The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jan. 10, 2017

Filed:

Oct. 20, 2012
Applicant:

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US);

Inventors:

David Ray Sellers, Jr., Pearland, TX (US);

Jeremy Buc Slay, Fort Worth, TX (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B 33/12 (2006.01); F16J 15/16 (2006.01); F16J 15/26 (2006.01); E21B 33/128 (2006.01); E21B 33/129 (2006.01); F16J 15/02 (2006.01); F16L 55/132 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B 33/1208 (2013.01); E21B 33/128 (2013.01); E21B 33/1212 (2013.01); E21B 33/1285 (2013.01); E21B 33/1291 (2013.01); F16J 15/028 (2013.01); F16J 15/164 (2013.01); F16J 15/26 (2013.01); F16L 55/132 (2013.01);
Abstract

A sealing element comprises two distinct materials of different melting points. An outer shell material has a higher melting point than an inner core material. The core material can be a relatively low melting point metal, plastic or polymer. The seal is positioned in the wellbore and, in response to heating to a selected temperature, such as a bottom hole static temperature, the core material melts or softens. Upon melting or softening of the inner material, the outer shell's elastic modulus decreases, allowing longitudinal compression and radial expansion of the sealing element. The inner material can also thermally expand and thereby assist or cause radial expansion of the outer shell. The sealing element can provide a metal-to-metal seal with a casing or tubing. The cross-sectional shape of the outer shell can take various shapes to promote controlled compression, expansion and sealing.


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