Metalized polymer components for use in high temperature pumping applications

Abstract

A seal section for use in a downhole submersible pumping system includes a housing and a seal bag located within the housing. The seal bag includes a substrate having a plurality of substrate surfaces and a metal coating layer on at least one of the plurality of substrate surfaces. The substrate can optionally be configured as a cylindrical form that includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. In particularly preferred embodiments, the substrate is seamless and fabricated from an extruded fluoropolymer. The metal coating layer preferably comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, nickel, chrome, silver and gold. The metalized seal bag exhibits increased durability and decreased permeability to liquids and gases at elevated temperatures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seal section for use in a downhole submersible pumping system, the seal section comprising:
 a housing;   a shaft extending through the housing; and   a seal bag located within the housing, wherein the seal bag comprises:
 a substrate having a plurality of substrate surfaces; and 
 a metal coating layer on at least one of the plurality of substrate surfaces. 
   
     
     
         2 . The seal section of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is substantially cylindrical and wherein the plurality of substrate surfaces includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. 
     
     
         3 . The seal section of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate is seamless and fabricated from an extruded fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         4 . The seal section of  claim 3 , wherein the metal coating layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, nickel, chrome, silver and gold. 
     
     
         5 . The seal section of  claim 3 , wherein the metal coating layer comprises at least two metals selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, nickel, chrome, silver and gold. 
     
     
         6 . The seal section of  claim 3 , wherein the metal coating layer is deposited on the at least one of the plurality of substrate surfaces using a method selected from the group consisting of vacuum deposition and sputtering. 
     
     
         7 . The seal section of  claim 6 , wherein the metal coating layer is deposited on the at least one of the plurality of substrate surfaces in a thickness ranging from about 1,000 angstroms to about 25,000 angstroms. 
     
     
         8 . The seal section of  claim 7 , wherein the metal coating layer is deposited on the at least one of the plurality of substrate surfaces in a thickness of about 10,000 angstroms. 
     
     
         9 . The seal section of  claim 1 , wherein the metal coating layer is deposited on each of the plurality of substrate surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . A seal section for use in a downhole submersible pumping system, the seal section comprising:
 a housing; and   a shaft extending through the housing;   a seal bag located within the housing; and   at least one o-ring seal, wherein the at least one o-ring seal is manufactured from an elastomer, and wherein the at least one o-ring seal comprises:
 an outer surface; and 
 a metal coating layer on the outer surface. 
   
     
     
         11 . The seal section of  claim 10 , wherein the metal coating layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, nickel, chrome, silver and gold. 
     
     
         12 . The seal section of  claim 11 , wherein the metal coating layer comprises at least two metals selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, nickel, chrome, silver and gold. 
     
     
         13 . The seal section of  claim 10 , wherein the metal coating layer is deposited on the at least one of the plurality of surfaces using a method selected from the group consisting of vacuum deposition and sputtering. 
     
     
         14 . The seal section of  claim 10 , wherein the metal coating layer is deposited on the at least one of the plurality of surfaces in a thickness ranging from about 1,000 angstroms to about 25,000 angstroms. 
     
     
         15 . A seal bag for use in a pumping system, the seal bag comprising:
 a substrate having a plurality of substrate surfaces; and   a metal coating layer on at least one of the plurality of substrate surfaces.   
     
     
         16 . The seal bag of  claim 15 , wherein the substrate is substantially cylindrical and wherein the plurality of substrate surfaces includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. 
     
     
         17 . The seal bag of  claim 16 , wherein the substrate is seamless and fabricated from an extruded fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         18 . The seal bag of  claim 17 , wherein the metal coating layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, nickel, chrome, silver and gold. 
     
     
         19 . The seal bag of  claim 17 , wherein the metal coating layer comprises at least two metals selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, nickel, chrome, silver and gold. 
     
     
         20 . The seal bag of  claim 15 , wherein the metal coating layer is deposited on the at least one of the plurality of substrate surfaces in a thickness ranging from about 1,000 angstroms to about 25,000 angstroms. 
     
     
         21 . An o-ring seal comprising:
 a ring-shaped body manufactured from an elastomer;   an exterior surface on the ring-shaped body; and   a metal coating layer on the exterior surface.   
     
     
         22 . The o-ring seal of  claim 21 , wherein the ring-shaped body is fabricated from an extruded fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         23 . The o-ring seal of  claim 21 , wherein the metal coating layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, nickel, chrome, silver and gold. 
     
     
         24 . The o-ring seal of  claim 21 , wherein the metal coating layer is deposited on the at least one of the plurality of substrate surfaces in a thickness ranging from about 1,000 angstroms to about 25,000 angstroms. 
     
     
         25 . A downhole pumping system comprising:
 a motor;   a pump connected to the motor; and   one or more metalized polymer components selected from the group consisting of seal bags, mechanical seal bellows, o-ring seals and pothead connectors, wherein each of the one or more metalized polymer components comprises:
 a substrate having a plurality of substrate surfaces; and 
 a metal coating layer on at least one of the plurality of substrate surfaces. 
   
     
     
         26 . The downhole pumping system of  claim 25 , wherein the metal coating layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, nickel, chrome, silver and gold. 
     
     
         27 . The downhole pumping system of  claim 26 , wherein the metal coating layer is deposited on the at least one of the plurality of substrate surfaces in a thickness ranging from about 1,000 angstroms to about 25,000 angstroms.