Laminate pressure containing body for a well tool

Abstract

Apparatus if provided for use in wells, particularly wells that have high-pressure and high-temperature conditions in the well. The shells of completion equipment that is required to withstand the rigorous conditions in such wells are increased in strength by laminate layers that are formed of materials having higher yield strength than the yield strength of materials that can be used in well fluids.

1 . A pressure-containing apparatus for a well, comprising:
 a shell adapted to be connected to a well tubing and adapted to enclose well completion equipment and having a bore therethrough, the shell being formed of a material having a yield strength; and   a first laminate layer contacting an outside surface of the shell, the first laminate layer being formed of a material having higher yield strength than the yield strength of the material forming the shell, so as to increase the pressure-containing ability of the shell.   
   
   
       2 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second laminate layer contacting an outside surface of the first laminate layer to further increase the pressure-containing ability of the shell. 
   
   
       3 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first laminate layer comprises a cylinder or a row of wire wound over the shell. 
   
   
       4 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the second laminate layer comprises a cylinder. 
   
   
       5 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the second laminate layer comprises a row of wire wound outside the first laminate layer. 
   
   
       6 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the material of the first laminate layer comprises a metal matrix composite. 
   
   
       7 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the first or the second laminate layer comprises a metal matrix composite. 
   
   
       8 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the shell includes a section having a transition in flow area therein and the section includes an area of increased wall thickness in the shell. 
   
   
       9 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the laminate layer further comprises a nut to provide an axial force from the laminate layer when the shell is subjected to an axial tension force. 
   
   
       10 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a feed-through tubing. 
   
   
       11 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a feed-through tubing. 
   
   
       12 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the shell is adapted to enclose well completion equipment selected from equipment consisting of a subsurface safety valve, a mandrel of a packer, a device for controlling flow in the wellbore, a sliding sleeve, a tubing hanger, an on-off attachment, a gas lift mandrel or an instrument mandrel. 
   
   
       13 . A pressure-containing apparatus for a well, comprising:
 a tubular adapted to be connected to a well tubing and having a bore therethrough, the tubular being formed of a material having a yield strength; and   a first laminate layer contacting an outside surface of the tubular, the first laminate layer being formed of a material having higher yield strength than the yield strength of the material forming the tubular, so as to increase the pressure-containing ability of the tubular.   
   
   
       14 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a second laminate layer contacting an outside surface of the first laminate layer to further increase the pressure-containing ability of the shell. 
   
   
       15 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the first laminate layer comprises a cylinder or a row of wire wound over the shell. 
   
   
       16 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the second laminate layer comprises a cylinder. 
   
   
       17 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the second laminate layer comprises a row of wire wound outside the first laminate layer. 
   
   
       18 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the material of the first laminate layer comprises a metal matrix composite. 
   
   
       19 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the first or the second laminate ayer comprises a metal matrix composite. 
   
   
       20 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a feed-through tubing. 
   
   
       21 . The pressure-containing apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a feed-through tubing. 
   
   
       22 . A method for making a pressure-containing apparatus for a well completion equipment, comprising:
 providing the well completion equipment;   providing a shell adapted to be connected to a tubing and adapted to enclose the well completion equipment and having a bore therethrough, the shell being formed of a material having a yield strength;   providing a first laminate layer, the first laminate layer being a hollow cylinder formed of a material having a higher yield strength than the yield strength of the material forming the shell; and   placing the first laminate layer over the shell so as to cause the first laminate layer to apply a radial stress from the first laminate layer to the shell.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein placing the first laminate layer includes applying an axial force to the first laminate layer to cause the first laminate layer to expand and move over the shell. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein placing the first laminate layer includes heating the first laminate layer before placing the first laminate layer over the shell. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 providing a wire, the wire being formed of a material having a higher yield strength than the yield strength of the material forming the shell; and   wrapping the wire over the first laminate layer so as to cause the wire to apply a radial stress from the wire to the first laminate layer.   
   
   
       26 . A method for making a pressure-containing apparatus for a well completion equipment, comprising:
 providing well completion equipment;   providing a shell adapted to be connected to a tubing and adapted to enclose the well completion equipment and having a bore therethrough, the shell being formed of a material having a yield strength;   providing a wire, the wire being formed of a material having a higher yield strength than the yield strength of the material forming the shell; and   wrapping the wire over the shell so as to cause the wire to apply a radial stress from the wire to the shell and form a first laminate layer.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein wrapping the wire is performed with a tensile stress applied to the wire during wrapping, the tensile stress being near the yield strength of the wire. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 providing a second laminate layer, the second laminate layer being a hollow cylinder formed of a material having a higher yield strength than the yield strength of the material forming the shell; and   placing the second laminate layer over the wire wrapped over the shell so as to cause the second laminate layer to apply a radial stress from the first laminate layer to the wire.   
   
   
       29 . A method for making a pressure-containing apparatus for a well completion equipment, comprising:
 providing the well completion equipment;   providing a shell adapted to be connected to a tubing and adapted to enclose the well completion equipment and having a bore therethrough;   providing a fiber, the fiber being formed of a ceramic material;   wrapping the fiber over the shell so as to cause the fiber to apply a radial stress from the fiber to the shell; and   placing a molten metal around the fiber and allowing it to solidify to form a metal matrix composite material.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising the step of heat treating the pressure-containing apparatus to form apparatus in compliance with NACE standards. 
   
   
       31 . A method for making a pressure-containing apparatus for a well completion equipment, comprising:
 providing a tubular, the tubular being adapted to be connected to a well tubing and being formed of a material having a yield strength;   providing a first laminate layer, the first laminate layer being a hollow cylinder formed of a material having a higher yield strength than the yield strength of the material forming the tubular; and   placing the first laminate layer over the tubular so as to cause the first laminate layer to apply a radial stress from the first laminate layer to the tubular.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising:
 providing a wire, the wire being formed of a material having a higher yield strength than the yield strength of the material forming the shell; and   wrapping the wire over the first laminate layer so as to cause the wire to apply a radial stress from the wire to the first laminate layer.   
   
   
       33 . A method for making a pressure-containing apparatus for a well completion equipment, comprising:
 providing a tubular, the tubular being adapted to be connected to a well tubing and being formed of a material having a yield strength;   providing a wire, the wire being formed of a material having a higher yield strength than the yield strength of the material forming the tubular; and   wrapping the wire over the tubular so as to cause the wire to apply a radial stress from the wire to the tubular.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein wrapping the wire is performed with a tensile stress applied to the wire during wrapping, the tensile stress being near the yield strength of the wire. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 providing a second laminate layer, the second laminate layer being a hollow cylinder formed of a material having a higher yield strength than the yield strength of the material forming the tubular; and   placing the second laminate layer over the wire wrapped over the tubular so as to cause the second laminate layer to apply a radial stress from the first laminate layer to the wire.   
   
   
       36 . A method for making a pressure-containing apparatus for a well completion equipment, comprising:
 providing a tubular adapted to be connected to a well tubing and being formed of a material having a yield strength;   providing a fiber, the fiber being formed of a ceramic material;   wrapping the fiber over the tubular so as to cause the fiber to apply a radial stress from the fiber to the tubular; and   placing a molten metal around the fiber and allowing it to solidify to form a metal matrix composite material.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  further comprising the step of heat treating the pressure-containing apparatus to form apparatus in compliance with NACE standards.