Annular barrier
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to an annular barrier for providing zonal isolation in an annulus downhole between a well tubular metal structure and another well tubular metal structure or a wall of a borehole, comprising a tubular metal part configured to be mounted as part of the well tubular metal structure, the tubular metal part having an outer face, an opening and an axial extension along the well tubular metal structure, and an expandable metal sleeve surrounding the tubular metal part, the first expandable metal sleeve having a circumferential groove, a first end and a second end, each end of the expandable metal sleeve being connected with the outer face of the tubular metal part, wherein the annular barrier further comprises an anchoring element arranged in the circumferential groove, the anchoring element comprising a first anchoring part at least partly overlapping a second anchoring part in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial extension so that an inner face of the first anchoring part at least partly abuts an outer face of the second anchoring part. Moreover, the present invention relates to a downhole completion system.
1. An annular barrier for providing zonal isolation in an annulus downhole between a well tubular metal structure and another well tubular metal structure or a wall of a borehole, comprising:
a tubular metal part configured to be mounted as part of the well tubular metal structure, the tubular metal part having an outer face, an opening and an axial extension along the well tubular metal structure, and
an expandable metal sleeve radially surrounding the tubular metal part to define an expandable space that is in fluid communication with an interior portion of the tubular metal part via the opening, wherein the expandable metal sleeve is radially expandable by introducing pressurized fluid into the opening to expand the expandable metal sleeve from a first radial position adjacent the tubular metal part to a second radial position, outwards of the first radial position, in which the expandable metal sleeve contacts the other tubular metal structure or the wall of the borehole, the expandable metal sleeve having a circumferential groove, a first end and a second end, each end of the expandable metal sleeve being connected with the outer face of the tubular metal part,
wherein the annular barrier further comprises an anchoring element arranged in the circumferential groove, the anchoring element comprising a first anchoring part at least partly overlapping a second anchoring part in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial extension so that an inner face of the first anchoring part at least partly abuts an outer face of the second anchoring part.
2. An annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the inner face of the first anchoring part and the outer face of the second anchoring part are inclined in relation to the axial extension.
3. An annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the first anchoring part forms one monolithic whole, and the second anchoring part forms a second monolithic whole.
4. An annular barrier according to claim 3 , wherein the first anchoring part is shaped as a first slit ring, and the second anchoring part is shaped as a second slit ring.
5. An annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the first anchoring part further comprises an outer face, and the second anchoring part comprises an inner face, the outer face of the first anchoring part comprising friction-enhancing means and facing another well tubular metal structure or the wall of the borehole.
6. An annular barrier according to claim 5 , wherein the friction-enhancing means is spikes or grooves.
7. An annular barrier according to claim 4 , wherein the outer face of the first anchoring part has at least one groove in which a spring element is arranged.
8. An annular barrier according to claim 5 , wherein the inner face of the first anchoring part and the outer face of the second anchoring part have lower friction between them than the friction between the inner face of the second anchoring part and the circumferential groove.
9. An annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the inner face of the second anchoring part has at least one groove in which a spring element is arranged.
10. An annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the anchoring element comprises a third anchoring part having an outer face abutting a second inner face of the first anchoring part, so that the first anchoring part is arranged between the third anchoring part and the second anchoring part, and the inner face of the third anchoring part and the inner face of the second anchoring part face and abut the circumferential groove.
11. An annular barrier according to claim 1 , further comprising a second anchoring element comprising a first anchoring part at least partly overlapping a second anchoring part in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial extension so that an inner face of the first anchoring part at least partly abuts an outer face of the second anchoring part, the inner face of the first anchoring part and the outer face of the second anchoring part being inclined in relation to the axial extension in an opposite direction than that of the first anchoring element.
12. An annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the expandable metal sleeve has a second circumferential groove in which a sealing unit is arranged.
13. An annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the expandable metal sleeve comprises at least two sealing units, and the anchoring element is arranged between two sealing units.
14. Downhole completion system comprising an annular barrier according to claim 1 and a well tubular metal structure.