Downhole tubular sealing system
Disclosed herein is a downhole disconnectable and length compensatable tubular sealing system. The system includes, a seal connector having a first metal seal receptive of a separate seal nipple and pressure sealably engagable therewith and at least one expansion joint sealingly connected to the seal connector. The expansion joint includes, a section of metal tubing having a sealing surface thereon and a metal-to-metal seal slidably sealingly engaged with the sealing surface.
1. A downhole disconnectable and length compensatable tubular sealing system, comprising:
a seal connector having a first metal seal receptive of a separate seal nipple and pressure sealably engagable therewith; and
at least one expansion joint sealingly connected to the seal connector, including:
a section of metal tubing having a sealing surface thereon; and
a metal-to-metal seal slidably sealingly engaged with the sealing surface.
2. The downhole sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the metal seal of the seal connector is selectively actuatable.
3. The downhole sealing system of claim 2 , wherein the selective actuation is by way of axial compression thereof.
4. The downhole sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the seal nipple is metal.
5. The downhole sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the first metal seal actuates radially inwardly.
6. The downhole sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the first metal seal is disconnectable from the nipple when deformation of the first metal seal is retracted.
7. The downhole sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the nipple is sealably connectable to a downhole structure with a second metal seal.
8. The downhole sealing system of claim 7 , wherein the second metal seal is actuatable through axial compression thereof.
9. The downhole sealing system of claim 7 , wherein the second metal seal is part of a packer.
10. The downhole sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the first metal seal includes at least one area of weakness.
11. The downhole sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the first metal seal retains elasticity when deformed through a shape thereof.
12. The downhole sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the slidable sealing engagement of the at least one expansion joint accommodates temperature related length changes of tubulars.
13. The downhole sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one expansion joint further comprises at least one stop to limit longitudinal travel thereof.
14. The downhole sealing system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one expansion joint includes two stops to bi-directionally limit travel thereof.
15. The downhole sealing system of claim 1 , wherein sealing integrity of the first metal seal, the second metal seal and the metal-to-metal seal are maintained during injection of steam therethrough.
16. A method of length compensatingly sealably connecting a tubular to a downhole structure, comprising:
positioning a metal nipple sealingly engaged to an actuatable first metal seal within a downhole structure;
actuating the first metal seal to thereby sealingly engage the first metal seal to the downhole structure;
positioning a metal seal connector having a second metal seal at the metal nipple;
radially deforming the second metal seal to sealingly engage the metal seal connector to the metal nipple; and
slidably sealingly engaging at least one first metal tubular to at least one second metal tubular with a metal-to-metal seal, the at least one second metal tubular being sealingly engaged to the metal seal connector.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the actuating of the first metal seal further comprises axially compressing the first metal seal.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the radially deforming of the second metal seal further comprises axially compressing the second metal seal.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the positioning the second metal seal further comprises hanging the second metal seal from a surface by the at least one first metal tubular and the at least one second metal tubular.
20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising radially retracting the second metal seal to sealingly disengage the metal seal connector from the metal nipple.