Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Fluid sealing elements and related methods
- Patent Title (中): 流体密封元件及相关方法
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Application No.: US13318991Application Date: 2010-05-13
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Publication No.: US08714936B2Publication Date: 2014-05-06
- Inventor: Pietro Valsecchi
- Applicant: Pietro Valsecchi
- Applicant Address: US TX Houston
- Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
- Current Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
- Current Assignee Address: US TX Houston
- Agency: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company—Law Department
- International Application: PCT/US2010/034751 WO 20100513
- International Announcement: WO2011/002558 WO 20110106
- Main IPC: F04B47/12
- IPC: F04B47/12 ; F04B53/02 ; E21B33/12

Abstract:
Methods and mechanisms for fluid sealing are provided. The disclosed mechanisms include a tool having a cavity configured to form a toroidal vortex and a fluid sealing element to induce an azimuthal variation of the toroidal vortex (a “dynamic seal”). The fluid sealing element may include a sharp change in the axial symmetry of the cavity to induce the azimuthal variation. Some exemplary shapes of the fluid sealing element may include a notch in a cavity, a step shaped cavity, or an angular cavity in the tool. Methods for manufacturing such a dynamic seal is also provided as well as methods for producing hydrocarbons with a plunger having the dynamic seals. The tool may be a plunger, a pig, an in-flow control device, or other cylindrical device traveling through a conduit or tubular member.
Public/Granted literature
- US20120087806A1 Fluid Sealing Elements and Related Methods Public/Granted day:2012-04-12
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