Progressive-action sealing system for electrical conductors

Abstract

Progressive Sealing System (SSAP) is a mechanism that allows communicating and sealing conductive elements (electrical or else) from a pressurized area to one that is not, or areas that have different pressure rates, through the use of piston-type movable components (3) that assemble mechanically by joining the upper connector (1) with the pressure chamber (8); the conductive elements are sealed by elastomers (5) to form a bidirectional pressure seal that acts progressively to the existing pressure force and in the direction which to higher pressure is flowing to. It can be used in oil and gas Wells to isolate areas with different pressure or with the exterior of the well. It can also be used by any industry sector that may require to communicate conductors through areas with different pressure.

Claims

1. A progressive action sealing system for electric conductors comprising: a progressive piston assembly (3) having a plurality of elastomers (5) that is assembled between an upper piston (4) and a lower piston (6), wherein each elastomer of said plurality of elastomers (5) is configured to separately receive one electrical conductor within for sealing and isolating said electrical conductor; a pressure chamber (8) having an upper pre-seal (2) and a lower pre-seal (7), wherein said progressive piston assembly (3) is located inside said pressure chamber (8) between said upper pre-seal (2) and said lower pre-seal (7); and an upper adapter (1) removably attached to said pressure chamber (8) to enclose said progressive piston assembly (3) so that said progressive piston assembly (3) works bi-directionally, receiving pressure at either end while compressing uniformly the at least one elastomer (5), wherein said progressive piston assembly (3) serves as a bidirectional and progressive pressure seal barrier depending on the pressure and the applied direction of the force received on each side of the seal.

2. The progressive action sealing system of claim 1, wherein said lower piston (6) moves upward when receives an upward pressure causing the at least one elastomer (5) to be compressed against the upper piston (4) or said upper piston (4) moves downwards when receives an upward pressure causing the at least one elastomer (5) to be compressed against the lower piston (6) so that the force vector changes direction towards the center of the at least one electric conductor forming a hermetic seal with progressive seal force directly proportional to the pressure received by the piston.

3. The progressive action sealing system of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastomer (5) has an elliptical external surface.

4. The progressive action sealing system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality elastomers (5) has an elliptical external surface.

5. The progressive action sealing system of claim 1, wherein a diameter of at least one upper pre-seal passthrough opening (21) provided on said upper pre-seal (2) and a diameter of at least one lower pre-seal passthrough opening (71) provided on said lower pre-seal (7) is smaller than a diameter of a lower piston passthrough opening (61) provided on said lower piston (6) and a diameter of an upper piston passthrough opening (41) provided on said upper piston (4) effectively limiting the longitudinal deformation of said at least one elastomer (5) when pressure is received.

6. The progressive action sealing system of claim 1, wherein the sealing system is provided below, above or within a wellhead.

7. The progressive action sealing system of claim 1, wherein all the components of the sealing system that contact the at least one electrical conductor are made from dielectric materials resistant to corrosive gases, solvents, high temperatures and pressure.

8. The progressive action sealing system of claim 1, wherein the sealing system supports pressures up to 34,500 kPa and temperatures, under working conditions, of up to 220 C.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 Perspective and detailed view of the mono conductor progressive piston Sealing System (3) of the invention patent.

(2) FIG. 2 Perspective and detailed view of the multi conductor progressive piston Sealing System (3) of the invention patent.

(3) FIG. 3 Perspective view of the upper connector (1) of the Sealing System.

(4) FIG. 4 Perspective view of the upper pre-seal (2) of the Sealing System.

(5) FIG. 5 Perspective view of the mono conductor progressive piston (3) of the Sealing System.

(6) FIG. 6 Perspective view of the upper piston (4) of the Sealing System.

(7) FIG. 7 Perspective view of the elastomeric seal (5) of the Sealing System.

(8) FIG. 8 Perspective view of the lower pre-seal (7) of the Sealing System.

(9) FIG. 9 Perspective view of the pressure chamber (8) of the Sealing System.

