Granted Patent B2

US 12,644,353 · App. 18/645,158 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Inventors: Joseph Shu Yian Liew (Singapore, SG); Mark James Bridges (Inverbervie, GB); Michael Shaw (Aberdeen, GB); Huy Hoang Nguyen (Ho Chi Minh City, VN); Duy Cong Nguyen (Ho Chi Minh City, VN); Durai Balaji Kamalasekaran (Bangalore, IN); David Malcolm Finlayson (Aberdeen, GB); An Thi Khoi Bui (Ho Chi Minh City, VN)

Assignee: Vetco Gray, LLC

E21B33/1212

Abstract

Claims (40)

1 . A wellbore system, comprising:

a first component having a first sealing interface at a first diameter;

a second component having a second sealing interface at a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter; and

a seal arranged between the first component and the second component, comprising:

a first leg having a slanted first sealing profile configured to engage the first sealing interface, the slanted first sealing profile extending for a first length;

a second leg having a slanted second sealing profile configured to engage the second sealing interface, the slanted second sealing profile extending for a second length; and

a stepped inner diameter including a first inner diameter associated with the first leg, a second inner diameter associated with the second leg, and a step between the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter, wherein the first inner diameter is a first linear inner diameter extending along at least a portion of the first length and the second inner diameter is a second linear inner diameter extending along at least a portion of the second length;

wherein the seal includes an asymmetric cross-section corresponding to different radial contact points between the first leg and the first component and the second leg and the second component, wherein a first radial contact point, of the different radial contact points, is positioned at a first transition for the first component between a first planar portion of the first component and the first sealing interface, and a second radial contact point, of the different radial contact points, is positioned at a second transition for the second component between a second planar portion of the second component and the second sealing interface.

2 . The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the slanted first sealing profile and the slanted second sealing profile have a common angle.

3 . The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the first inner diameter is less than the second inner diameter.

4 . The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein a first thickness of the first leg is less than or equal to a second thickness of the second leg.

5 . The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein a first thickness of the first leg is greater than or equal to a second thickness of the second leg.

6 . The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the seal further comprises:

a rib between the first leg and the second leg, wherein the step is centered along a length of the rib.

7 . The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein the seal is metallic, the first component is metallic, and the second component is metallic such that engagement of the seal forms at least two metal-to-metal sealing interfaces.

8 . The wellbore system of claim 7 , wherein the first sealing profile extends to a first radial seal position, the second sealing profile extends to a second radial seal position, and a first distance between the first radial seal position and the first inner diameter is less than a second distance between the second radial seal position and the first inner diameter.

9 . The wellbore system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first inner diameter or the second inner diameter is particularly selected based on a target flexibility of the second leg.

10 . A metallic seal, comprising:

a rib;

a first leg, coupled to the rib, having a first sealing profile;

a second leg, coupled to the rib, having a second sealing profile;

an inner bore including a first inner diameter extending for a first length in a linear orientation, a second inner diameter extending for a second length in the linear orientation, and a step between the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter;

a first radial contact point, aligned with the first inner diameter, at a first radial distance from a rib end, the first radial contact point arranged along a first transition between the rib and the first sealing profile; and

a second radial contact point, aligned with the second inner diameter, at a second radial distance from the rib end, the second radial contact point arranged along a second transition between the rib and the second sealing profile, wherein the first radial distance is greater than the second radial distance.

11 . The metallic seal of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first sealing profile or the second sealing profile includes at least one of a bump or a groove.

12 . The metallic seal of claim 10 , wherein a first angle of the first sealing profile equals a second angle of the second sealing profile.

13 . The metallic seal of claim 10 , wherein the first inner diameter is less than the second inner diameter.

14 . The metallic seal of claim 10 , wherein the step includes a sloped surface.

15 . The metallic seal of claim 10 , wherein a first leg thickness, corresponding to a first radial distance between the first radial contact point and the first inner diameter, is greater than or equal to a second leg thickness, corresponding to a second radial distance between the second radial contact point and the second inner diameter.

16 . The metallic seal of claim 10 , wherein a first leg thickness, corresponding to a first radial distance between the first radial contact point and the first inner diameter, is less than or equal to a second leg thickness, corresponding to a second radial distance between the second radial contact point and the second inner diameter.

17 . A metallic seal, comprising:

a seal body;

a first leg having a first sealing profile;

a second leg having a second sealing profile, the first and second legs separated by at least a portion of the seal body;

an inner bore including a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter, each of the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter positioned in a linear orientation, wherein the first sealing profile is arranged at a first angle relative to the first inner diameter and the second sealing profile is positioned at a second angle relative to the second inner diameter;

a first radial contact point positioned along a first flat of the seal body at a first transition between the first flat and the first sealing profile; and

a second radial contact point positioned along a second flat of the seal body at a second transition between the first flat and the second sealing profile, wherein the second radial contact point is at a larger outer diameter of the seal than the first radial contact point.

18 . The metallic seal of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first sealing profile or the second sealing profile includes at least one of a bump or a groove.

19 . The metallic seal of claim 17 , wherein a first angle of the first sealing profile equals a second angle of the second sealing profile.

20 . The metallic seal of claim 17 , wherein the first inner diameter is less than the second inner diameter.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (22)