Downhole seal and method of lubricating a downhole tool

Abstract

A downhole seal includes a body configured to dynamically seal to a portion of a downhole tool and a lubricant microencapsulated in a plurality of shells to form a plurality of micro particles dispersed within the body.

1 . A downhole seal comprising:
 a body configured to dynamically seal to a portion of a downhole tool; and   a lubricant being microencapsulated in a plurality of shells to form a plurality of micro particles dispersed within the body.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole seal of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole seal is a stator or a rotor of a pump or a mud motor. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole seal of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole seal is a portion of a stator or a rotor of a pump or a mud motor. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole seal of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole seal is configured to be fixedly attached within a housing. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole seal of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of shells are configured to fracture to thereby release the lubricant therefrom. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole seal of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of, carbon nanotubes (CNT), single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNT), graphenes, fullerenes, diamonds, molybdenum disulfide, hexagonal boron nitride, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), graphite, and liquid lubricants. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole seal of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the downhole tool is a rotor or a stator. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole seal of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a plurality of parts and only one of the plurality of parts has the plurality of micro particles dispersed therein. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole seal of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of parts includes at least two layers. 
     
     
         10 . A method of lubricating a downhole tool, comprising
 microencapsulating lubricant within a plurality of shells;   distributing the plurality of shells microencapsulating lubricant within at least one of a first component and a second component that dynamically seal to one another;   rupturing at least some of the plurality of shells microencapsulating lubricant; and   releasing the lubricant.   
     
     
         11 . The method of lubricating a downhole tool of  claim 10 , further comprising wearing at least one of the first component and the second component and rupturing additional shells microencapsulating lubricant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of lubricating a downhole tool of  claim 10 , further comprising lubricating a surface of at least one of the first component and the second component with the releasing of the lubricant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of lubricating a downhole tool of  claim 10 , wherein the microencapsulating includes coating.