Seal for a Wellbore

Abstract

A seal apparatus for closing a wellbore, the apparatus being universally deployable and capable of closing the wellbore even in the case of damage located beneath a present blowout preventer. The apparatus is based on the idea of introducing a seal into the wellbore in order to close it off to avoid damage from a rising fluid. For this purpose, the seal has at least one apron, or a capsule. An opening of the apron, or distending of the capsule, causes a non-positive and/or positive connection to be produced in respect to the wall of the wellbore such that the wellbore is closed.

1 . A seal for a wellbore having a wall, wherein a fluid rises in the wellbore, comprising:
 a) a pipe, which can be introduced into the wellbore;   b) at least one apron composed of a fluid-tight material,
 b1) the at least one apron being fixed to the pipe in a fluid-tight manner; 
 b2) the at least one apron being able to assume a state in which it is folded towards the pipe and a state in which it is unfolded away from the pipe towards the wall; 
 b3) the pipe and the at least one apron being implemented in such a way that, when the at least one apron is in the state in which it is folded towards the pipe, there is a gap between the at least one apron and the wall when the pipe is introduced into the wellbore; 
 b4) the at least one apron having at least one fixing element; 
 b5) the hardness of the at least one fixing element exceeding the hardness of the wall; 
 b6) such that the at least one fixing element can penetrate the wall when the at least one apron is pressed against the wall; 
 b7) such that a positive connection can be produced between the at least one apron and the wall; and comprising 
   c) means that can be activated,
 c1) an activation of the means that can be activated resulting in the at least one apron being able to assume the state in which it is unfolded away from the pipe and towards the wall. 
   
     
     
         2 . A seal as recited in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   the at least one pipe is a drill string.   
     
     
         3 . A seal as recited in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that   the at least one pipe is an auxiliary linkage.   
     
     
         4 . A seal as recited in  claim 1 ,
 characterized by   a plurality of aprons, which are disposed in succession along the pipe.   
     
     
         5 . A seal for a wellbore having a wall, wherein a fluid rises in the wellbore, comprising:
 a) at least one capsule composed of a fluid-tight material,
 a1) the capsule being implemented in such a way that a gap exists between the capsule and the wall when the seal is introduced into the wellbore; 
   b) at least one propellant charge,
 b1) the capsule being able to be distended by activation of the at least one propellant charge; and comprising 
   c) a coupling for connecting a pipeline to the seal;   d) a passage extending through the seal, such that the fluid can flow through the seal and can be drawn off through the pipeline.   
     
     
         6 . A seal for a wellbore as recited in  claim 5 ,
 characterized by   a drive, which enables the seal to be moved progressively in the fluid.   
     
     
         7 . A seal for a wellbore as recited in  claim 5 ,
 characterized in that   the seal is attached to a pipe that can be introduced into the wellbore.   
     
     
         8 . A seal for a wellbore as recited in  claims 5 ,
 characterized in that   the outer surface of the capsule has at least one fixing element;   the hardness of the fixing element exceeding the hardness of the wall;   such that the at least one fixing element can penetrate the wall when the outer surface of the at least one capsule is pressed against the wall.   
     
     
         9 . A seal for a wellbore as recited in  claim 5 ,
 characterized in that   the seal has at least one fixing pin, which can be pushed at least partially out of the capsule by activation of the at least one propellant charge;   the hardness of the at least one fixing pin exceeding the hardness of the wall;   such that the at least one fixing pin can penetrate the wall when the at least one fixing pin is pushed at least partially out of the capsule by activation of the at least one propellant charge.   
     
     
         10 . A seal for a wellbore as recited in  claims 6 ,
 characterized in that   the outer surface of the capsule has at least one fixing element;   the hardness of the fixing element exceeding the hardness of the wall;   such that the at least one fixing element can penetrate the wall when the outer surface of the at least one capsule is pressed against the wall.   
     
     
         11 . A seal for a wellbore as recited in  claim 10 ,
 characterized in that   the fixing element includes at least one fixing pin, which can be pushed at least partially out of the capsule by activation of the at least one propellant charge;   the hardness of the at least one fixing pin exceeding the hardness of the wall;   such that the at least one fixing pin can penetrate the wall when the at least one fixing pin is pushed at least partially out of the capsule by activation of the at least one propellant charge.   
     
     
         12 . A seal for a wellbore as recited in  claim 6 ,
 characterized in that   the fixing element includes at least one fixing pin, which can be pushed at least partially out of the capsule by activation of the at least one propellant charge;   the hardness of the at least one fixing pin exceeding the hardness of the wall;   such that the at least one fixing pin can penetrate the wall when the at least one fixing pin is pushed at least partially out of the capsule by activation of the at least one propellant charge.   
     
     
         13 . A seal for a wellbore as recited in  claims 7 ,
 characterized in that   the outer surface of the capsule has at least one fixing element;   the hardness of the fixing element exceeding the hardness of the wall;   such that the at least one fixing element can penetrate the wall when the outer surface of the at least one capsule is pressed against the wall.   
     
     
         14 . A seal for a wellbore as recited in  claim 13 ,
 characterized in that   the fixing element includes at least one fixing pin, which can be pushed at least partially out of the capsule by activation of the at least one propellant charge;   the hardness of the at least one fixing pin exceeding the hardness of the wall;   such that the at least one fixing pin can penetrate the wall when the at least one fixing pin is pushed at least partially out of the capsule by activation of the at least one propellant charge.   
     
     
         15 . A seal for a wellbore as recited in  claim 7 ,
 characterized in that   the fixing element includes at least one fixing pin, which can be pushed at least partially out of the capsule by activation of the at least one propellant charge;   the hardness of the at least one fixing pin exceeding the hardness of the wall;   such that the at least one fixing pin can penetrate the wall when the at least one fixing pin is pushed at least partially out of the capsule by activation of the at least one propellant charge.   
     
     
         16 . A seal for a wellbore as recited in  claim 8 ,
 characterized in that   the fixing element includes at least one fixing pin, which can be pushed at least partially out of the capsule by activation of the at least one propellant charge;   the hardness of the at least one fixing pin exceeding the hardness of the wall;   such that the at least one fixing pin can penetrate the wall when the at least one fixing pin is pushed at least partially out of the capsule by activation of the at least one propellant charge.