Expandable seal member with shape memory alloy

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method useful for providing a seal with a surface includes a seal assembly having a seal body constructed at least partially of elastomeric material and at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) wire. The SMA wire is capable of encouraging at least part of the seal body into engagement with the surface.

1 . An apparatus for providing a seal between a device and an adjacent surface, the apparatus disposed upon the device, the apparatus comprising: 
 at least one elastomeric seal member; and    at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) wire associated with said at least one elastomeric seal member and capable of encouraging said at least one elastomeric seal member into engagement with the adjacent surface.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a downhole tool and the adjacent surface is a borehole wall.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the downhole tool is a retrievable packer.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one elastomeric seal member is a cup seal.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is disposed within said at least one elastomeric seal member.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is embedded within said at least one elastomeric seal member.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one elastomeric seal member has a tubular cross-section.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one elastomeric seal member has a central bore, and wherein said at least one SMA wire is located within said central bore.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one elastomeric seal member has first and second ends, further including first and second end members engageable with said first and second ends of said at least one elastomeric seal member, respectively, wherein said at least one SMA wire is engaged between said first and second end members, whereby upon at least one among the application and removal of a stimulus to said at least one SMA wire, said at least one SMA wire contracts, causing said first and second end members to compress said at least one elastomeric seal member and urge said at least one elastomeric seal member into engagement with the adjacent surface.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further including a plurality of SMA wires associated with said at least one elastomeric seal member.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further including first and second adjacent sets of SMA wires.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a change in at least one among the shape, size, and orientation of said at least one SMA wire encourages said at least one elastomeric seal member into engagement with the adjacent surface.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the change in at least one among the shape, size, and orientation of said at least one SMA wire is caused by at least one among the heating and cooling of said at least one SMA wire.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the change in at least one among the shape, size, and orientation of said at least one SMA wire is caused by at least one among the application and removal of pressure to said at least one SMA wire.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is capable of encouraging said at least one elastomeric seal-member out of engagement with the adjacent surface.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein a change in at least one among the shape, size, and orientation of said at least one SMA wire encourages said at least one elastomeric seal member out of engagement with the adjacent surface.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is capable of causing said at least one elastomeric seal member to move into and out of engagement with the adjacent surface.  
     
     
         18 . A seal assembly for providing a seal between a downhole tool and a subsurface borehole wall, the seal assembly disposed upon the downhole tool, the seal assembly comprising: 
 a seal member constructed at least partially of elastomeric material; and    at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) wire associated with said seal member and capable of encouraging at least part of said seal member into and out of sealing engagement with the borehole wall.    
     
     
         19 . The seal assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is formed in a frame configuration.  
     
     
         20 . The seal assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is constructed of one-way shape memory alloy.  
     
     
         21 . The seal assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is formed in a slat ribbon configuration.  
     
     
         22 . The seal assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one SMA wire has a coil shape.  
     
     
         23 . The seal assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is disposed within said seal member in a compressed state.  
     
     
         24 . The seal assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is constructed of two-way shape memory alloy.  
     
     
         25 . The seal assembly of  claim 18 , wherein a change in at least one among the shape, size, and orientation of said at least one SMA wire causes said seal member to move into engagement with the borehole wall.  
     
     
         26 . The seal assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the change in at least one among the shape, size, and orientation of said at least one SMA wire is caused by at least one among the heating and cooling of said at least one SMA wire.  
     
     
         27 . The seal assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is capable of causing said seal member to move away from the borehole wall.  
     
     
         28 . The seal assembly of  claim 27 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is embedded within said seal member.  
     
     
         29 . The seal assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said seal member moves into and out of engagement with the borehole wall in an umbrella-like manner.  
     
     
         30 . A seal assembly comprising: 
 a seal body, at least a portion of which is constructed of elastomeric material; and    at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) wire associated with said seal body, whereby the modification of at least one among the shape, size, and orientation of said at least one SMA wire based upon shape memory principles encourages a change in at least one among the shape, size, and orientation of at least part of said seal body.    
     
     
         31 . The seal assembly of  claim 30 , wherein said seal body is capable of sealingly engaging an adjacent surface, wherein the modification of at least one among the shape, size, and orientation of said at least one SMA wire based upon shape memory principles causes at least part of said seal body to engage the adjacent surface.  
     
     
         32 . The seal assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the seal assembly is disposed upon a downhole tool and the adjacent surface is a borehole wall.  
     
     
         33 . The seal assembly of  claim 32 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is capable of encouraging at least part of said seal body to disengage the adjacent surface.  
     
     
         34 . The seal assembly of  claim 33 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is at least partially embedded within said seal body.  
     
     
         35 . A seal assembly useful for creating a temporary seal between a device and a borehole wall, the seal assembly carried upon the device, the seal assembly comprising: 
 a seal body constructed at least partially of elastomeric material; and    at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) wire associated with said seal body, wherein a change in at least one among the shape, size, and orientation of said at least one SMA wire caused by the application of a stimulus to said at least one SMA wire causes at least part of said seal body to sealingly engage the borehole wall.    
     
     
         36 . The seal assembly of  claim 35 , wherein said stimulus is heat.  
     
     
         37 . The seal assembly of  claim 35 , wherein said stimulus is pressure.  
     
     
         38 . The seal assembly of  claim 35 , whereby the application of the stimulus to said at least one SMA wire causes said at least one SMA wire to expand radially, causing at least part of said seal body to expand radially.  
     
     
         39 . The seal assembly of  claim 38 , whereby the removal of the stimulus from said at least one SMA wire causes said at least one SMA wire to contract radially, encouraging at least part of said seal body to move away from the borehole wall.  
     
     
         40 . The seal assembly of  claim 39 , wherein said at least one SMA wire is embedded within said seal body.  
     
     
         41 . The seal assembly of  claim 40 , wherein the device is a retrievable packer.  
     
     
         42 . A method for providing a seal between a device and an adjacent surface with the use of a seal assembly disposed upon the device, the seal assembly including at least one seal member constructed at least partially of elastomeric material and at least one SMA wire, the method comprising: 
 training the at least one SMA wire to change at least one among its shape, size, and orientation upon at least one among the application and removal of a stimulus to the at least one SMA wire based upon shape memory principles;    associating the at least one SMA wire with the at least one seal member;    providing a stimulus to the at least one SMA wire to cause a change in at least one among the shape, size, and orientation of the SMA wire; and    the SMA wire, by changing at least one among its shape, size, and orientation, encouraging at least part of the seal member to change at least one among its shape, size, and orientation.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the device is a downhole tool and the adjacent surface is a borehole wall, and further comprising embedding the at least one SMA wire within the at least one seal member.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein providing the stimulus to the at least one SMA wire causes the at least one SMA wire to expand radially, the at least one SMA wire causing at least part of the seal member to expand radially and engage the borehole wall.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further including providing a stimulus to the at least one SMA wire to cause the at least one SMA wire to contract radially, the at least one SMA wire causing at least part of the seal member to contract radially and move away from the borehole wall.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the stimulus provided to the at least one SMA wire to cause the at least one SMA wire to contract radially includes the removal of heat.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the stimulus provided to the at least one SMA wire to cause the at least one SMA wire to contract radially includes the removal of pressure.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the seal member has a tubular cross-section.