Seal assembly

Abstract

A seal assembly is provided that includes an elastomeric portion; a primary extrusion barrier which reinforces the elastomeric portion; and a secondary extrusion barrier disposed between the elastomeric portion and the primary extrusion barrier to prevent entry of the elastomeric portion into open areas in the primary extrusion barrier.

1 . A seal assembly comprising: 
 an elastomeric portion;    a primary extrusion barrier which reinforces the elastomeric portion; and    a secondary extrusion barrier disposed between the elastomeric portion and the primary extrusion barrier to prevent entry of the elastomeric portion into open areas in the primary extrusion barrier.    
   
   
       2 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the primary extrusion barrier is more rigid than the elastomeric portion.  
   
   
       3 . The seal assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the primary extrusion barrier comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of coil springs, c-rings, and wave springs.  
   
   
       4 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary extrusion barrier is more dense than the elastomeric portion.  
   
   
       5 . The seal assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the secondary extrusion barrier comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of wire, Aramid fiber, carbon fiber, foam, and plastic.  
   
   
       6 . The seal assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the secondary extrusion barrier material comprises a configuration chosen from the group consisting of mesh, wrapped, woven, and solid.  
   
   
       7 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the primary extrusion barrier comprises a coil spring, and the secondary extrusion barrier comprises a woven wire mesh fabric.  
   
   
       8 . The seal assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the elastomeric portion comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of a Hydrogenated Nitrile compound, a Nitrile compound, and an Aflas compound.  
   
   
       9 . The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric portion is a first elastomeric portion, and wherein the seal assembly further comprises a second elastomeric portion, which is adjacent to the first elastomeric portion.  
   
   
       10 . A seal assembly comprising: 
 an elastomeric portion;    a primary extrusion barrier, which is more rigid than the elastomeric portion to reinforce the elastomeric portion; and    a secondary extrusion barrier disposed between the elastomeric portion and the primary extrusion barrier, which is more dense than the elastomeric portion to prevent entry of the elastomeric portion into open areas in the primary extrusion barrier.    
   
   
       11 . The seal assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary extrusion barrier comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of wire, Aramid fiber, carbon fiber, foam, and plastic.  
   
   
       12 . The seal assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the secondary extrusion barrier material comprises a configuration chosen from the group consisting of mesh, wrapped, woven, and solid.  
   
   
       13 . The seal assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the primary extrusion barrier comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of coil springs, c-rings, and wave springs.  
   
   
       14 . The seal assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the primary extrusion barrier comprises a coil spring, and the secondary extrusion barrier comprises a woven wire mesh fabric.  
   
   
       15 . The seal assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the elastomeric portion comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of a Hydrogenated Nitrile compound, a Nitrile compound, and an Aflas compound.  
   
   
       16 . The seal assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the elastomeric portion is a first elastomeric portion, and wherein the seal assembly further comprises a second elastomeric portion, which is adjacent to the first elastomeric portion.  
   
   
       17 . A well bore packer comprising: 
 a packer mandrel; and    a seal assembly disposed in surrounding relation to the packer mandrel, wherein the seal assembly comprises: 
 an elastomeric portion,  
 a primary extrusion barrier, which is more rigid than the elastomeric portion to reinforce the elastomeric portion, and  
 a secondary extrusion barrier disposed between the elastomeric portion and the primary extrusion barrier, which is more dense than the elastomeric portion to prevent entry of the elastomeric portion into open areas in the primary extrusion barrier.  
   
   
   
       18 . The seal assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the secondary extrusion barrier comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of wire, Aramid fiber, carbon fiber, foam, and plastic.  
   
   
       19 . The seal assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the secondary extrusion barrier material comprises a configuration chosen from the group consisting of mesh, wrapped, woven, and solid.  
   
   
       20 . The seal assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the primary extrusion barrier comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of coil springs, c-rings, and wave springs.  
   
   
       21 . The seal assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the primary extrusion barrier comprises a coil spring, and the secondary extrusion barrier comprises a woven wire mesh fabric.  
   
   
       22 . The seal assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the elastomeric portion comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of a Hydrogenated Nitrile compound, a Nitrile compound, and an Aflas compound.  
   
   
       23 . The seal assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the elastomeric portion is a first elastomeric portion, and wherein the seal assembly further comprises a second elastomeric portion, which is adjacent to the first elastomeric portion.