Anti-extrusion element with overlapping segments
Anti-extrusion elements to prevent extrusion of a sealing element during compression. The anti-extrusion element has a series of inner segments forming a loop bent to form a slot running along the circumference of the anti-extrusion element. The slot opens and faces radially outward away from the loop. Each inner segment has two ends on opposing sides aligned to form an opening between two inner segments. The anti-extrusion element additionally has a series of outer segments adjacent to one another to form a loop and slot. The series of inner segments is nested within the slot of the series of outer segments. Each outer segment comprises a peg within the slot and each peg aligns with a corresponding opening such that one peg protrudes through one opening. The anti-extrusion element additionally has a plurality of springs in the slot of inner segments and the springs are coupled to the pegs.
1 . An anti-extrusion element comprising:
a series of inner segments with each inner segment in the series being adjacent to another inner segment in the series to form a loop of inner segments; wherein each of the inner segments in the series is bent to form a slot running along a circumference of the anti-extrusion element and wherein the slot opens and faces radially outward away from the loop; wherein each inner segment has two ends disposed on opposing sides of an axial length of each inner segment and each end comprises a groove; wherein the groove of one end of each inner segment aligns with a corresponding groove of an end of an adjacent inner segment so as to form an opening;
a series of outer segments with each outer segment in the series being adjacent to another outer segment in the series to form a loop of outer segments; wherein each of the outer segments in the series is bent to form a slot running along the circumference of the anti-extrusion element and wherein the slot opens and faces radially outward away from the loop; wherein the series of inner segments is nested within the slot of the series of outer segments; wherein each outer segment in the series comprises a peg within the slot; wherein each peg faces radially outward from the loop formed of the series of outer segments; wherein each of the pegs in the series of outer segments aligns with one of the openings of the series of inner segments such that one peg in the series of outer segments protrudes through one opening in the series of inner segments; and
a plurality of springs disposed in the slot of the inner segments; wherein the springs in the plurality are coupled to the pegs of the series of outer segments.
2 . The anti-extrusion element of claim 1 , wherein each inner segment comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nickel-chromium-based superalloys; low alloy steel containing less than 10% of chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, and/or nickel; chrome steel; composite materials, thermoplastic resins; thermosetting resins; and any combination thereof.
3 . The anti-extrusion element of claim 1 , wherein each outer segment comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nickel-chromium-based superalloys; low alloy steel containing less than 10% of chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, and/or nickel; chrome steel; composite materials; thermoplastic resins; thermosetting resins; and any combination thereof.
4 . The anti-extrusion element of claim 1 , wherein the anti-extrusion element is disposed on a conduit with the loop of the series of outer segments disposed around an exterior of the conduit.
5 . The anti-extrusion element of claim 4 , wherein a sealing element is disposed on the conduit and is positioned adjacent to the anti-extrusion element.
6 . The anti-extrusion element of claim 5 , wherein a mesh is placed between the anti-extrusion element and the sealing element.
7 . The anti-extrusion element of claim 1 , wherein each spring in the plurality of springs is a garter spring and each garter spring is coupled to two pegs.
