摘要 |
A sealing system can include an annular seal comprising a resilient material, and a spring which applies a compressive force to the seal as a resilience of the material diminishes, the spring being external to the seal. A sealing method can include installing a seal in a well tool, the seal being compressed radially as a result of the installing, and a spring external to the seal exerting a compressive force on the seal. A well tool can include a seal radially compressed between seal surfaces of the well tool, due to the seal having a greater radial dimension as compared to a radial distance between the seal surfaces, and a spring which exerts a compressive force on the seal, the spring being external to the seal. |