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BR-112022003314-B1 - EXTRUSION PREVENTION DEVICE, SEALING ELEMENT FOR A WELL TOOL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SEALING ELEMENT FOR A WELL TOOL DEVICE

BR112022003314B1BR 112022003314 B1BR112022003314 B1BR 112022003314B1BR-112022003314-B1

Abstract

EXTRUSION PREVENTION DEVICE FOR INCORPORATION INTO A SEALING ELEMENT AND A WELL TOOL DEVICE COMPRISING A SEALING ELEMENT IN WHICH SUCH AN EXTRUSION PREVENTION DEVICE IS INCORPORATED. The present invention relates to an extrusion prevention device (10) for incorporation into a sealing element (7) of a well tool device (1). The extrusion prevention device (10) comprises a wire (11) wound with a plurality of turns (T1, T2, T3, ..., Tn) to form a torsionally configured helical spring (12). Each turn of the torsionally configured helical spring (12) is inclined (oblique).

Inventors

  • Anders Glad
  • Thomas Hiorth

Assignees

  • INTERWELL NORWAY AS

Dates

Publication Date
20260310
Application Date
20200820
Priority Date
20190903

Claims (14)

  1. 1. Extrusion prevention device (10) for incorporation into a sealing element (7) of a well tool device (1), wherein the extrusion prevention device (10) comprises: - a wire (11) wound with a plurality of turns (T1, T2, T3, ..., Tn) to form a torsionally configured helical spring (12); characterized in that: - each turn of the torsionally configured helical spring (12) is inclined.
  2. 2. Extrusion prevention device (10), according to claim 1, characterized in that each turn of the torsionally configured helical spring (12) is inclined with respect to a poloidal plane (PP).
  3. 3. Extrusion prevention device (10), according to claim 2, characterized in that each turn of the torus-configured helical spring (12) is inclined with a first angle (α1) with respect to a radial direction (RD) of the poloidal plane (PP).
  4. 4. Extrusion prevention device (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that each turn of the torus-configured helical spring (12) is inclined with a second angle (α2) with respect to a longitudinal direction (LD) of the poloidal plane (PP).
  5. 5. Extrusion prevention device (10), according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the first angle (α1) is between 3° and 60°, preferably between 10° and 40° in the operating state.
  6. 6. Extrusion prevention device (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the second angle (α2) is between 3° and 60°, preferably between 10° and 40° in the operating state.
  7. 7. Extrusion prevention device (10), according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the first angle (α1) and/or the second angle (α2) are larger in the adjusted state than in the operating state.
  8. 8. Extrusion prevention device (10), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extrusion prevention device (10) further comprises a first core (20) provided inside the torsionally configured helical spring (12), wherein the first core (20) comprises: - an additional wire (21) wound with a plurality of turns (T1, T2, T3, ..., Tn) to form an additional torsionally configured helical spring (22); wherein each turn of the additional torsionally configured helical spring (22) is inclined.
  9. 9. Extrusion prevention device (10), according to claim 8, characterized in that the wire (11) is wound in a first toroidal direction (TD) and the additional wire (21) of the first core (20) is wound in a second toroidal direction opposite to the first toroidal direction (TD).
  10. 10. Well tool device (1) comprising: - a mandrel device (3) having a longitudinal central geometric axis (CA); - a sealing device (5) radially provided on the outside of the mandrel device (3), wherein a sealing element (7) of the sealing device (5) is configured to be brought from a radially retracted state to a radially expanded state, wherein the sealing element (7) in the radially extended state is brought into sealing contact with an inner surface (2a) of a well (2); characterized in that the well tool device (1) further comprises an extrusion prevention device (10), as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9, incorporated into the sealing element (7).
  11. 11. Well tool device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the extrusion prevention device (10) is molded into the sealing element (7).
  12. 12. Sealing element (7) for a well tool device (1), wherein the sealing element (7) comprises: - a body made of an elastomeric material; - an extrusion prevention device (10) incorporated into the sealing element (7), wherein the extrusion prevention device (10) comprises a wire (11) wound with a plurality of turns (T1, T2, T3, ..., Tn) to form a torsionally configured helical spring (12); characterized in that: - each turn of the torsionally configured helical spring (12) is inclined.
  13. 13. Sealing element (7), according to claim 12, characterized in that the extrusion prevention device (10) is molded in the elastomeric material.
