Seal arrangement, method, and system

Abstract

A seal arrangement including a mandrel, a T-seal having a flange disposed on the mandrel, and a first backup adjacent the T-seal, the backup having a notch of complementary geometry to the flange, the notch nesting with the flange to retain the T-seal to the mandrel. A method for sealing a system, including running a seal arrangement into a tubular structure, sealing the arrangement to the structure, and radially retaining the T-Seal with the first backup. A borehole system, including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a seal arrangement disposed within or as a part of the string.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seal arrangement comprising:
 a mandrel;   a T-seal having a flange disposed on the mandrel; and   a first backup adjacent the T-seal, the backup having a notch of complementary geometry to the flange, the notch nesting with the flange to retain the T-seal to the mandrel.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first backup further includes a geometry thereon that is complementary to a third backup. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the geometry is a convexity. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a seal adjacent the first backup. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the seal is at least one of a bullet seal, a concave backup ring, a chevron ring, and combinations including any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first backup comprises a material having a hardness range of about 80-about 95 Shore D. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first backup comprises a thermoplastic. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first backup comprises a metal. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first backup comprises Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) material. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , further including a second backup adjacent the T-seal. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a second backup adjacent the T-seal, a third backup adjacent the first backup and a fourth backup adjacent the second backup. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first and second backups include a geometry that is complementary to the third and fourth backups, respectively. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the first backup and the second backup include a convexity. 
     
     
         14 . A method for sealing a system, comprising:
 running a seal arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  into a tubular structure;   sealing the arrangement to the structure; and   radially retaining the T-Seal with the first backup.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising moving the arrangement after sealing and repositioning. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising resealing the arrangement to the structure. 
     
     
         17 . A borehole system, comprising:
 a borehole in a subsurface formation;   a string in the borehole; and   a seal arrangement as claimed in  claim 1  disposed within or as a part of the string.