Wavy Backing Ring Sealing Assembly for High Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing expandable seals in the drilling and completion industry face limitations in pressure capabilities due to the risk of fracturing the metal backing from increased setting or boosting loads, which restricts their performance in challenging well pressures and temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A sealing assembly with a support body featuring a substantially wavy backing ring and radially extending ribs, combined with a sealing member having radially exterior and interior components, provides spring-like resiliency and distributes stress effectively, allowing for increased pressure ratings without fracturing the metal backing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If additional setting or boosting loads are applied to increase pressure capabilities, then the pressure rating is improved, but the metal backing may fracture due to rubber pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple sealing elements (first sealing element and second sealing element) that are radially offset from each other. This segmentation allows the sealing forces to be distributed across different locations, preventing concentration of stress on any single point of the metal backing, thereby enabling higher pressure ratings without fracturing the backing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements are positioned at different radial offsets and potentially different axial locations, utilizing multiple spatial dimensions to distribute the sealing function. This dimensional distribution prevents the rubber pressure from concentrating on a single plane of the metal backing, resolving the contradiction between achieving high pressure ratings and maintaining backing integrity.
2Stress or pressure
If the seal is made more resilient to handle higher pressures, then the pressure capability is improved, but the complexity of the support body structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support body incorporates discrete ribs that segment the structure between the sealing elements. These ribs provide structural support and stress distribution without requiring a completely complex redesigned support body. The segmented approach allows the structure to handle higher pressures while maintaining reasonable complexity through modular structural elements.
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 sealing assembly achieves higher pressure ratings, such as 20,000 psi, by diverting axial energy into radial contact, enhancing seal engagement and reliability while preventing internal stress that could cause cracking.
Implementation Method 1
A sealing assembly with a support body featuring a substantially wavy backing ring and radially extending ribs, combined with a sealing member having radially exterior and interior components, provides spring-like resiliency and distributes stress effectively
Implementation Method 2
The sealing assembly achieves higher pressure ratings, such as 20,000 psi, by diverting axial energy into radial contact, enhancing seal engagement and reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing assembly configured to seal within an annulus, the sealing assembly including a support body including a backing ring having a substantially wavy sectional shape, and a plurality of ribs extending radially outwardly from the backing ring; and, a sealing member supported on the support body, the sealing member including a radially exterior sealing component, at least a portion of the radially exterior sealing component disposed between adjacent ribs on a radial exterior surface of the hacking ring, and, a radially interior sealing component disposed on a radial interior surface of the backing portion.