US20170022779A1 - Surface texturing to increase lateral coefficient of friction - Google Patents
Surface texturing to increase lateral coefficient of friction Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20170022779A1 US20170022779A1 US14/806,024 US201514806024A US2017022779A1 US 20170022779 A1 US20170022779 A1 US 20170022779A1 US 201514806024 A US201514806024 A US 201514806024A US 2017022779 A1 US2017022779 A1 US 2017022779A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- seal
- surface treatment
- mandrel
- friction
- annular space
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 35
- 238000004381 surface treatment Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000000059 patterning Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229920000459 Nitrile rubber Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 238000011282 treatment Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003607 modifier Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- -1 steam Substances 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000010793 Steam injection (oil industry) Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920006172 Tetrafluoroethylene propylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012267 brine Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003486 chemical etching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001627 detrimental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000018109 developmental process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000013870 dimethyl polysiloxane Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000004205 dimethyl polysiloxane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000806 elastomer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004049 embossing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003995 emulsifying agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001973 fluoroelastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010329 laser etching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001053 micromoulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001020 plasma etching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920000435 poly(dimethylsiloxane) Polymers 0.000 description 1
- QQONPFPTGQHPMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N propylene Natural products CC=C QQONPFPTGQHPMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 125000004805 propylene group Chemical group [H]C([H])([H])C([H])([*:1])C([H])([H])[*:2] 0.000 description 1
- 239000000700 radioactive tracer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000005060 rubber Substances 0.000 description 1
- HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;chloride;hydrate Chemical compound O.[Na+].[Cl-] HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 230000000638 stimulation Effects 0.000 description 1
- BFKJFAAPBSQJPD-UHFFFAOYSA-N tetrafluoroethene Chemical group FC(F)=C(F)F BFKJFAAPBSQJPD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000004073 vulcanization Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
- E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
- E21B33/1208—Packers; Plugs characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means
Definitions
- a seal for an annular space includes a mandrel; and an element having a surface treatment to increase the coefficient of friction thereof at least on a surface of the element configured to interact with the mandrel.
- a material for use as an element to seal an annular space including a surface treatment to increase lateral coefficient of friction.
- a method for producing a seal for an annular space includes surface treating a material configured to act as an element; adhesively attaching the element to a mandrel incorporating at least some of the surface treatment into an interface between the element and the mandrel.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section view of a workpiece prior to patterning
- FIG. 2 is a schematic cross section view of the workpiece after micropatterning
- FIG. 3 is a schematic cross section view of the workpiece after nanotexturing.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic cross section view of a packer configured according to this disclosure.
- the material 10 may comprise polymeric material such as polydimethyl siloxane and/or perfluouro elastomers or other materials such as nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), tetrafluoroethylene and propylene rubber (FEPM), and fluoroelastomer (FKM).
- NBR nitrile butadiene rubber
- HNBR hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber
- FEPM tetrafluoroethylene and propylene rubber
- FKM fluoroelastomer
- the workpiece is an element for a packer or similar seal often used in the downhole industry for holding annular differential pressure.
- the material 10 is illustrated after a patterning operation.
- the patterning operation may be selected from but is not limited to micro-molding, micro- patterning, micro-embossing, chemical etching, laser etching and reactive ion etching, for example.
- the patterning is a micro-post pattern where measurements for a, b, and c are in ranges of 10 ⁇ m to 500 ⁇ m, 0.1 ⁇ m to 50 ⁇ m and 1 ⁇ m to 100 ⁇ m, respectively.
- the material 10 can be viewed as a finished product at this point or may be further processed as discussed relative to FIG. 3 .
- the patterned material 10 is textured. Texturing in some embodiments is microtexturing or nanotexturing. It is to be understood that while the texturing illustrated in FIG. 3 is an additional surface treatment on the already patterned material 10 , the texturing could be used independently of the patterning on the material 10 , i.e. texturing only with no patterning. All end results of 1) patterned alone 2) patterned and textured, and 3) textured alone are contemplated herein. It is also to be understood that different areas of the same material 10 may be different ones of the possibilities listed above.
- the patterning and/or texturing provides for an increase in the lateral coefficient of friction between the material 10 and a contact surface against which the material 10 is intended to bear.
