IP Library Granted Patent US 10,648,284
Granted Patent B2
US 10,648,284 · App. 15/935,286 · Granted May 12, 2020

Methods and systems for a seal to maintain constant pressure within a tool with a sliding internal seal

Inventor: William Hunter (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Comitt Well Solutions LLC
E21B34/10E21B34/14E21B43/26E21B2034/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,648,284
App. No.
15/935,286
Granted
May 12, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods to maintain constant pressure within a chamber within a tool via a sliding seal, wherein the seal moves to increase or decrease the size of the chamber.

Claims (40)

1. A fracturing system comprising:

a first set of nozzles positioned at a first offset within a tool;

a second set of nozzles positioned at a second offset within the tool;

a sliding seal positioned within an inner diameter of the tool, the sliding seal being configured to move within a tool;

an adjustable member being configured to compress and elongate based on variations in pressure to apply a force against the sliding seal in a direction towards a proximal end of the tool, the adjustable member being positioned between the sliding seal and a distal end of the tool, wherein the adjustable member compresses responsive to increasing a fluid flow rate through the inner diameter of the tool, and the sliding seal is configured to move towards the distal end of the tool when the adjustable member compresses; and

a chamber positioned between the sliding seal and the proximal end of the tool, wherein the chamber changes in size responsive to the adjustable member compressing or elongating,

wherein the adjustable member is configured to elongate responsive to decreasing the fluid flow rate through the inner diameter of the tool, and the chamber decreases in size when the adjustable member compresses, wherein pressure within the chamber remains substantially constant when the fluid flow rate through the inner diameter of the tool changes by automatically changing the size of the chamber.

2. The fracturing system of claim 1 , wherein in a first position the sliding seal is configured to cover the second set of nozzles, wherein in the first position the fluid flow rate through the inner diameter of the tool is below a flow rate threshold.

3. The fracturing system of claim 2 , wherein in a second position the sliding seal is positioned below the second set of nozzles, wherein in the second position the fluid flow rate through the inner diameter of the tool is above the flow rate threshold.

4. The fracturing system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of nozzles includes a first number of nozzles and the second set of nozzles includes a second number of nozzles, the second number being larger than the first number.

5. The fracturing system of claim 1 , wherein the size of the chamber is based on a positioning of the sliding seal.

6. The fracturing system of claim 5 , wherein the size of the chamber dynamically changes based on the fluid flow rate.

7. The fracturing system of claim 1 , wherein the sliding seal is positioned between the first set of nozzles and the adjustable member.

8. A fracturing system comprising:

a first set of nozzles positioned at a first offset within a tool;

a second set of nozzles positioned at a second offset within the tool;

a sliding seal positioned within an inner diameter of the tool, the sliding seal being configured to move within a tool;

an adjustable member being configured to compress and elongate based on variations in pressure to apply a force against the sliding seal in a direction towards a proximal end of the tool, the adjustable member being positioned between the sliding seal and a distal end of the tool, wherein the adjustable member compresses responsive to increasing a fluid flow rate through the inner diameter of the tool, and the sliding seal is configured to move towards the distal end of the tool when the adjustable member compresses; and

a chamber positioned between the sliding seal and the proximal end of the tool, wherein the chamber changes in size responsive to the adjustable member compressing or elongating; and

a bleed off area between the sliding seal and the inner diameter of the tool.

9. A method utilizing a fracturing system comprising:

positioning a sliding sleeve within an inner diameter of a tool, the tool including a first set of nozzles positioned at a first offset within a tool and a second set of nozzles positioned at a second offset within the tool;

changing a fluid flow rate through the inner diameter of the tool;

compressing a adjustable member responsive to increasing the fluid flow rate;

elongating the adjustable member responsive to decreasing the fluid flow rate, wherein the adjustable member is configured to compress or elongate based on pressure;

applying a force via the adjustable member in a direction towards a proximal end of the tool, the adjustable member being positioned between the sliding seal and a distal end of the tool;

changing a size of a chamber positioned between the sliding seal and the proximal end of the tool responsive to the adjustable member compressing or elongating;

decreasing the size of the chamber when the adjustable member compresses;

maintaining a substantially constant pressure within the chamber when the fluid flow rate through the inner diameter of the tool changes by automatically changing the size of the chamber.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

positioning the sliding seal in a first position to cover the second set of nozzles when the fluid flow rate through the inner diameter of the tool is below a flow rate threshold.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

positioning the sliding seal in a second position below the second set of nozzles when the fluid flow rate through the inner diameter of the tool is above the flow rate threshold.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first set of nozzles includes a first number of nozzles and the second set of nozzles includes a second number of nozzles, the second number being larger than the first number.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein there is a bleed off area between the sliding seal and the inner diameter of the tool.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

changing the size of the chamber by moving the sliding seal.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

dynamically changing the size of the chamber based on the fluid flow rate.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sliding seal is positioned between the first set of nozzles and the adjustable member.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2023
From: COMITT WELL SOLUTIONS US HOLDING INC.
To: COMITT WELL SOLUTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 063157/0522 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2020
From: HUNTER, WILLIAM
To: COMITT WELL SOLUTIONS US HOLDING INC.
Reel/Frame 054586/0874 →
Continuity (1)
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