Swelling layer inflatable
US7597152B2 · kind B2 · utility
10Cited by
36References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 13, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 13, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S277/934
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An inflatable features a swelling layer. The swelling layer can be made integral or attached to the element or it can be bonded or otherwise secured to the mandrel. Upon inflation with fluid, the element expands into sealing contact with a surrounding tubular or wellbore. The fluid is absorbed or otherwise interacts with the swelling layer so that, in a preferred embodiment, the total occupied volume of the swelling layer and fluid individually is retained after mixing with the swelling of the layer acting to hold the seal of the inflatable element even if a problem develops in the sealing element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.