METHOD OF CREATING AN ANNULAR SEAL AROUND A TUBULAR ELEMENT

摘要

A method is disclosed of creating an annular seal around a tubular element for use in a wellbore. The method comprises providing at least one seal layer of a flexible sealing material susceptible of swelling upon contact with a selected fluid, said at least one seal layer having a first edge and a second edge, and helically winding each seal layer around the tubular element so that said first and second edges extend opposite each other along the tubular element and so that said first and second edges seal relative to each other upon swelling of the flexible sealing material. The tubular element is lowered into the wellbore, and the selected fluid is allowed to contact each seal layer so as to induce swelling of the flexible sealing material whereby said first and second edges seal relative to each other.