Sealing devices having a non-elastomeric fibrous sealing material and methods of using same

摘要

Sealing devices such as packers comprise a sealing element having one or more non-elastomeric fibrous sealing material layers formed by a plurality of fibers. The plurality of fibers may comprise one or more of natural material, metallic material, plastic material, or other non-elastomeric sealing material. The non-elastomeric fibrous sealing material layers may be formed by weaving the plurality of fibers, braiding the plurality of fibers, or forming a fibrous mass of the plurality of fibers. During operation, the non-elastomeric fibrous sealing material layers are radially expanded causing compression of the non-elastomeric fibrous sealing material layers. As a result, at least a portion of the air volume within the non-elastomeric fibrous sealing material layers is displaced by non-elastomeric fibrous sealing material causing the sealing element to engage a sealing surface, thereby forming a seal.

主权项

1. A sealing device for use in a wellbore to isolate an annulus of the wellbore, the sealing device comprising:
a sealing element comprising a non-elastomeric fibrous sealing material disposed on a surface of the sealing device, the non-elastomeric fibrous sealing material comprising a plurality of fibers of non-elastomeric sealing material, the plurality of fibers of non-elastomeric sealing material comprising an initial position in which the plurality of fibers of non-elastomeric sealing material comprises an initial volume and a compressed position in which the initial volume of the plurality of fibers of non-elastomeric sealing material is reduced,
wherein the plurality of fibers of non-elastomeric sealing material isolates the annulus of the wellbore when the plurality of fibers of non-elastomeric sealing material is in the compressed position.