US-20260125963-A1 - MAGNETICALLY GRADED ADAPTOR FOR A WELLBORE SEALING SYSTEM

US20260125963A1US 20260125963 A1US20260125963 A1US 20260125963A1US-20260125963-A1

Abstract

An adaptor can be used with respect to a wellbore sealing system. The adaptor can include a first adaptor component that includes a magnet. The first adaptor component can be coupled with the wellbore sealing system. The adaptor can include a second adaptor component that includes a filler material that is magnetically graded. The second adaptor component can be coupled to the wellbore sealing system and can be positioned with respect to the first adaptor component to cause the magnet and the filler material to magnetically interact for applying a sealing force to the wellbore sealing system.

Inventors

Chad W. GLAESMAN
Joshua Taylor Green
Sandeep Thatathil

Assignees

HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM BOARD OF REGENTS

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241101

Claims (20)

1 . An adaptor comprising: a first adaptor component comprising a magnet, the first adaptor component couplable with a wellbore sealing system; and a second adaptor component comprising a filler material that is magnetically graded, the second adaptor component couplable to the wellbore sealing system and positionable with respect to the first adaptor component to cause the magnet and the filler material to magnetically interact for applying a sealing force to the wellbore sealing system.
2 . The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the second adaptor component further comprises a polymer binder material that is positionable to encapsulate the filler material, and wherein the filler material is distributable within the polymer binder material according to a concentration profile that corresponds to a magnetic gradient of the filler material.
3 . The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the first adaptor component further comprises a second filler material that is magnetically graded and that is positionable to magnetically interact with a second magnet of the second adaptor component, and wherein second adaptor component further comprises the second magnet.
4 . The adaptor of claim 3 , wherein: the magnet is a first inner magnet and the second magnet is a second inner magnet; the first adaptor component further comprises a first outer magnet positioned opposite the first inner magnet with respect to the first adaptor component for magnetically interacting with at least the second inner magnet; and the second adaptor component further comprises a second outer magnet positioned opposite the second inner magnet with respect to the second adaptor component for magnetically interacting with at least the first inner magnet.
5 . The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the wellbore sealing system comprises an O-ring seal positionable adjacent to the second adaptor component to receive a sealing force from the second adaptor component in response to magnetic interaction between the magnet of the first adaptor component and the filler material of the second adaptor component.
6 . The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the filler material is magnetically graded based on a magnetic gradient that is calibrated to compensate for an adjustable load on the wellbore sealing system by adjusting the sealing force based on a distance between the first adaptor component and the second adaptor component.
7 . The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the first adaptor component and the second adaptor component are positionable to exert a constant net force on the wellbore sealing system by adjusting the sealing force that is applied to the wellbore sealing system based on a distance between the first adaptor component and the second adaptor component.
8 . A system comprising: a wellbore sealing system positionable in a wellbore; and an adaptor positionable in the wellbore sealing system, the adaptor comprising: a first adaptor component comprising a magnet, the first adaptor component couplable with a wellbore sealing system; and a second adaptor component comprising a filler material that is magnetically graded, the second adaptor component couplable to the wellbore sealing system and positionable with respect to the first adaptor component to cause the magnet and the filler material to magnetically interact for applying a sealing force to the wellbore sealing system.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the second adaptor component further comprises a polymer binder material that is positionable to encapsulate the filler material, and wherein the filler material is distributable within the polymer binder material according to a concentration profile that corresponds to a magnetic gradient of the filler material.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first adaptor component further comprises a second filler material that is magnetically graded and that is positionable to magnetically interact with a second magnet of the second adaptor component, and wherein second adaptor component further comprises the second magnet.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein: the magnet is a first inner magnet and the second magnet is a second inner magnet; the first adaptor component further comprises a first outer magnet positioned opposite the first inner magnet with respect to the first adaptor component for magnetically interacting with at least the second inner magnet; and the second adaptor component further comprises a second outer magnet positioned opposite the second inner magnet with respect to the second adaptor component for magnetically interacting with at least the first inner magnet.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the wellbore sealing system comprises an O-ring seal positionable adjacent to the second adaptor component to receive a sealing force from the second adaptor component in response to magnetic interaction between the magnet of the first adaptor component and the filler material of the second adaptor component.
13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the filler material is magnetically graded based on a magnetic gradient that is calibrated to compensate for an adjustable load on the wellbore sealing system by adjusting the sealing force based on a distance between the first adaptor component and the second adaptor component.
14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first adaptor component and the second adaptor component are positionable to exert a constant net force on the wellbore sealing system by adjusting the sealing force that is applied to the wellbore sealing system based on a distance between the first adaptor component and the second adaptor component.
