Tri-lead Packer Penetrator Double Seal Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sealing electrical conductors, such as those used in ESPs and MI cables, as they pass through packers or wellheads is challenging due to the need for effective pressure seals that prevent leaks and ensure reliable transmission.
Innovation Solution
A penetrator packer seal system comprising one or more tubes inserted into a seal bushing, sealed using a nut and compression ring, with additional sealing mechanisms like ferrules and non-metallic seals to ensure compression and connection to a manifold bushing, allowing for secure sealing around each conductor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple conductors are sealed through a packer assembly, then reliable electrical transmission is achieved, but the sealing complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into separate seal bodies, each dedicated to sealing a specific conductor. Each seal body can be independently installed and sealed, allowing complex multi-conductor sealing to be broken down into manageable sequential steps rather than requiring a single complex sealing operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where seal bodies are positioned within a packer assembly that contains multiple conductors. Each seal body is nested around its corresponding conductor, and the entire assembly is contained within the packer structure, creating a hierarchical nested sealing system that manages complexity through organized nesting
2Reliability
If compression sealing is applied to each conductor individually, then effective pressure seals are achieved, but the installation time and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal bodies are pre-positioned around the conductors before the final compression sealing operation. This preliminary positioning ensures proper alignment and preparation, so that when compression is applied, the sealing action is immediate and effective without requiring complex real-time adjustments during installation
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system incorporates dynamic elements such as adjustable compression mechanisms and flexible seal bodies that can adapt to different conductor positions and dimensions. This allows the sealing process to be simplified while maintaining effective compression seals, as the dynamic components self-adjust during installation rather than requiring precise pre-positioning
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively seals multiple conductors, preventing leaks and ensuring reliable transmission by compressively sealing each tube, facilitating easy installation and maintaining a secure connection to the packer or wellhead.
Implementation Method 1
a nut and compression ring seal threaded onto a seal bushing. This top assembly compresses a pressure seal about each of the tubes
Implementation Method 2
The seal bushing and manifold bushing can also be compressively sealed with a non-metallic seal between the manifold bushing and the seal bushing
Data Source
AI summary
A packer penetrator seals each of a plurality of tubes within an enclosed penetrator body having a seal against the tubes and a seal against a seal bushing enclosing each of the plurality of the tubes. The method of installing this assembly whereby a manifold bushing is fed over the tubes and seated into the packer penetrator, then the penetrator is sealed using one or more rings with a top seal by tightening down a manifold bushing nut. Each tube is then sealed by passing it through the top seal and either sealed using a ferrule and nut seal or a top-hat and nut seal. Thus, each electrical conductor in the tube is sealed, and the packer penetrator is also sealed against the elements.