Patent ID: 7896086

Claim:
A method for transferring a down-hole device across an open end of a well under pressure, comprising: attaching one end of an adaptive seal assembly that includes one or more dynamic seal elements; the adaptive seal assembly accessible at both ends and defining a passage therethrough, to the open end of the well under pressure; positioning the down-hole device at least partially within the passage defined by the adaptive seal assembly; sealing an interior region defined between an interior surface of a housing of the adaptive seal assembly and an adjacent periphery of the down-hole device by providing at least one adjustable annulus disposed within an interior region of the housing and within a plane perpendicular to a wellbore axis; adjusting the adjustable annulus between open and closed configurations, wherein a seal between the interior surface of the enclosed side wall and an adjacent periphery of the down-hole device is obtained by the closed configuration, whereby an elevated wellbore pressure is maintainable on one side of the adjustable annulus against atmospheric pressure on another side of the annulus; applying an axial force to a proximal end of the down-hole device, wherein the down-hole device is translatable by application of the axial force through the open end of the well under pressure; automatically readjusting the seal between the housing and the down-hole device responsive to cross sectional variations of the down-hole device, wherein pressure isolation is maintained as the down-hole device is translated; and wherein adjusting the adjustable annulus comprises automatically controlling an actuator configured to adjust the adjustable annulus between open and closed configurations, an external perimeter of the adjustable annulus remaining constant during adjustment, while an internal perimeter of the adjustable annulus dimensionally varies during adjustment.