15 . A method comprising: coupling a first adaptor component with a wellbore sealing system, the first adaptor component including a magnet; coupling a second adaptor component with the wellbore sealing system, the second adaptor component including a filler material that is magnetically graded; and applying a sealing force to the wellbore sealing system by causing the magnet and the filler material to magnetically interact.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising: encapsulating the filler material with a polymer binder material in the second adaptor component; and distributing the filler material within the polymer binder material according to a concentration profile that corresponds to a magnetic gradient of the filler material.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising positioning a second filler material that is magnetically graded in the first adaptor component to magnetically interact with a second magnet positioned in the second adaptor component.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the magnet is a first inner magnet and the second magnet is a second inner magnet, and wherein the method further comprises: positioning a first outer magnet in the first adaptor component opposite the first inner magnet with respect to the first adaptor component for magnetically interacting with at least the second inner magnet; and positioning a second outer magnet in the second adaptor component opposite the second inner magnet with respect to the second adaptor component for magnetically interacting with at least the first inner magnet.
19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising positioning an O-ring seal of the wellbore sealing system adjacent to the second adaptor component to receive a sealing force from the second adaptor component in response to magnetic interaction between the magnet of the first adaptor component and the filler material of the second adaptor component.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the filler material is magnetically graded based on a magnetic gradient that is calibrated to compensate for an adjustable load on the wellbore sealing system by adjusting the sealing force based on a distance between the first adaptor component and the second adaptor component.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to wellbore operations and, more particularly (although not necessarily exclusively), to a magnetically graded adaptor for a wellbore sealing system. BACKGROUND A wellbore can be a hole that can be drilled into a subterranean formation for extracting produced material such as hydrocarbon material, water, and the like. A well tool can be deployed downhole in a wellbore. The well tool can include a sealing system for preventing fluids from entering an interior of the well tool. The sealing system can include a sealing material, such as a polymeric sealing material. The volume and performance of the polymeric sealing material can depend on the temperature and the pressure of the polymeric sealing material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a wellbore that can include a magnetically graded adaptor for a wellbore sealing system according to one example of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic of a magnetically graded adaptor for a wellbore sealing system according to one example of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a schematic of a magnetically graded adaptor for a wellbore sealing system with two magnets and two filler materials according to one example of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a schematic of a magnetically graded adaptor for a wellbore sealing system according to one example of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a schematic of a magnetically graded adaptor for an O-ring sealing system according to one example of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process for using a magnetically graded adaptor for a wellbore sealing system according to one example of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a pair of graphs depicting possible load profiles that can be implemented by the magnetically graded adaptor according to one example of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a schematic of a magnetically graded adaptor with interlocking teeth for a wellbore sealing system according to one example of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Certain aspects and features of the present disclosure relate to a magnetically graded adaptor for a wellbore sealing system. A wellbore sealing system can be deployed in a wellbore, and the wellbore sealing system can include sealing materials. For example, the wellbore sealing system can include polymeric sealing materials, metallic sealing materials, and the like. The wellbore sealing system can include one or more seals that can isolate a region, for example with respect to a wellbore tool, from the wellbore environment. The magnetically graded adaptor can include a magnet, a filler material that is magnetically graded, or the like for facilitating magnetic-based sealing forces in the wellbore sealing system. For example, the adaptor can be magnetically graded such that the filler material within the adaptor includes a magnetic gradient and is dispersed according to a concentration profile for applying a magnetic force on a corresponding adaptor to apply adequate pressure on the wellbore sealing system even in low-temperature (e.g., less than 0° C. or 32° F.) environments. The concentration profile can involve an increasing (or decreasing) concentration of magnetic particles in one direction. For example, a concentration of magnetic particles of the filler material can increase from a first location of the filler material to a second location of the filler material. Accordingly, a magnetic gradient can exist in the filler material such that the magnetic force applied or experienced by the filler material increases (or decreases) in a particular direction (e.g., magnetically graded). The filler material can include particles (e.g., less than 50 microns) of magnetic material such as iron or other suitable magnetic or ferromagnetic material. Sealing materials can experience volumetric losses and diminished elasticity under conditions of low temperature and high pressure due to the degrading effects of thermal expansion and bulk modulus. Loss of volume and elasticity can result in a diminished sealing performance. Incorporating magnetic material into sealing systems can reduce loss in performance that sealing systems can experience during thermal and pressure cycles and additionally over time due to creep and other viscous responses. A wellbore sealing system can use magnets, magnetically filled polymeric materials, or the like that incorporate magnetic concentration gradients to create components of sealing systems with customizable load profiles. Customizable load profiles can be used to maintain or manipulate contact stresses on the wellbore sealing systems. The gradient profiles can be created though additive manufacturing techniques. The additive manufacturing techniques can involve a mixing print head that can allow for dynamic adjustment of feedstock concentrations in three dimensions throughout the profile to create the gradients. Additionally, techniques to cre