Seal, method and system

Abstract

A seal, including a seal material, a substructure to which the seal material is attached, the substructure having end rings and a plurality of energizers extending between the end rings. A method for making a seal, including forming a substructure having end rings and a plurality of energizers extending between the end rings in a first position, longitudinally stretching the substructure, reducing an outside diameter of the substructure by the stretching, and disposing a seal material on the stretched substructure. A method for sealing a tubular structure, including disposing a seal in the tubular structure, allowing the substructure to recover the first position, and urging the seal material into contact with the tubular structure. A borehole system, including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a seal disposed within or as a part of the string.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seal, comprising:
 a seal material;   a substructure to which the seal material is attached, the substructure having:   end rings and a plurality of energizers extending between the end rings.   
     
     
         2 . The seal as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each energizer of the plurality of energizers includes first and second legs. 
     
     
         3 . The seal as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each energizer of the plurality of energizers includes a land between the first and second legs. 
     
     
         4 . The seal as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the land is planar. 
     
     
         5 . The seal as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the land is curved. 
     
     
         6 . The seal as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each energizer is positioned at an angle to a line tangent one of the end rings. 
     
     
         7 . The seal as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the angle is about 5 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The seal as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of energizers are arranged in an overlapping manner. 
     
     
         9 . The seal as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a number of substructures are disposed longitudinally adjacent one another. 
     
     
         10 . The seal as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal material is a polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The seal as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal material is bonded to the substructure. 
     
     
         12 . A method for making a seal, comprising:
 forming a substructure having end rings and a plurality of energizers extending between the end rings in a first position;   longitudinally stretching the substructure;   reducing an outside diameter of the substructure by the stretching; and   disposing a seal material on the stretched substructure.   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the reducing includes overlapping the plurality of energizers. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the disposing is bonding. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the stretching is within an elastic limit of the plurality of energizers. 
     
     
         16 . A method for sealing a tubular structure, comprising:
 disposing a seal as claimed in  claim 1  in the tubular structure;   allowing the substructure to recover the first position; and   urging the seal material into contact with the tubular structure.   
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  further including inputting energy upon the substructure toward the first position. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  further including squeezing the seal material between the substructure and the tubular structure. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  further including creating a plurality of rings of squeezed seal material. 
     
     
         20 . A borehole system, comprising:
 a borehole in a subsurface formation;   a string in the borehole; and   a seal as claimed in  claim 1  disposed within or as a part of the string.