Volumetric compensation for sealing performance under large temperature swing conditions

Abstract

Systems and methods of the present disclosure relate to creating seals that expand during temperature drops. The seals may include a negative CTE material that is either internal or external to the sealing element; shape memory alloys (SMA) which exhibit negative CTE during a phase change; and/or external lattice structures with positive CTE components but negative overall CTE.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole tool comprising:
 a sealing element; and   a lattice structure including segments, each segment having a positive coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), the lattice structure configured to expand the sealing element during a temperature drop.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the lattice structure is external to the sealing element. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole tool of  claim 2 , wherein the sealing element is disposed between back-up shoes. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole tool of  claim 3 , wherein the lattice structure is adjacent to one back-up shoe. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole tool of  claim 4 , further comprising a spacer that is adjacent to the sealing element. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole tool of  claim 5 , further comprising a wedge adjacent to the lattice structure. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole tool of  claim 6 , further comprising a slip adjacent to the wedge. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the lattice structure is a spring. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the segments include titanium segments and aluminum segments. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the segments are connected via an interference fit. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole tool of  claim 10 , wherein the segments are fastened with a screw. 
     
     
         12 . A downhole tool comprising:
 a sealing element; and   a filler with a negative coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), the filler disposed inside of the sealing element and configured to expand the sealing element during a temperature drop.   
     
     
         13 . The downhole tool of  claim 12 , wherein the sealing element is disposed between back-up shoes. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole tool of  claim 12 , wherein the sealing element is disposed between spikes. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole tool of  claim 14 , wherein the downhole tool is an expandable liner hanger. 
     
     
         16 . The downhole tool of  claim 12 , wherein the filler is embedded within the sealing element. 
     
     
         17 . The downhole tool of  claim 12 , wherein the filler is disposed in a discrete pattern. 
     
     
         18 . A downhole tool comprising:
 an O-ring; and   a filler with a negative coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), the filler disposed inside of the O-ring and configured to expand the O-ring during a temperature drop.   
     
     
         19 . The downhole tool of  claim 18 , wherein the O-ring is disposed between spacers. 
     
     
         20 . The downhole tool of  claim 19 , wherein the downhole tool is an expandable liner hanger.