Downhole Metal to Metal Seal and Ratcheting Retention Device

• Main Authors: JAMES E. SAYLOR III, SUDARSANAM CHELLAPPA
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.04.2011
• Subjects: BLASTING; CYLINDERS; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; PISTONS; SEALINGS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

A downhole tool 200 which creates a metal to metal seal across an annulus includes a deformable element 212 having a first portion 218 with a first metal protrusion 220 configured to seal against a first metal surface 106 and a second portion 214 having a second metal protrusion 216 configured to seal against a second metal surface. Also disclosed, a ratcheting retention device (500, figure 5) includes a first inner tubular element 104 having a plurality of grooves 306, and a second wedge ring 224 element having at least two sets of teeth 308, wherein one of the at least two sets of teeth 308 engages the plurality of grooves 306. Additionally, a method of forming a downhole metal to metal seal includes disposing in a wellbore a downhole tool 200 including an inner tubular 104, a lock ring 204, a lower ring 206, an upper ring 208, an insert ring 210 and a deformable ring 212, moving a wedge sleeve 224 to engage the deformable ring 212 and force the metal protrusion 216 on the deformable element 212 into contact with an outer tubular 108.