(10) FIG. 10 Perspective view of the multi conductor progressive piston (3) of the Sealing System.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) The Progressive Sealing System [hereinafter referred to as SSAP for its abbreviation in Spanish] of the present invention patent application, as per FIG. 1, consists of: a) an upper connector (1); b) an upper pre-seal (2); c) a mono conductor progressive piston (3) comprising: i) an upper piston (4); ii) one or several elastomeric seals (5); iii) a lower piston (6); d) a lower pre-seal (7); and e) a pressure chamber (8).

(12) In view of the problems described in the state of the art, the Progressive Sealing System (SSAP) was designed to seal conductive elements that pass between two areas with different pressure rates without cutting them and without having to make connections under the wellhead.

(13) SSAP uses piston-type movable components (3) inside a pressure chamber (8), as well as an upper (2) and a lower pre-seal (7) to seal the conductive elements through the use of one or several elastomers (5) depending on the number of conductorseither simple or multiplethat are to be sealed; they are assembled mechanically by connecting the upper connector (1) with the pressure chamber (8), thus forming a bidirectional pressure barrier seal that acts progressively against the existing pressure force and in the direction to which the pressure is flowing.

(14) If the pressure flows from the lower to the upper part, the lower piston (6) will move progressively and proportionally to the pressure force toward the upper piston (4); and it is the piston which receives the pressure force directly and not the elastomer making the latter (5) compress evenly and press the seal against the conductor more strongly; this ensures the lowest possible level of risk of failure of the conductor as a result of the seal's applying an exaggerated force.

(15) If the pressure flows from the upper to the lower part the opposite effect will take place: the upper piston (4) will move progressively and proportionally to the pressure force toward the lower piston (6) which produces a sealing force that is proportional to the pressure force and is bidirectional. This makes the system unique and gives the user the possibility to use it not only in the lower part of the head but in the upper part, too, as well as in the zone isolation gaskets and even outside the head, on the surface of the well.

(16) With this system, users do not have the only option to seal three conductors; they can configure the system to seal 1-9 conductors.

(17) The non-progressive sealing systems receive the pressure in the seal, and it tends to deform the seal until it finally fails; also, the seal is in a fixed place (it does not move) so it makes the pressure concentrate on the seal; conversely, the progressive system of the present invention makes the pressure to be received by the piston and not the seal, which causes the piston to move and seal the system progressively to the pressure force; the seal does not receive directly the pressure; therefore, the risk to damage the elastomer due to the pressure is minimum.

(18) The components of SSAP that contact the conductors are manufactured in dielectric and isolating materials. Also, the elastomeric seal contains compounds especially designed for the application. They make it resistant to any type of corrosive gas such us HQS, as well as to the attack of solvents, high temperatures and pressure.

(19) FIG. 1 is a perspective and detailed view of the mono conductor progressive piston Sealing System (3) of the invention patent which shows: the upper connector (1), the upper pre-seal (2) having a pass-through opening (21), the mono conductor progressive piston (3) with the upper piston (4) having a pass-through opening (41), the elastomeric seal (5), the lower piston (6) having a pass-through opening (61), the lower pre-seal (7) having a pass-through opening (71) and the pressure chamber (8) having threads (81). As can be appreciated from the figure, pass-through openings (21) and (71) have a diameter smaller than the diameters of pass-through opening (41), pass-through opening (61) and elastomeric seal (5).

(20) FIG. 2 is a perspective and detailed view of the multi conductor progressive piston Sealing System (3) of the invention patent which shows: the upper connector (1), the upper pre-seal (2) having a plurality pass-through openings (21), the multi conductor progressive piston (3) with the upper piston (4) having a plurality pass-through openings (41), the a plurality of elastomeric seals (5), the lower piston (6) having a plurality pass-through openings (61), the lower pre-seal (7) having a plurality pass-through openings (71) and the pressure chamber (8) having threads (81). As can also be appreciated from the figure, pass-through openings (21) and (71) have a diameter smaller than the diameters of pass-through openings (41), pass-through openings (61) and elastomeric seals (5).

(21) FIG. 3 shows the perspective view of the upper connector (1) of the Progressive Sealing System.