Seal assembly for pipeline isolation tool and methods of use

1. A seal assembly comprising:

a pressure head, the pressure head including a forcing face, the pressure head including a slot formed in the face opposite the forcing face, the slot being annular;

a primary tapered ring, the primary tapered ring including an expansion face, the expansion face abutting the forcing face,

a primary seal ring;

a squeezer assembly, the squeezer assembly including at least one seal face, the seal face abutting the primary seal ring;

a secondary tapered ring, the secondary tapered ring including a wedge squeezer face, the wedge squeezer face abutting a wedge face of the squeezer assembly; and

a bowl, the bowl including a wedge face, the wedge face in abutment with an expansion face of the secondary tapered ring.

2. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the primary seal ring is formed from an elastomeric material.

3. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the primary tapered ring includes a seal roof and a seal lip formed in the face opposite the expansion face, the seal roof and seal lip defining a seal pocket, wherein the primary seal ring is positioned at least partially within the seal pocket.

4. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the primary seal ring further comprises a return flange.

5. The seal assembly of claim 4 , wherein the secondary tapered ring includes a return pocket, the return flange of the primary seal ring positioned at least partially within the return pocket.

6. The seal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the squeezer assembly further includes an inner seal.

7. A seal assembly comprising:

a pressure head, the pressure head including a forcing face;

a primary tapered ring, the primary tapered ring including an expansion face, the expansion face abutting the forcing face, the primary tapered ring including a plurality of primary tapered ring segments wherein each primary tapered ring segment includes a primary tapered ring rabbet, each primary tapered ring rabbet configured to slidingly engage a second primary tapered ring rabbet of an adjacent primary tapered ring segment,

a primary seal ring;

a squeezer assembly, the squeezer assembly including at least one seal face, the seal face abutting the primary seal ring;

a secondary tapered ring, the secondary tapered ring including a wedge squeezer face, the wedge squeezer face abutting a wedge face of the squeezer assembly; and

a bowl, the bowl including a wedge face, the wedge face in abutment with an expansion face of the secondary tapered ring.

8. A seal assembly comprising:

a pressure head, the pressure head including a forcing face;

a primary tapered ring, the primary tapered ring including an expansion face, the expansion face abutting the forcing face,

a primary seal ring;

a squeezer assembly, the squeezer assembly including at least one seal face, the seal face abutting the primary seal ring, the squeezer assembly including a large squeezer ring and a small squeezer ring, wherein an inner seal is positioned between the large squeezer ring and the small squeezer ring;

a secondary tapered ring, the secondary tapered ring including a wedge squeezer face, the wedge squeezer face abutting a wedge face of the squeezer assembly; and

a bowl, the bowl including a wedge face, the wedge face in abutment with an expansion face of the secondary tapered ring.

9. The seal assembly of claim 8 , wherein the seal face is formed on the large squeezer ring and the wedge face is formed on the small squeezer ring.

10. The seal assembly of claim 8 , wherein the seal face is formed on the small squeezer ring and the wedge face is formed on the large squeezer ring.

11. The seal assembly of claim 8 , wherein the primary seal ring extends at least partially between the large squeezer ring and the small squeezer ring.

12. A seal assembly comprising:

a pressure head, the pressure head including a forcing face;

a primary tapered ring, the primary tapered ring including an expansion face, the expansion face abutting the forcing face,

a primary seal ring;

a squeezer assembly, the squeezer assembly including at least one seal face, the seal face abutting the primary seal ring;

a secondary tapered ring, the secondary tapered ring including a wedge squeezer face, the wedge squeezer face abutting a wedge face of the squeezer assembly, the secondary tapered ring including a plurality of wedge segments, each wedge segment including a wedge rabbet, each wedge rabbet configured to slidingly engage a second wedge rabbet of an adjacent wedge segment; and

a bowl, the bowl including a wedge face, the wedge face in abutment with an expansion face of the secondary tapered ring.

13. A pipeline plug comprising:

a plug body, the plug body being tubular;

an actuation mechanism, the actuation mechanism including a fixed head and a movable head, the fixed head coupled to the plug body; and

a seal assembly positioned about the plug body between the fixed head and the movable head, the seal assembly including:

a pressure head, the pressure head including a forcing face, the pressure head including a slot formed in the face opposite the forcing face, the slot receiving the fixed head, the slot being annular;

a primary tapered ring, the primary tapered ring including an expansion face, the expansion face abutting the forcing face;

a primary seal ring;

a squeezer assembly, the squeezer assembly including a seal face, the seal face abutting the primary seal ring;

a secondary tapered ring, the secondary tapered ring including a wedge squeezer face, the wedge squeezer face abutting a wedge face of the squeezer assembly; and

a bowl, the bowl including a wedge face, the wedge face in abutment with an expansion face of the secondary tapered ring.

