Patent Application
20220316295
In the resource recovery industry, Packers are oft used sealing devices that are essential for many well operations. Some are permanent and some are retrievable but in all cases they must be capable of holding significant differential pressures and pressure reversals. High element pressures are important for this utility as are back up systems to avoid element extrusion. While the art has a plethora of packers available commercially, changing industry standards, changing environmental conditions and changing economic factors require the development of new packers having similar utility while being less costly, shorter, etc.
An embodiment of a packer including a packer element, a mandrel about which the packer element is disposed, an intensifier configuration on the mandrel.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring to
Focusing upon the backup 10, the backup ring includes a bulbous base 24 that is articulatingly received in a recess 26 of the capture ring 18. The bulbous base 24 and the recess 26 allow a degree of freedom to the backup ring 20 to articulate relative to the capture ring 18 that would not be available in a solid base connection that relies upon material plastic deformation. The result is a much easier to set system (of a packer in this example) since less force is needed to displace the backup 10.
The capture ring 18 further includes a support member 28. The support member is cantilevered from the capture ring 18 and deforms to provide additional shear strength to the backup ring 20 during setting. The support member extends from the capture ring 18 to an extent that when deformed radially outwardly during use, a distal end 30 of the support member 28 falls between a gauge diameter 32 of the packer 12 in which the backup 10 is installed and an inside diameter surface 34 of a tubular member 36 in which the packer 12 is set. Close to the inside diameter surface 34 is desirable so long as the end 30 is not so close as to interfere with retrieval by making contact with the surface 34. The capture ring 18 also includes a stress reduction opening 38 and a load brace 40 that each work with the support member 28 to allow for deformation thereof and then support thereof by brace 40 when set. The set position of all of the components described is illustrated in
It is noted that Additive Manufacture is a quite suitable method of manufacture of this complex geometry of the capture ring 18 and the backup ring 20.
Another feature of the packer 12 embodiment discussed is an intensifier configuration 50 visible in both
The intensifier configuration 50 is, in embodiments, a ramp extending from a smaller radial dimension section of the mandrel to a section of the mandrel having a larger radius. In other embodiments the intensifier configuration is a step between a smaller radial dimension section of the mandrel to a section of the mandrel having a larger radius. Both of these embodiments lead to a reduced annular area between the intensifier configuration 50 and the tubular structure 36 against which the packer 12 is to be set. The element 16 is forced, through relative motion between the element 16 and the mandrel 14, to reside in that reduced annular area with attendant increases in rubber pressures. In the illustrations, the intensifier configuration is a ramp, up which the element 16 is forced during setting such that the element must occupy the smaller annular dimension between the mandrel 14 and the surface 34, with the product of that action being the higher rubber pressures noted even while input force remains constant. While the ramp configuration of intensifier configuration 50 is illustrated and has the additional value of reducing element tearing due to the smooth inclined surface, it is important to note that any change in annular dimension will beget the same increase in rubber pressure when the element is forced into that smaller annular space. This is true even for a step configuration (see
Referring to
Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:
Embodiment 1: A packer including a packer element, a mandrel about which the packer element is disposed, an intensifier configuration on the mandrel.
Embodiment 2: The packer as in any prior embodiment, wherein the intensifier configuration is a section of the mandrel having an enlarged radius.
Embodiment 3: The packer as in any prior embodiment, wherein the intensifier configuration is a ramp extending from a smaller radial dimension section of the mandrel to a section of the mandrel having a larger radius.
Embodiment 4: The packer as in any prior embodiment, wherein the intensifier configuration is a step between a smaller radial dimension section of the mandrel to a section of the mandrel having a larger radius.
Embodiment 5: The packer as in any prior embodiment, wherein the intensifier configuration is movable relative to the packer element.
Embodiment 6: The packer as in any prior embodiment, wherein the intensifier configuration is movable from a position substantially longitudinally adjacent the packer element to a position radially inside of the packer element.
Embodiment 7: A wellbore including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole including a packer as in any prior embodiment.
Embodiment 8: The wellbore as in any prior embodiment, wherein the intensifier configuration is a section of the mandrel having an enlarged radius.
Embodiment 9: The wellbore as in any prior embodiment, wherein the intensifier configuration is a ramp.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “about”, “substantially” and “generally” are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” and/or “substantially” and/or “generally” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.
The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.
