Bi-directional metal to metal sealing systems and methods

Abstract

A wellbore system includes a hanger body with a recessed portion, a primary sealing surface, a secondary sealing surface, and a retaining skirt. The recessed portion receives a nose of an associated tool component to form at least two metal to metal seals between the hanger body and the associated tool component. The primary sealing surface may be formed at a radially outward position to resist bore pressure and the secondary sealing surface may be formed between the recessed portion and a face of associated tool component to resist a radially inward pressure.

1 . A wellbore system, comprising:
 a mandrel hanger body, comprising:
 a recessed portion; 
 a primary sealing surface; 
 a secondary sealing surface forming at least a part of the recessed portion; and 
 a retaining skirt; and 
   an associated tool component configured to couple to the mandrel hanger body, comprising:
 a nose including a first nose sealing surface and a second nose sealing surface; 
   wherein the nose is configured to be positioned, at least in part, within the recessed portion such that the primary sealing surface engages the first nose sealing surface to form a first metal to metal seal and the secondary sealing surface engages the second nose sealing surface to form a second metal to metal seal.   
     
     
         2 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary sealing surface is a sloped surface. 
     
     
         3 . The wellbore system of  claim 2 , wherein the sloped surface is a reverse rake. 
     
     
         4 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , wherein the nose is a flexible metallic component that elastically deforms to form the first metal to metal seal and the second metal to metal seal. 
     
     
         5 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining skirt is configured to block radial inward collapse of the nose responsive to a radially inward force. 
     
     
         6 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , wherein the first metal to metal seal is configured to resist pressure from a first direction and the second metal to metal seal is configured to resist pressure from a second direction, the first direction being opposite the second direction. 
     
     
         7 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , wherein the second nose sealing surface includes at least one of a flat, a bump, or a radius. 
     
     
         8 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion further comprises a void extending, at least in part, axially lower than the secondary sealing surface. 
     
     
         9 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third metal to metal seal formed between a third nose sealing surface and a third sealing surface of the recessed portion positioned, at least in part, on the retaining skirt.   
     
     
         10 . The wellbore system of  claim 1 , wherein the associated tool component is at least one of a running tool or a tieback tool. 
     
     
         11 . The wellbore system of  claim 10 , wherein the nose forms a portion of the running tool and the first metal to metal seal is formed proximate the recessed portion. 
     
     
         12 . The wellbore system of  claim 10 , wherein the nose forms a portion of the tieback tool and the first metal to metal seal is formed axially higher than the recessed portion. 
     
     
         13 . A sealing system, comprising:
 a first sealing surface associated with a first wellbore component, the first sealing surface arranged along an outer region of the first wellbore component;   a second sealing surface associated with the first wellbore component, the second sealing surface arranged within a recess formed in the first wellbore component;   a third sealing surface associated with a second wellbore component, the third sealing surface arranged along an outer diameter of the second wellbore component; and   a fourth sealing surface associated with the second wellbore component, the fourth sealing surface arranged along a base region of the second wellbore component;   wherein the second wellbore component is coupled to the first wellbore component to drive the third sealing surface against the first sealing surface to establish a first seal and to drive the fourth sealing surface against the second sealing surface to establish a second seal, and wherein the first seal is configured to resist a bore pressure and the second seal is configured to resist a tubing and casing annulus pressure.   
     
     
         14 . The sealing system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first seal and the second seal are metal to metal seals. 
     
     
         15 . The sealing system of  claim 13 , wherein the fourth sealing surface includes at least one of a flat, a bump, or a radius. 
     
     
         16 . The sealing system of  claim 13 , wherein the second sealing surface is a sloped surface in a reverse rake configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The sealing system of  claim 13 , further comprising a void space axially lower than the second sealing surface. 
     
     
         18 . A system for establishing a bi-directional metal to metal seal between a first downhole component and a second downhole component, comprising:
 a first metal to metal seal between the first downhole component and the second downhole component, the first metal to metal seal formed at a first contact location between a first sealing surface along an outer region of the first downhole component and a second sealing surface along an outer diameter of the second downhole component; and   a second metal to metal seal between the first downhole component and the second downhole component, the second metal to metal seal formed at a second contact location between a third sealing surface within a recessed portion of the first downhole component and a fourth sealing surface along a base region of the second downhole component;   wherein each of the first metal to metal seal and the second metal to metal seal are configured to resist pressure from an opposite radial direction.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the fourth sealing surface includes at least one of a flat, a bump, or a radius. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the third sealing surface is a sloped surface.