This application is a national stage under 35 USC 371 of International Application No. PCT/IB2012/000394, filed on 1 Mar. 2012. The entire disclosure of this prior application is incorporated herein by this reference.
This disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in one example described below, more particularly provides a packer end ring with a polymer gripping device for gripping a base pipe.
Packers are used in wells to seal off annuli formed between tubular strings, or between a tubular string and another surface, such as a wall of a wellbore. It is important to construct packers so that they can reliably withstand substantial differential pressure, but it is also important to construct packers in an economical and expeditious manner.
Therefore, it will be appreciated that improvements are continually needed in the art of constructing packers for use in wells.
In this disclosure, systems and methods are provided which bring improvements to the art of constructing packers. An example is described below in which a gripping device is contained in an end ring, so that the gripping device grips a base pipe and prevents longitudinal displacement of a seal element relative to the base pipe.
A packer is provided to the art by the disclosure below. In one example, the packer can include an end ring positioned proximate a seal element on a base pipe, and a gripping device positioned in an annular space between the end ring and the base pipe. The gripping device can comprise a polymer composition material.
A method of constructing a packer is also described below. In an example, the method comprises: positioning an end ring on a base pipe, and then injecting a gripping device into an annular space between the end ring and the base pipe, whereby the gripping device grips the base pipe.
Another method of constructing a packer can include: positioning an end ring on a base pipe, and positioning a gripping device in an annular space between the end ring and the base pipe, so that the gripping device grips the base pipe, the gripping device comprising a polymer composition material.
These and other features, advantages and benefits will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon careful consideration of the detailed description of representative embodiments of the disclosure below and the accompanying drawings, in which similar elements are indicated in the various figures using the same reference numbers.
Representatively illustrated in
In the
In this example, the wellbore 16 is lined with casing 22 and cement 24. In other examples, the wellbore 16 could be uncased or open hole, in which case the seal element 18 could sealingly engage a wall 26 of an earth formation 28 penetrated by the wellbore 16.
The seal element 18 can comprise a swellable material which swells in response to contact with a particular fluid in the well. The term “swell” (and similar terms, such as, “swellable,” “swelling,” etc.) is used herein to indicate an increase in volume of a material. A seal element can expand outward without swelling (e.g., as in inflatable or compression-set packers, etc.). However, if the material is to be considered swollen, the seal element material itself must increase in volume.
Preferably, the swellable material swells when it is contacted with a particular swelling fluid (e.g., oil, gas, other hydrocarbons, water, etc.) in the well. The swelling fluid may already be present in the well, or it may be introduced after installation of the packer 12 in the well, or it may be carried into the well with the packer, etc. The swellable material could instead swell in response to exposure to a particular temperature, or upon passage of a period of time, or in response to another stimulus, etc.
End rings 30 longitudinally straddle the seal element 18 on a base pipe 32, in order to restrict longitudinal displacement of the seal element 18 on the base pipe 32. In most situations, it is desired for the end rings 30 to substantially prevent any displacement of the seal element 18 relative to the base pipe 32, so that a desired differential pressure can be sealed against in the annulus 20.
The end rings 30 may directly abut opposite longitudinal ends of the seal element 18 as depicted in
In further examples, multiple seal elements 18 could be straddled by the end rings 30, and an end ring could be positioned between a pair of seal elements. Thus, it should be clearly understood that the scope of this disclosure is not limited at all to any of the details of the packer 12, or seal element 18, end rings 30 and base pipe 32, as illustrated in the drawings or described herein.
Referring additionally now to
In this view, it may be seen that the seal element 18 comprises a swellable seal material 34, and encircles the base pipe 32. The base pipe 32 may be provided with end connectors (not shown) for interconnecting the packer 12 in the tubular string 14.
The end rings 30 are positioned at opposite ends of the seal element 18. The end rings 30 can serve to protect the seal element 18 as the packer 12 is being conveyed into the wellbore 16, as well as to prevent displacement of the seal element 18 relative to the base pipe 32.
In the
A further enlarged scale cross-sectional view of a portion of the packer 12 is representatively illustrated in
The gripping device 36 in the
Preferably, the gripping device 36 comprises a polymer composition material 42, which is injected into an annular space 46 formed radially between the end ring 30 and the base pipe 32, after the end ring has been positioned on the base pipe. Set screws or another type of centralizers 40 are used to centralize the end ring 30 relative to the base pipe 32.
The centralizers 40 can also retain the end rings 30 in position (longitudinally, rotationally and laterally) relative to the base pipe 32 while the polymer composition “sets” or hardens in the annular space 46 between the end ring and the base pipe. Preferably, a shear strength of the material 42 increases after it has been injected into the annular space 46.
Since the centralizers 40 may only be desired for positioning the end ring 30 on the base pipe 32, it is preferably not necessary for special materials to be used in the centralizers. For example, relatively high cost materials, such as Inconel, etc., may not be needed in the centralizers 40.
In addition, fewer centralizers 40 may be needed in the end ring 30 of the packer 12, as compared to a conventional swellable packer in which many set screws are used to prevent longitudinal displacement of a seal element and an end ring in a well.
Suitable polymer compositions for use as the material 42 can include PROTECH CRB™ and PROTECH DRB™ casing centralizer resin marketed by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. of Duncan, Okla. USA, and BELZONE 1591™ marketed by Belzona Inc. of Miami, Fla. USA. Rubber (preferably vulcanized) can be used in the gripping device 36, if desired.
In some examples, the material 42 may comprise a swellable material so that, as the material swells, it applies an increased gripping force between the end ring 30 and the base pipe 32. The material 42 could swell prior to, during and/or after installation of the packer 12 in the wellbore 16.
