Sealing apparatus and method

Abstract

A sealing apparatus ( 10 ) for use in establishing a seal in an annulus ( 12 ) between a mandrel ( 18 ) and a bore wall ( 14 ) has an annular seal element ( 20 ) initially activateable between a first, retracted, configuration and a second, expanded, configuration. The seal element ( 20 ) is disposed around a mandrel ( 18 ) and is free to move relative the mandrel ( 18 ) such that when the seal element ( 20 ) defines the second, expanded, configuration, pressurised fluid from the annulus ( 12 ) urges the seal element ( 20 ) into sealing or enhanced sealing engagement with the bore wall ( 14 ).

1 . A sealing apparatus for use in establishing a seal in an annulus between a mandrel and a bore wall, the apparatus comprising:
 a mandrel; and   a seal element disposed on the mandrel, the seal element configured to define a first configuration and a second, expanded, configuration, the apparatus configured so that in the second configuration fluid from the annulus acts on the seal element to urge the seal element from the second configuration to a third configuration providing sealing or enhanced sealing engagement with the bore wall.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first configuration comprises a retracted configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the seal element comprises an annular seal element;   the seal element is disposed around the mandrel;   the apparatus comprises a plurality of the seal elements extending around the mandrel.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the seal element is configured to expand in the presence of a selected activation medium. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of:
 the activation medium comprises a fluid;   the fluid comprises fluid from the annulus between the apparatus and the bore wall;   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of:
 the seal element comprises a material which swells in response to oil;   the seal element comprises an oil-swellable material, such as an oil-swellable elastomer;   the seal element comprises a material which swells in response to water   the seal element comprises a water-swellable elastomer.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured so that the seal element is moveable relative to the mandrel. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the apparatus is configured so that, in the second configuration, the annulus fluid is directed between the seal element and the mandrel;   the apparatus is configured so that the annulus fluid impinges on an inner circumferential surface of the seal element.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the apparatus is configured to define a fluid-receiving chamber between the seal element and the mandrel;   the fluid-receiving chamber is present when the seal element is in the first configuration;   the fluid-receiving chamber is formed when the seal element expands or moves from the first configuration to the second configuration.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the apparatus comprises a fluid passage configured to permit the passage of the pressurised fluid between the seal element and the mandrel;   the fluid passage comprises an axially-extending fluid passage:,   the apparatus comprises a plurality of the fluid passages   the fluid passage or passages are of hemi-cylindrical form:   the passages are arranged circumferentially.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the apparatus is configured so that the seal element engages the bore wall in the second configuration;   the apparatus is configured so that the seal element provides initial sealing engagement with the bore wall in the second configuration;   the apparatus is configured so that the seal element is maintained in sealing engagement or urged into enhanced sealing engagement with the bore wall in the third configuration;   the apparatus is urged into sealing engagement with the bore wall in the third configuration.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the apparatus comprises at least one further seal member;   the further seal member is configured to define a cup seal;   the or each further seal member comprises at least one of: an elastomeric seal member; a compression seal member; a packing member; an expandable member; a swellable member; an oil-swellable member; a water-swellable member; an inflatable member, or any suitable style of seal member;   
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the apparatus comprises a single further seal member. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of:
 the apparatus comprises a plurality of further seal members;   the further seal members are of the same construction;   the further seal members are of different construction;   the further seal members are selected and/or arranged in order to provide selected properties to the apparatus;   one or more further seal member may comprise a material of greater hardness than one or more other seal member.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of:
 the apparatus is configured so that the seal element activates the further seal member;   the apparatus is configured so that the further seal member is at least partially activated by expansion of the seal element from the first configuration to the second configuration;   the apparatus is configured so that the further seal member is at least partially activated when the seal element is urged from the second configuration to the third configuration.   
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the apparatus comprises one or more end ring;   the apparatus comprises two end rings disposed at opposing ends of the apparatus;   the apparatus comprises one or more end ring and a fluid passage is formed in one of the end rings and configured to permit the passage of the pressurised fluid between the seal element and the mandrel;   the apparatus comprises one or more end ring and at least one end ring comprises a radially-extending bore for receiving a retainer;   the apparatus comprises one or more end ring and each end ring comprises a plurality of radially-extending bores, each for receiving a retainer.   
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the apparatus is configured so that part of the annulus fluid acts towards retaining the seal element on the mandrel;   the apparatus comprises at least one further seal member and is configured so that part of the annulus fluid acts towards retaining one or more further seal member on the mandrel.   
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a back-up assembly for supporting the seal element in maintaining sealing engagement with the bore wall. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the apparatus comprises a downhole packer;   the apparatus comprises a uni-directional downhole packer;   the apparatus comprises a cup seal packer.   
     
     
         49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A method comprising:
 providing an apparatus comprising a mandrel and a seal element for establishing a seal in an annulus between the mandrel and a wall of a bore;   disposing the apparatus in the bore,   initially activating the seal element from a first configuration to a second, expanded, configuration; and   urging the seal element from the second configuration to a third configuration using fluid from the annulus between the mandrel and the wall of the bore, the seal element in the third configuration providing sealing or enhanced sealing engagement with the bore wall.   
     
     
         52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . (canceled)