Expandable tubular element bearing one or more swelling seals

Abstract

A radially expandable metallic tubular element has at least one annular sealing module on its external face. The sealing module includes at least one annular seal made out of a swelling material, called a swelling seal, disposed between two annular stops attached to the external face of the tubular element.

1 . A radially expandable metallic tubular element comprising:
 an external face;   two annular stops attached to said external face of said tubular element;   at least one annular sealing module on the external face, wherein said sealing module comprises at least one annular seal made out of a swelling material, called a swelling seal, disposed between the two annular stops attached to said external face of said tubular element.   
     
     
         2 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 1 , further comprising two anti-extrusion rings each disposed between one of said annular stops and said at least one swelling seal. 
     
     
         3 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 2 , wherein each anti-extrusion ring is in two parts and comprises two beveled surfaces made respectively in each of said parts, said beveled surfaces being situated so as to be facing each other and being capable of sliding relative to each other under the effect of an axial movement of said swelling seal so as to prompt a radial shift of one of said two parts. 
     
     
         4 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 2 , wherein each anti-extrusion ring is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or polyether ether ketone (PEEK). 
     
     
         5 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 1 , wherein said swelling seal is sandwiched between two seals made of non-swelling material, called non-swelling seals. 
     
     
         6 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 5 , wherein each non-swelling seal is in two parts, called a first part and a second part, having different hardness values. 
     
     
         7 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 6 , wherein the part having the lowest hardness, called the first part is juxtaposed with said seal made of swelling material. 
     
     
         8 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 6 , wherein the first part has a hardness of 75 to 80 shore A. 
     
     
         9 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to any  claim 6 , wherein the second part has a hardness of 85 to 90 shore A. 
     
     
         10 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second parts are manufactured separately and are placed in contact on said tubular element. 
     
     
         11 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second parts are bonded. 
     
     
         12 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second parts are formed as a single block. 
     
     
         13 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 5 , wherein said swelling seal and the non-swelling seals are manufactured separately and placed in contact on said tubular element. 
     
     
         14 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 5 , wherein said swelling seal and the non-swelling seals are manufactured separately and are bonded. 
     
     
         15 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 5 , wherein said swelling seal and the non-swelling seal are formed as a single block. 
     
     
         16 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 1 , wherein said annular stops are made of metal. 
     
     
         17 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 1 , wherein said seal or seals are connected to said tubular element by a sliding pivot link. 
     
     
         18 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 1 , wherein said swelling seal is capable of passing from a retracted mode in which it has a first volume to a dilated mode in which it has a second volume that is greater than the first volume, said swelling seal having a thickness smaller than or equal to the thickness between the annular stops in the retracted mode. 
     
     
         19 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 1 , wherein said swelling seal is made of nitrile rubber (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) or else fluoroelastomers (FKM). 
     
     
         20 . The radially expandable metallic tubular element according to  claim 1 , wherein said tubular element is radially expandable by hydroforming.