In some examples, the material 42 may not be injected between the end ring 30 and the base pipe 32, and in other examples the material may not be inserted between the end ring and the base pipe after the end ring is positioned on the base pipe. Thus, it should be understood that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the specific details of the examples described herein and depicted in the drawings.
When the gripping device 36 engages the external surface 44 on the base pipe 32, the gripping device also closes off a radial gap G between the end ring 30 and the base pipe. This can prevent extrusion of the seal element 18 through the gap G, which can increase a differential pressure resisting capability of the packer 12.
A further increase in the differential pressure resisting capability is provided by internal inclined surfaces 48 which taper radially inwardly toward opposite ends of the end ring 30. These surfaces 48 tend to compress the gripping device 36 between the end ring 30 and the base pipe 32 (and thereby increase the gripping force applied between the end ring and the base pipe) in response to longitudinal displacement of the end ring relative to the base pipe, or in response to swelling of the material 42.
A still further increase in the differential pressure resisting capability can be obtained by including reinforcement in the material 42. For example, if the shear strength of the material 42 limits the gripping capability of the device 36, inclusion of a reinforcement having an increased shear strength in the material can increase the gripping capability.
In some examples, the reinforcement could comprise very small particles, and in other examples the reinforcement could comprise relatively large elements. The relatively large elements (e.g., steel spheres, etc.) could be larger than the gap G between the end ring 30 and the base pipe 32. This can aid in closing off the gap G to extrusion, and in enhancing the shear strength of the material 42.
Referring additionally now to
In the
One or more of the openings 50 (or another opening, etc.) may be used to inject the material 42 into the annular space 46 between the end ring 30 and the base pipe 32. If the material 42 is not injected into the annular space 46, then another device may be used to retain the material between the end ring 30 and the base pipe 32.
It may now be fully appreciated that the above disclosure provides significant advances to the art of constructing packers for use with a well. In examples described above, the end rings 30 and gripping devices 36 can effectively retain the seal element 18 on the base pipe 32, while being economical to manufacture and convenient to install.
The above disclosure provides to the art an improved packer 12. In one example, the packer 12 can include an end ring 30 positioned proximate a seal element 18 on a base pipe 32, and a gripping device 36 positioned in an annular space 46 between the end ring 30 and the base pipe 32, the gripping device 36 comprising a polymer composition material 42.
The polymer composition material 42 may be injected between the end ring 30 and the base pipe 32. The polymer composition material 42 may set and/or harden in the annular space 46. A shear strength of the polymer composition material 42 can increase in the annular space 46.
The polymer composition material 42 can comprise a swellable material. The polymer composition material 42 may swell and thereby apply increased gripping force to the base pipe 32.
The gripping device 36 may encircle the base pipe 32 and be compressed radially inward by a surface 48 formed in the end ring 30. The gripping device 36 can increasingly grip the base pipe 32 in response to longitudinal displacement of the end ring 30 relative to the base pipe 32.
The seal element 18 can comprise a swellable material which swells in response to contact with a fluid.
The gripping device 36 may close off a gap G formed radially between the base pipe 32 and the end ring 30.
The packer can also include a reinforcement in the polymer composition material 42. The reinforcement can have a dimension larger than the gap G formed radially between the base pipe 32 and the end ring 30.
A method of constructing a packer 12 is also described above. In one example, the method can include positioning an end ring 30 on a base pipe 32, and then injecting a gripping device 36 into an annular space 46 between the end ring 30 and the base pipe 32, whereby the gripping device 36 grips the base pipe 32.
The method can also include the gripping device 36 swelling, thereby increasing a gripping force applied by the gripping device 36 to the base pipe 32.
Another method of constructing a packer 12 is described above. The method can include positioning an end ring 30 on a base pipe 32, and positioning a gripping device 36 in an annular space 46 between the end ring 30 and the base pipe 32, so that the gripping device 36 grips the base pipe 32, the gripping device 36 comprising a polymer composition material 42.
The gripping device positioning can be performed after the end ring positioning. The gripping device positioning may be performed concurrently with the end ring positioning.
Although various examples have been described above, with each example having certain features, it should be understood that it is not necessary for a particular feature of one example to be used exclusively with that example. Instead, any of the features described above and/or depicted in the drawings can be combined with any of the examples, in addition to or in substitution for any of the other features of those examples. One example's features are not mutually exclusive to another example's features. Instead, the scope of this disclosure encompasses any combination of any of the features.
Although each example described above includes a certain combination of features, it should be understood that it is not necessary for all features of an example to be used. Instead, any of the features described above can be used, without any other particular feature or features also being used.
It should be understood that the various embodiments described herein may be utilized in various orientations, such as inclined, inverted, horizontal, vertical, etc., and in various configurations, without departing from the principles of this disclosure. The embodiments are described merely as examples of useful applications of the principles of the disclosure, which is not limited to any specific details of these embodiments.
In the above description of the representative examples, directional terms (such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” etc.) are used for convenience in referring to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be clearly understood that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to any particular directions described herein.
The terms “including,” “includes,” “comprising,” “comprises,” and similar terms are used in a non-limiting sense in this specification. For example, if a system, method, apparatus, device, etc., is described as “including” a certain feature or element, the system, method, apparatus, device, etc., can include that feature or element, and can also include other features or elements. Similarly, the term “comprises” is considered to mean “comprises, but is not limited to.”
Of course, a person skilled in the art would, upon a careful consideration of the above description of representative embodiments of the disclosure, readily appreciate that many modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions, and other changes may be made to the specific embodiments, and such changes are contemplated by the principles of this disclosure. For example, structures disclosed as being separately formed can, in other examples, be integrally formed and vice versa. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited solely by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/IB2012/000394 | 3/1/2012 | WO | 00 | 10/9/2014 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2013/128222 | 9/6/2013 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20150053396 A1 | Feb 2015 | US |