealing element provides a seal combining the flexibility of elastomer seals with the integrity of a metal to metal seal.