- contact surfaces for the material when configured as an element are, referring to FIG. 4 , the mandrel 14 , the backups 16 and the inside surface 18 of a tubular in which the element is to be set.
- the patterning and/or texturing does not increase an independent adhesive characteristic of the material in a direction normal to the surface against which it is intended to bear but it does increase the ability for adhesive applied to that surface to hold there. This is particularly important when considering the surface of the material intended to be adhesively joined to a mandrel in the case of a packer using an adhesive or vulcanization.
- the fact that the patterning and/or texturing does not increase hold in a direction normal to the surface allows for removal of the material 10 from the surface with no greater effort than would be required for removal of the material 10 prior to being patterned and/or textured. This is helpful in the instance of a resettable packer that is set and unset to be moved. Accordingly, the material 10 will tenaciously hold its position when in contact with a surface in the face of differential pressure across material 10 or other force thereon that would otherwise tend to move the material 10 laterally on the opposing contact surface, yet material 10 will easily lift off of the opposing contact surface as if no patterning or texturing had been applied.
- the teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing.
- the treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof
- Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc.
- Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Extrusion Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
A seal for an annular space includes a mandrel; and an element having a surface treatment to increase the coefficient of friction thereof at least on a surface of the element configured to interact with the mandrel. A material for use as an element to seal an annular space, the material including a surface treatment to increase lateral coefficient of friction. A method for producing a seal for an annular space.
Description
- In many industries, elements that are intended to extend from a central mandrel and interact with an opposing surface are used for holding a differential pressure across the element. These elements need to be maintained in position in order to be effective. Unfortunately, differential pressures tend to extrude a portion of the element or swab the entire element. Extrusion or swabbing of an element is obviously problematic since where such occurs, the point of the structure, which was to hold a differential pressure, may be reduced or lost. These conditions also may result in a reduction in lifespan of the element. In any case, cost is most certainly increased and other detrimental effects may be incurred. Sometimes, extrusion is addressed with anti-extrusion devices disposed at either end of the element but these are expensive, cumbersome, extend overall length of a seal making tool, etc.
- In all industries, expenses need to be minimized while effective constructions are produced. In view hereof, relevant arts are always receptive to new developments and configurations that promote product reliability and function.
- A seal for an annular space includes a mandrel; and an element having a surface treatment to increase the coefficient of friction thereof at least on a surface of the element configured to interact with the mandrel.
- A material for use as an element to seal an annular space, the material including a surface treatment to increase lateral coefficient of friction.
- A method for producing a seal for an annular space includes surface treating a material configured to act as an element; adhesively attaching the element to a mandrel incorporating at least some of the surface treatment into an interface between the element and the mandrel.
- The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section view of a workpiece prior to patterning; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross section view of the workpiece after micropatterning; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross section view of the workpiece after nanotexturing; and -
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross section view of a packer configured according to this disclosure. - A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
- In connection with the disclosure hereof, it has been determined that applying surface treatments that increase the coefficient of friction of an element of a seal for an annular space that in some embodiments may be a downhole seal such as a packer, has the beneficial effect of increasing the resistance of the element to swabbing and extruding. Those of skill in the art will understand swabbing to be the sliding of a seal on a mandrel to which the seal is supposed to be attached and immovable. Those of skill in the art will understand extrusion to be the forcing of a portion of an element of a seal out of position due to pressure differential across the seal. Extrusion of an element may result in failure of the element to hold pressure if the degree of extrusion is sufficient.
