Tubular element with inclined sealing lips and process for applying it to the wall of a well

Abstract

A radially expandable tubular metallic element includes on its external face at least a series of annular sealing lips made of elastically deformable material. These lips are spaced in pairs. The transversal cross section of each lip has an end face and two lateral walls, wherein the lips are made of a non-metallic material and are inclined in the same direction, relative to said external face, that is, each of the lateral walls of each lip forms a non-zero angle (α; β) relative to a radial plane of said element.

1 . A radially expandable tubular metallic element which comprises on an external face thereof at least a first series of annular sealing lips made of elastically deformable material, each of the lips being spaced apart from an adjacent lip, the transversal cross section of each lip having an end face and two lateral walls, wherein said lips are made of a non-metallic material and are inclined in a same first direction, relative to said external face, that is, each of the lateral walls of each lip forms a non-zero angle (α; β) relative to a radial plane (PR, PR 1 , PR 2 ) of said element, and
 wherein said lips are joined together at the level of their base by a bonding layer, such that the lips and the layer form a monolithic whole, 
 wherein each of the lips has a first plane passing through a base of the first lateral wall and perpendicular to the bonding layer such that the first lateral wall is entirely on one side of the first plane and the second lateral wall is entirely on other side of the first plane, and 
 wherein said lips are configured to permit evacuation of a liquid which is trapped between them. 
 
     
     
         2 . The tubular element as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said lateral walls are parallel. 
     
     
         3 . The element as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said lateral walls are non parallel, their spread at the level of the end face being less than their spread at the level of their base. 
     
     
         4 . The tubular element as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the lateral walls of said lips forms an angle (α, β) between 20° and 70° relative to the radial plane of said tubular element. 
     
     
         5 . The tubular element as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said lips are fixed to said external face. 
     
     
         6 . A radially expandable tubular metallic element which comprises on an external face thereof at least a first series of annular sealing lips made of elastically deformable material, each of the lips being spaced apart from an adjacent lip, the transversal cross section of each lip having an end face and two lateral walls, wherein said lips made of a non-metallic material and are inclined in a same first direction, relative to said external face, that is, each of the lateral walls of each lip forms a non-zero angle (α; β) relative to a radial plane (PR, PR 1 , PR 2 ) of said element, and
 wherein said lips are joined together at the level of their base by a bonding layer, such that the lips and the layer form a monolithic whole, and 
 wherein the lateral walls are non-parallel, their spread at the level of the end face being less than their spread at the level of their base, and 
 wherein said lips are configured to permit evacuation of a liquid which is trapped between them.