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WO-2026096107-A1 - V-PACKING UTILIZING POLYARYLETHER KETONE SEAL ELEMENTS

WO2026096107A1WO 2026096107 A1WO2026096107 A1WO 2026096107A1WO-2026096107-A1

Abstract

A seal assembly comprising a first back-up ring, a second ring member, and a plurality of v-rings arranged in a stacked configuration and interposing the first back-up ring and the second ring member. The at least one of the plurality of v-rings being a v-seal formed from a material that comprises a polyarylether ketone (PAEK), the material having a tensile modulus equal to or less than 3,900 MPa at room temperature.

Inventors

  • WEINTRAUB, PRESTON N.

Assignees

  • Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20250918
Priority Date
20241029

Claims (14)

  1. 1. A seal assembly (110), comprising: a first back-up ring (214a, 321); a second ring member (214b, 324); and a plurality of v-rings (200a, 200b, 200c. 322, 323) arranged in a stacked configuration and interposing the first back-up ring and the second ring member, wherein at least one of the plurality of v-rings being a v-seal formed from a material that comprises a polyarylether ketone (PAEK).
  2. 2. The seal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a center member (216, 316) interposing a first set of the plurality of v-rings (220a, 320a) and a second set of the plurality of v- rings (220b, 320b).
  3. 3. The seal assembly of claims 1 or 2, wherein the material has an elongation at break between 40% and 60% .
  4. 4. The seal assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the PAEK is a first PAEK, wherein the v-rings includes at least two back-up rings formed from a second PAEK, the v-seal being disposed between and engaged with the two back-up rings formed from the second PAEK.
  5. 5. The seal assembly of any one of claim 4, the first PAEK that has a tensile modulus less than or equal to 3,900 MPa at room temperature and the second PAEK that has a tensile modulus that is greater than 3,900 MPa at room temperature.
  6. 6. The seal assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second ring member is a hat ring (324) that is disposed within and in direct contact with a groove (346) of the v-seal.
  7. 7. The seal assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the PAEK is a first PAEK, wherein the second ring member is a second back-up ring (214b), wherein the first and second backup rings are each formed from a second material comprising a second PAEK, and wherein the second PAEK comprises a higher flexural modulus relative to the first PAEK.
  8. 8. The seal assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second member is a second back-up ring (214b). wherein the first and second back-up rings are each formed from a material consisting of PAEK. 076063-000101
  9. 9. The seal assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the material is devoid of perfluoroalkyl/polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS).
  10. 10. The seal assembly of any preceding claim, wherein plurality of v-rings includes a at least one back-up ring, the material is a first material, and the plurality of v-rings includes a at least one back-up ring formed from a second material that comprises the PAEK that is different than the first material. 11. The seal assembly of claim 8, wherein the material is a first material and the PAEK is a first PAEK, the plurality of v-rings includes at least one back-up ring formed from a second material that comprises a second PAEK that is different than the first PAEK.
  11. 11. The seal assembly of claims 9 or 10, wherein the at least one back-up ring is devoid of PFAS.
  12. 12. The seal assembly of any preceding claim, wherein each v- ring being devoid of both PFAS and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
  13. 13. The seal assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the material has a tensile modulus equal to or less than 3,900 MPa at room temperature.
  14. 14. The seal assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the material has a flexural modulus at room temperature between 80 MPa and 40 MPa. 15 The seal assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the PAEK is a poly ether ether ketone (PEEK).

Description

076063-000101 V-PACKING UTILIZING POLYARYLETHER KETONE SEAL ELEMENTS FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE [0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a V-packing sealing system of a downhole tools, subsea systems, and surface equipment (e.g., pumps), and more particularly, to a V-packing sealing system that uses seal elements (e.g., v-seals) formed from a poly arylether ketone (PAEK), such as poly ether ether ketone (PEEK). BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE [0002] Downhole tools often include components and/or chambers separated by (or in some cases, protected by) seal assemblies or seal assembly systems. Exposure to extreme pressures and temperatures may negatively affect the functionality of these seal assemblies and/or systems. [0003] Conventional seal assemblies include seal members that are formed from a polymer that includes perfluoroalky 1/polyfluoroalkyl (PF AS) materials, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) commonly known as Teflon®. PFAS are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals’’ and are widely known to be long-lasting and harmful to both people and the environment. [0004] There is a need in the art for a seal assembly capable of withstanding high pressures and temperatures that reduces or eliminates the amount of PFAS materials that is placed in the environment. In other words, there is a need for a sealing system that uses more environmentally friendly materials. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE [0005] Various details of the present disclosure are hereinafter summarized to provide a basic understanding. This summary7 is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and is neither intended to identify certain elements of the disclosure, nor to delineate the scope thereof. Rather, the primary purpose of this summary is to present some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form prior to the more detailed description that is presented hereinafter. [0006] According to an embodiment consistent with the present disclosure, a seal assembly comprises a first back-up ring, a second ring member, and a plurality of v-rings arranged in a stacked configuration and interposing the first back-up ring and the second ring member. The at least one of the plurality of v-rings being a v-seal formed from a material that comprises a polyarylether ketone (PAEK), the material having a tensile modulus equal to or less than 3,900 MPa at room temperature. [0007] According to an embodiment consistent with the present disclosure, a seal assembly comprises a first back-up ring, a second ring member, and a plurality of v-shaped rings arranged in 076063-000101 a stacked configuration and interposing the first back-up ring and the second ring member. Each v- shaped ring being formed from a material comprising a polyarylether ketone (PAEK) that is devoid of perfluoroalkyl/polyfluoroalkyl (PF AS). [0008] According to an embodiment consistent with the present disclosure, a seal assembly comprises a first back-up ring, a second ring member, and a plurality' of v-shaped rings arranged in a stacked configuration and interposing the first back-up ring and the second ring member. Each v- shaped ring being formed from a material comprising a polyarylether ketone (PAEK that is devoid of both perfluoroalkyl/polyfluoroalkyl (PF AS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). [0009] Any combinations of the various embodiments and implementations disclosed herein can be used in a further embodiment, consistent with the disclosure. These and other aspects and features can be appreciated from the following description of certain embodiments presented herein in accordance with the disclosure and the accompanying drawings and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a workstring that may embody or otherwise employ one or more principles of the present disclosure. [0011] FIG. 2A is a partial sectional view' of an example seal assembly depicted in FIG. 1, that may embody or otherwise employ one or more principles of the present disclosure. [0012] FIG. 2B is a partial sectional view of another example of the seal assembly depicted in FIG. 1, that may embody or otherwise employ one or more principles of the present disclosure. [0013] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of another example of the seal assembly depicted in FIG. 1, that may embody or otherwise employ one or more principles of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] Embodiments of the present disclosure w ill now be described in detail w ith reference to the accompanying Figures. Like elements in the various figures may be denoted by like reference numerals for consistency. Further, in the following detailed description of embodiments of the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instan