- Referring to
FIG. 1 , a schematic representation of aworkpiece material 10 is illustrated. This illustration is merely to illustrate the effects of the surface treatment that is applied to the material to arrive at the end configuration being disclosed. Thematerial 10 may comprise polymeric material such as polydimethyl siloxane and/or perfluouro elastomers or other materials such as nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), tetrafluoroethylene and propylene rubber (FEPM), and fluoroelastomer (FKM). In an embodiment the workpiece is an element for a packer or similar seal often used in the downhole industry for holding annular differential pressure. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , thematerial 10 is illustrated after a patterning operation. The patterning operation may be selected from but is not limited to micro-molding, micro- patterning, micro-embossing, chemical etching, laser etching and reactive ion etching, for example. As illustrated inFIG. 2 , the patterning is a micro-post pattern where measurements for a, b, and c are in ranges of 10 μm to 500 μm, 0.1 μm to 50 μm and 1 μm to 100 μm, respectively. Thematerial 10 can be viewed as a finished product at this point or may be further processed as discussed relative toFIG. 3 . - Referring to
FIG. 3 , the patternedmaterial 10 is textured. Texturing in some embodiments is microtexturing or nanotexturing. It is to be understood that while the texturing illustrated inFIG. 3 is an additional surface treatment on the already patternedmaterial 10, the texturing could be used independently of the patterning on thematerial 10, i.e. texturing only with no patterning. All end results of 1) patterned alone 2) patterned and textured, and 3) textured alone are contemplated herein. It is also to be understood that different areas of thesame material 10 may be different ones of the possibilities listed above. - In each case, the patterning and/or texturing provides for an increase in the lateral coefficient of friction between the
material 10 and a contact surface against which thematerial 10 is intended to bear. For example, contact surfaces for the material when configured as an element are, referring toFIG. 4 , themandrel 14, thebackups 16 and theinside surface 18 of a tubular in which the element is to be set. The patterning and/or texturing does not increase an independent adhesive characteristic of the material in a direction normal to the surface against which it is intended to bear but it does increase the ability for adhesive applied to that surface to hold there. This is particularly important when considering the surface of the material intended to be adhesively joined to a mandrel in the case of a packer using an adhesive or vulcanization. In areas where adhesive is not employed, the fact that the patterning and/or texturing does not increase hold in a direction normal to the surface allows for removal of thematerial 10 from the surface with no greater effort than would be required for removal of thematerial 10 prior to being patterned and/or textured. This is helpful in the instance of a resettable packer that is set and unset to be moved. Accordingly, thematerial 10 will tenaciously hold its position when in contact with a surface in the face of differential pressure acrossmaterial 10 or other force thereon that would otherwise tend to move thematerial 10 laterally on the opposing contact surface, yetmaterial 10 will easily lift off of the opposing contact surface as if no patterning or texturing had been applied. - The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should further be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity).
- The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.
- While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.
Claims (13)
1. A seal for an annular space comprising:
a mandrel; and
an element having a surface treatment to increase the coefficient of friction thereof at least on a surface of the element configured to interact with the mandrel.
2. The seal as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an adhesive between the element and the mandrel.
3. The seal as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the surface treatment on a surface of the element configured to interact with one or more backups of the seal.
4. The seal as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the surface treatment on a surface of the element configured to interact with an opposing structure against which the seal is intended to create a seal.
5. A material for use as an element to seal an annular space, the material including a surface treatment to increase lateral coefficient of friction.
6. The material as claimed in claim 5 wherein the surface treatment is a patterning.
7. The material as claimed in claim 5 wherein the surface treatment is a micro texturing.
8. The material as claimed in claim 5 wherein the surface treatment is a nanotexturing.
9. The material as claimed in claim 5 wherein the surface treatment is a patterning and one or both of a micro texturing and a nanotexturing.
10. A method for reducing swabbing of an element comprising surface treating the element to increase a lateral coefficient of friction with a mandrel upon which the element is mounted.
11. A method for producing a seal for an annular space comprising:
surface treating a material configured to act as an element;
adhesively attaching the element to a mandrel incorporating at least some of the surface treatment into an interface between the element and the mandrel.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the surface treatment is disposed to interact with at least one backup of the seal for an annular space.
13. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the surface treatment is disposed to interact with a surface against which the element is intended to seal during use.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/806,024 US20170022779A1 (en) | 2015-07-22 | 2015-07-22 | Surface texturing to increase lateral coefficient of friction |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/806,024 US20170022779A1 (en) | 2015-07-22 | 2015-07-22 | Surface texturing to increase lateral coefficient of friction |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20170022779A1 true US20170022779A1 (en) | 2017-01-26 |
Family
ID=57836040
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/806,024 Abandoned US20170022779A1 (en) | 2015-07-22 | 2015-07-22 | Surface texturing to increase lateral coefficient of friction |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20170022779A1 (en) |
-
2015
- 2015-07-22 US US14/806,024 patent/US20170022779A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED, TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:GANGULY, PARTHA;KUMAR, DEEPAK;RICHARD, BENNETT M.;SIGNING DATES FROM 20150715 TO 20150720;REEL/FRAME:036154/0793 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |