US 12,378,832 B2
Expandable metal sealing/anchoring tool
Brandon T. Least, Carrollton, TX (US); Michael Linley Fripp, Carrollton, TX (US); and Shanu Thottungal Eldho, Singapore (SG)
Assigned to Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/493,944.
Prior Publication US 2023/0109351 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 23/01 (2006.01); E21B 33/12 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 23/01 (2013.01) [E21B 33/1208 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A well system, comprising:
a bore;
a sealing anchoring tool positioned within the bore, the sealing anchoring tool including:
a mandrel;
a wedge positioned about the mandrel; and
a sealing/anchoring element positioned about the mandrel and proximate the wedge, the sealing/anchoring element including:
a circlet having an inside surface having an inside diameter (di), an outside surface having an outside diameter (do), a width (w), and a wall thickness (t), the circlet having one or more geometric features that allow it to elasto/plastically deform when one or more angled surfaces positioned along its inside surface or its outside surface engage with the wedge to move the circlet from a radially reduced state to a radially enlarged state, the circlet comprising an expandable metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis and thereby fix the circlet in the radially enlarged state, and further wherein during the expansion, the expandable metal is configured to go from metal to micron-scale particles that are larger and lock together, and further wherein the mandrel comprises a first material configured to remain within the bore and provide a radial surface upon which the circlet may radially engage when expanding in response to hydrolysis, and the wedge comprises a second material configured to remain within the bore and provide an axial surface upon which the circlet may axially engage when expanding in response to hydrolysis.