annular barrier
The annular barrier with an expandable metal sleeve and eutectic/bentonite materials addresses the issue of seal loss in salt formations by adapting to expansion through state change or reaction, maintaining effective zonal isolation.
BR112025017587A2Pending Publication Date: 2026-07-07WELLTEC MFG CENT COMPLETIONS APS
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Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- BR · BR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- WELLTEC MFG CENT COMPLETIONS APS
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-07
AI Technical Summary
Technical Problem
Annular barriers in salt formations lose their sealing capacity as the salt formation expands, leading to broken zonal isolation due to the inability of existing flexible materials to maintain an adequate seal over time.
Method used
An annular barrier with an expandable metal sleeve and eutectic or bentonite material that can be heated to change state, allowing it to reorganize and provide a new seal by increasing volume, or react with well fluid to form a plug, ensuring continued sealing capacity as the salt formation expands.
Benefits of technology
The annular barrier maintains an effective seal in salt formations by using eutectic or bentonite materials that can adapt to expansion, ensuring continued zonal isolation even as the formation increases.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an annular barrier for expansion in an annulus between a first well tubular metal structure and an inner face of a borehole or a second well tubular metal structure for providing zone isolation between a first zone and a second zone of the annulus, the annular barrier having a first axial extension, where the annular barrier comprises a tubular metal part for mounting as part of the first well tubular metal structure, the tubular metal part having an outer face, an expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular metal part and having an outer face facing towards the inner face of the borehole or the second well tubular metal structure and an inner face facing the outer face of the tubular metal part, a second axial extension along the first axial extension, and each end of the expandable metal sleeve being connected with the tubular metal part, an annular space between the expandable metal sleeve and the tubular metal part, an expansion opening in the tubular metal part through which fluid may enter the annular space in order to expand the expandable metal sleeve, and wherein the annular barrier further comprises a eutectic material and / or a bentonite material which in a first condition is arranged on the outer face of the tubular metal part in a first axial position different from the second axial extension of the expandable metal sleeve, and in a second condition and a second axial position the eutectic material and / or a bentonite material abuts a face of the expandable metal sleeve, and in an intermediate condition the eutectic material and / or a bentonite material is positioned between the first axial position and the second axial position. The invention also relates to a downhole system comprising the annular barrier and a downhole tool string comprising a heating unit for heating the eutectic material and / or a bentonite material.
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