Insert-Filled Garter Spring Assembly for Wellbore Seal Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Garter springs in sealing devices for well systems are prone to manufacturing defects such as fractures, cracks, and voids, leading to seal failures and leak paths in wellbores, with unpredictable defect patterns increasing uncertainty in seal reliability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a premade continuous insert made of non-metallic or metallic materials, such as rubber or polymer, into the garter spring assembly to fill manufacturing voids and adjust pitch and orientation, enhancing the garter spring's structural integrity and reducing strain concentration points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If garter springs are used as extrusion prevention mechanisms in sealing devices, then seal reliability is improved, but manufacturing defects such as fractures, cracks, and voids occur leading to seal failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by positioning support elements (such as rigid or compliant inserts) within the garter spring assembly during manufacturing to prevent void formation and provide structural support. These support elements are placed in advance to cushion against manufacturing-induced stresses and prevent crack initiation, thereby maintaining seal reliability while improving manufacturing quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining the garter spring (typically metallic) with support elements made of different materials (rigid inserts or compliant materials). This composite structure leverages the strengths of each material: the garter spring provides extrusion resistance while the support elements fill voids and prevent defect formation, resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing precision.
2Productivity
If manufacturing processes are used to assemble garter springs with sealing elements, then productivity is improved, but inhomogeneity and voids are created resulting in crack initiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning support elements within the garter spring assembly before the final sealing element is installed. This preliminary placement ensures uniformity and prevents void formation during subsequent manufacturing steps, maintaining both productivity and manufacturing precision by eliminating the need for complex post-assembly defect repair processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The support elements act as intermediaries during the manufacturing process, facilitating the assembly of the garter spring with the sealing element while maintaining structural integrity and uniformity. These intermediary components enable simplified manufacturing procedures without compromising assembly quality, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and manufacturing precision.
3Reliability
If multiple garter springs are used to prevent extrusion, then seal reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating support elements directly into the garter spring assembly structure, combining multiple functions (extrusion prevention, void filling, and structural support) into a unified component. This integration maintains seal reliability while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for separate support components and simplifying the overall assembly structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatus for implementing a sealing device having a garter spring assembly in a well system. The sealing device may include a sealing element configured to establish a seal in a wellbore of the well system. The sealing device may also include a garter spring assembly coupled with the sealing element. The garter spring assembly may include one or more garter springs and a premade continuous insert positioned within a cavity formed by an inner diameter of the one or more garter springs and configured to fill the cavity. The garter spring assembly may include adjacent garter springs that are positioned to have opposite coil orientations.