14. The seal assembly of claim 13 , wherein the primary seal ring is formed from an elastomeric material.

15. The pipeline plug of claim 13 , wherein the movable head is movable relative to the fixed head by hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure, or electromechanically.

16. The pipeline plug of claim 13 , wherein the primary tapered ring includes a seal roof and a seal lip formed in the face opposite the expansion face, the seal roof and seal lip defining a seal pocket, wherein the primary seal ring is positioned at least partially within the seal pocket.

17. The pipeline plug of claim 13 , wherein the primary seal ring further comprises a return flange.

18. The pipeline plug of claim 17 , wherein the secondary tapered ring includes a return pocket, the return flange of the primary seal ring positioned at least partially within the return pocket.

19. The pipeline plug of claim 13 , wherein the squeezer assembly further includes an inner seal.

20. A pipeline plug comprising:

a plug body, the plug body being tubular;

an actuation mechanism, the actuation mechanism including a fixed head and a movable head, the fixed head coupled to the plug body; and

a seal assembly positioned about the plug body between the fixed head and the movable head, the seal assembly including:

a pressure head, the pressure head including a forcing face;

a primary tapered ring, the primary tapered ring comprising a plurality of primary tapered ring segments, the primary tapered ring including an expansion face, the expansion face abutting the forcing face, wherein each primary tapered ring segment includes a primary tapered ring rabbet, each primary tapered ring rabbet configured to slidingly engage a second primary tapered ring rabbet of an adjacent primary tapered ring segment;

a primary seal ring;

a squeezer assembly, the squeezer assembly including a seal face, the seal face abutting the primary seal ring;

a secondary tapered ring, the secondary tapered ring including a wedge squeezer face, the wedge squeezer face abutting a wedge face of the squeezer assembly; and

a bowl, the bowl including a wedge face, the wedge face in abutment with an expansion face of the secondary tapered ring.

21. A pipeline plug comprising:

a plug body, the plug body being tubular;

an actuation mechanism, the actuation mechanism including a fixed head and a movable head, the fixed head coupled to the plug body; and

a seal assembly positioned about the plug body between the fixed head and the movable head, the seal assembly including:

a pressure head, the pressure head including a forcing face;

a primary tapered ring, the primary tapered ring including an expansion face, the expansion face abutting the forcing face,

a primary seal ring;

a squeezer assembly, the squeezer assembly including a seal face, the seal face abutting the primary seal ring, the squeezer assembly comprising a large squeezer ring and a small squeezer ring, wherein an inner seal is positioned between the large squeezer ring and the small squeezer ring;

a secondary tapered ring, the secondary tapered ring including a wedge squeezer face, the wedge squeezer face abutting a wedge face of the squeezer assembly; and

a bowl, the bowl including a wedge face, the wedge face in abutment with an expansion face of the secondary tapered ring.

22. The seal assembly of claim 21 , wherein the seal face is formed on the large squeezer ring and the wedge face is formed on the small squeezer ring.

23. The seal assembly of claim 21 , wherein the seal face is formed on the small squeezer ring and the wedge face is formed on the large squeezer ring.

24. A pipeline plug comprising:

a plug body, the plug body being tubular;

an actuation mechanism, the actuation mechanism including a fixed head and a movable head, the fixed head coupled to the plug body; and

a seal assembly positioned about the plug body between the fixed head and the movable head, the seal assembly including:

a pressure head, the pressure head including a forcing face;

a primary tapered ring, the primary tapered ring including an expansion face, the expansion face abutting the forcing face,

a primary seal ring;

a squeezer assembly, the squeezer assembly including a seal face, the seal face abutting the primary seal ring;

a secondary tapered ring, the secondary tapered ring including a wedge squeezer face, the wedge squeezer face abutting a wedge face of the squeezer assembly, the secondary tapered ring comprising a plurality of wedge segments, wherein each wedge segment includes a wedge rabbet, each wedge rabbet configured to slidingly engage a second wedge rabbet of an adjacent wedge segment; and

a bowl, the bowl including a wedge face, the wedge face in abutment with an expansion face of the secondary tapered ring.