  14. 14. Method for manufacturing a sealing element (7) for a well tool device (1), characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: - providing a mold configured as the sealing element (7); - inserting an extrusion prevention device (10) comprising a wire (11) wound with a plurality of turns (T1, T2, T3, ..., Tn) to form a torsionally configured helical spring (12) in the mold; wherein each turn of the torsionally configured helical spring (12) is inclined; - filling molten elastomeric material into the mold, thus incorporating the inclined torsionally configured helical spring (12) into the molten elastomeric material; - curing the elastomeric material; - retrieving the sealing element (7) from the mold.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to an extrusion prevention device for incorporation into a sealing element of a wellbore tool device. The present invention also relates to a wellbore tool device comprising a sealing element in which such an extrusion prevention device is incorporated. The present invention also relates to a sealing element for a wellbore tool device. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a sealing element for a wellbore tool device. STATE OF THE ART OF THE PRESENT INVENTION [0002] Some well tool devices have a purpose of sealing a section of an oil and/or gas well. A simplified example of such a well tool device is indicated with the reference number (1) in Figure 1a and Figure 1b. The well tool device (1) is operating in a well (2) in a radially retracted or operating state (Figure 1a) to a desired position. In this desired position, the well tool device (1) is brought to its radially expanded or adjusted state (Figure 1b), in which a sealing element (7) of a sealing device (5) is brought into contact with the inner surface (2a) of the well (2) and thus prevents axial fluid flow between the lower side of the sealing element (7) and the upper side of the sealing element (7). The well tool device (1) typically also comprises an anchoring device (4) brought into contact with the inner surface (2a) of the well (2) in the adjusted state, to prevent axial displacement of the well tool device (1) when a differential pressure exists across the sealing element (7). A central longitudinal geometric axis of the well tool device is indicated as a dashed line (CA). [0003] The sealing element (7) is typically made of a flexible material, such as elastomers, rubber materials, etc., and is provided circumferentially around the outside of the well tool device (1). [0004] In wells with higher pressures and/or higher temperatures, the sealing element (7) may become extruded or deformed as the differential pressure on the sealing element (7) increases. [0005] One way to prevent such extrusion is to provide support elements (often referred to as “backups”) below and above the sealing elements. Such support elements are indicated with the reference number (6) in Figure 1a and Figure 1b. [0006] Another way of preventing such extrusion is to incorporate one or more extrusion prevention devices into the sealing element itself. Such extrusion prevention devices are indicated in Figure 1a and Figure 1b with the reference number (10). It should be noted that the extrusion prevention support elements (6) and the extrusion prevention devices (10) mentioned above can be used together in the same well tool, they are not alternatives to each other. [0007] US Patent 7,416,770 (Hiorth) describes such an extrusion prevention device for incorporation into a sealing element. Here, the extrusion prevention device comprises elements inserted into one another, where the elements are enabled to move relative to each other when the sealing element is brought from the operating state to the adjusted state. Here, the diameter of the extrusion prevention device is enabled to expand. [0008] US Patent 9,464,498 (Hiorth) describes another extrusion prevention device comprising a number of bushing-configured elements mounted as a ring for incorporation into a sealing element. [0009] US Patent 4,509,763 (Fischer) describes an extrusion prevention device comprising a helical spring, in which cylindrical pin elements are provided to prevent deformation of the helical spring and to block gaps between the turns of the spring to prevent extrusion through these gaps. [0010] U.S. Patent No. 4,809,989 (Kernal) describes another example of a helical spring incorporated in such sealing elements. [0011] A prior art helical spring is used in the sealing element of the Interwell ME (Medium Expansion) recoverable bridge plug. Reference is now made to Figures 2a-f, where this prior art extrusion prevention device (10) is illustrated in detail. Here, it is shown that the device (10) forms a helical spring (12) made of a wound wire (11) with turns T1, T2, T3, ..., Tn - 1, Tn counted clockwise in Figure 2d. The helical spring (12) forms a torus, with a circular opening (13), a smaller radius (rm) and a larger radius (Rm) indicated in Figure 2c. The larger radius (Rm) is also indicated in Figure 2d. The radius (Rw) of the wire (11) forming the helical spring (12) is shown in Figure 2f. [0012] The radial direction (RD) is shown with an arrow perpendicular to the central geometric axis (CA) of the well tool device (1). [0013] An inner circle (IC) shown in Figure 2d and Figure 2f can be defined to have a radius (Ric) equal to the larger radius (Rm) minus the smaller radius (rm) plus the wire radius (Rw). An outer circle (OC) shown in Figure 2d and Figure 2f can be defined to have a radius (Roc) equal to the larger radius (Rm) plus the smaller radius (rm) minus the wire radius (Rw). As a re