METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEALING AN ANNULUR SPACE AROUND AN EXPANDED WELL TUBULAR

摘要

An annular space surrounding an expandable well tubular (1) is sealed by: - a concave seal pusher assembly (5) with concave pusher elements comprising buckling joints (7) of which assembly (5) a first end is secured at a selected first location (2) of the outer surface of the unexpanded well tubular (1); - an annular elastomeric sealing ring (9) arranged with an inwardly tapered first end thereof against an outwardly tapered second end (8) of the concave seal pusher assembly(5); - a set of staggered and overlapping steel support strips (11) arranged around a second end of the sealing ring (9) and connected at one end thereof to a selected second location (3) of the outer surface of the unexpanded tubular (1); - expanding and thereby shortening the tubular (1) to push the inwardly tapered end of the sealing ring over the outwardly tapered end (8) of the seal pusher assembly (5) and buckling the staggered strips (11) against the outer surface (12) of the annular space surrounding the expanded tubular (1) to compress the sealing ring (9) and seal off the annular space.