8 . A method for sealing in a wellbore, the method comprises:
introducing a packer assembly into a wellbore, wherein the packer assembly comprises:
a conduit,
a sealing element disposed on the conduit and positioned adjacent to an anti-extrusion element, and
the anti-extrusion element comprising:
a series of inner segments with each inner segment in the series being adjacent to another inner segment in the series to form a loop of inner segments; wherein each of the inner segments in the series is bent to form a slot running along a circumference of the anti-extrusion element and wherein the slot opens and faces radially outward away from the loop; wherein each inner segment has two ends disposed on opposing sides of an axial length of each inner segment and each end comprises a groove; wherein the groove of one end of each inner segment aligns with a corresponding groove of an end of an adjacent inner segment so as to form an opening;
a series of outer segments with each outer segment in the series being adjacent to another outer segment in the series to form a loop of outer segments; wherein each of the outer segments in the series is bent to form a slot running along the circumference of the anti-extrusion element and wherein the slot opens and faces radially outward away from the loop; wherein the series of inner segments is nested within the slot of the series of outer segments; wherein each outer segment in the series comprises a peg within the slot; wherein each peg faces radially outward from the loop formed of the series of outer segments; wherein each of the pegs in the series of outer segments aligns with one of the openings of the series of inner segments such that one peg in the series of outer segments protrudes through one opening in the series of inner segments; and
a plurality of springs disposed in the slot of the inner segments; wherein the springs in the plurality are coupled to the pegs of the series of outer segments;
applying a force to the anti-extrusion element; wherein the force compresses the anti-extrusion element and the adjacent sealing element to expand the anti-extrusion element and the sealing element radially; and
contacting an adjacent surface in the wellbore with the compressed sealing element.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising removing the force to the anti-extrusion element; wherein the anti-extrusion element and the sealing element revert to a decompressed state upon removal of the force.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising reapplying the force to the anti-extrusion element to compress the anti-extrusion element and the adjacent sealing element.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein each inner segment comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nickel-chromium-based superalloys; low alloy steel containing less than 10% of chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, and/or nickel; chrome steel; composite materials, thermoplastic resins; thermosetting resins; and any combination thereof.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein each outer segment comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nickel-chromium-based superalloys; low alloy steel containing less than 10% of chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, and/or nickel; chrome steel; composite materials, thermoplastic resins; thermosetting resins; and any combination thereof.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein a mesh is placed between the anti-extrusion element and the sealing element.
14 . The method of claim 8 , each spring in the plurality of springs is a garter spring and each garter spring is coupled to two pegs.
15 . A system for sealing in a wellbore, the system comprises:
a conduit,
a sealing element disposed on the conduit and positioned adjacent to an anti-extrusion element, and
the anti-extrusion element comprising:
a series of inner segments with each inner segment in the series being adjacent to another inner segment in the series to form a loop of inner segments; wherein each of the inner segments in the series is bent to form a slot running along a circumference of the anti-extrusion element and wherein the slot opens and faces radially outward away from the loop; wherein each inner segment has two ends disposed on opposing sides of an axial length of each inner segment and each end comprises a groove; wherein the groove of one end of each inner segment aligns with a corresponding groove of an end of an adjacent inner segment so as to form an opening;
a series of outer segments with each outer segment in the series being adjacent to another outer segment in the series to form a loop of outer segments; wherein each of the outer segments in the series is bent to form a slot running along the circumference of the anti-extrusion element and wherein the slot opens and faces radially outward away from the loop; wherein the series of inner segments is nested within the slot of the series of outer segments; wherein each outer segment in the series comprises a peg within the slot; wherein each peg faces radially outward from the loop formed of the series of outer segments; wherein each of the pegs in the series of outer segments aligns with one of the openings of the series of inner segments such that one peg in the series of outer segments protrudes through one opening in the series of inner segments; and
a plurality of springs disposed in the slot of the inner segments; wherein the springs in the plurality are coupled to the pegs of the series of outer segments.
16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a setting tool configured to apply a force to the anti-extrusion element.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the setting tool is configured to apply the force to the anti-extrusion element from a position opposite of the sealing element such that the adjacent sealing element is compressed by the force as the anti-extrusion element is pressed against the sealing element.
18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein each inner segment comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nickel-chromium-based superalloys; low alloy steel containing less than 10% of chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, and/or nickel; chrome steel; composite materials, thermoplastic resins; thermosetting resins; and any combination thereof.
19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein each outer segment comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nickel-chromium-based superalloys; low alloy steel containing less than 10% of chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, and/or nickel; chrome steel; composite materials, thermoplastic resins; thermosetting resins; and any combination thereof.
20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein a mesh is placed between the anti-extrusion element and the sealing element.