The invention generally relates to a packer.
A packer is a device that is used in a well to form an annular seal between an inner tubular member and a surrounding outer tubular member (a casing string or a liner, as just a few examples) or borehole wall. As examples, the inner tubular member may be a tubular string (a test string, production string, work string, etc.) or may be part of a downhole tool (a formation isolation valve, bridge plug, etc.).
One type of conventional packer has a seal element that is formed from a set of elastomer seal rings. The rings are sized to pass through the well when the packer is being run downhole into position. When the packer is in the appropriate downhole position and is to be set, gages of the packer compress the rings to cause the rings to radially expand to form the annular seal.
A weight-set packer uses the weight of the string and possibly the weight of additional collars to compress the packer's seal rings. In this regard, when the packer is to be set, the string may be mechanically manipulated from the surface of the well to initiate the release of the weight on the rings.
A hydraulically-set packer uses fluid pressure to compress the seal rings. The fluid pressure may be pressure that is communicated downhole through a tubing string; annulus pressure; pressure that is communicated downhole through a control line; etc.
Other types of packers may include seal elements that are set without using compression. For example, a packer may have an inflatable bladder that is radially expanded to form an annular seal using fluid that is communicated into the interior space of the bladder through a control line. As another example, a packer may have a swellable material that swells in the presence of a well fluid or other triggering agent to form an annular seal.
In an embodiment of the invention, a packer includes a seal element, a piston and a chemical reactant. The piston compresses the seal element to form an annular seal in the well. The chemical reactant chemically reacts in response to a predetermined movement of the piston to generate a pressure wave to at least partially assist an operation of the packer.
In another embodiment of the invention, a packer includes a seal element, a piston and an explosive. The piston compresses the seal element to form an annular seal in a well. The explosive is adapted to be detonated in response to a predetermined movement of the piston to generate a pressure wave to at least partially assist an operation of the packer.
In another embodiment of the invention, a technique includes moving an element of an actuator associated with setting a packer. The technique includes generating a pressure wave in the packer to at least partially assist an operation of the packer in response to the movement of the element.
In another embodiment of the invention, a packer includes a pressure housing; a slip; a seal element; and a piston that is located in the pressure housing. A mechanism of the packer generates a pressure wave in the housing to at least partially assist the piston in setting the seal element or the slip.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, a technique includes generating a pressure wave in a packer to at least partially assist an operation of the packer.
Advantages and other features of the invention will become apparent from the following drawing, description and claims.
Referring to
The string 30 includes a packer 40 for purposes of forming an annular seal in the well 10. In this regard, the packer 40 may be run downhole in an unexpanded state, a state in which a resilient annular seal element 44 of the packer 40 is retracted. When the packer 40 is in the appropriate downhole position, measures may then be undertaken (as described herein) to set the packer 40. In general, the setting of the packer 40 causes the packer 40 to compress the seal element 44 to radially expand the element 44 to form the annular seal. Also, when the packer 40 is set, dogs, or slips 50, of the packer 40 radially expand and engage the wall of the casing string 22 to anchor the packer 40 to the string 22. In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the packer 40 may alternatively be used to seal against surfaces other than the interior surface of a casing string 22, such as the interior surface of a liner or the surface defined by a wellbore wall, as just a few examples.
It is noted that the string 30 is merely an example of one out of many possible conveyance devices that may be used to run the packer 40 downhole. Thus, depending on the particular embodiment of the invention, another conveyance device, such as a wireline, slickline, etc. may be used to run the packer 40 downhole, The conveyance device may or may not (as depicted in
As described herein, the packer 40 includes a mechanism to generate a pressure surge, or wave, inside the packer 40 for purposes of at least partially assisting an operation of the packer, such as an operation that is connected with the setting of the packer 40 (i.e., an operation that involves the radial expansion of the resilient element 40 and/or the radial expansion of the slips 50). Depending on the particular embodiment of the invention, the force that is generated by the pressure wave may be the primary force that drives the operation or may, alternatively, be a secondary force to supplement a primary force that is generated using a mechanically or hydraulically driven actuator (a conventional hydraulically-set or weight-set packer actuator, for example).
The generation of the pressure wave inside the packer 40 is triggered by the mechanical movement of an actuator element of the packer 40, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. More specifically, referring to
As a more specific example,
As depicted in
In general, the seal element 44, when radially expanded, is compressed between a relatively stationary lower assembly 46 and a moveable, packer setting piston 108. Thus, to set the packer 40 for the orientation that is shown in
As depicted in
When the packer 40 is run downhole, the packer 40 is configured in a run-in-hole state, a state in which the assembly 120 and piston 108 are secured to the inner carrier mandrel 130 via shear pins 140 and 144 (as an example). Thus, when the packer 40 is in its run-in-hole state, movement of the piston 108 is prevented. When the packer 40 is to be set, however, the packer's actuator (under the influence of a mechanically or hydraulically generated force, as examples) produces a downward force on the assembly 120, slips 50 and piston 108. This downward force, in turn, shears the pins 140 and 144 to release the piston 108 and assembly 120, and allow these components to move axially relative to the inner carrier mandrel 130. In general, the downward movement of the element 120 and piston 108 causes the outward radial expansion of the slips 50 due to the interaction of the upper and lower cone elements with the corresponding inclined faces of the slip 50.
As described herein, the packer 40 contains an explosive or chemical reactant to generate an internal pressure surge, or wave, to at least partially assist the setting of the slips 50 and/or the setting of the seal element 44.
It is noted that although the seal 44 is depicted as being below the slips 50, the seal 44 may be above the slips 50 in other embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the setting may take place from a top-down direction as described in connection with
As a more specific example,
In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, a chemical reactant 188 is disposed in the annular cavity 189 for purposes of generating the pressure wave. In the packer's run-in-hole state (i.e., the initial state of the packer 40), the annular cavity 189 is sealed due to, for example, an o-ring 180 that is located between the piston head 154 and the outer surface of the inner carrier mandrel 130, and seals that are formed from a sealing body 160. More specifically, the sealing body 160 is located above the annular chamber 189, is attached to the outer surface of the inner carrier mandrel 130 and includes inner 164 and outer 166 O-rings to form corresponding seals between the inner surface of the operator mandrel 150 and the outer surface of the carrier mandrel 130.
As shown in
A catalyst reacts with the chemical reactant 188 to generate the pressure wave inside the packer 40. Due to the above-described initial isolation of the chamber 189 when the packer 40 is run downhole, the chemical reactant 188 is isolated from the catalyst. However, when a force 200 is applied by the packer's actuator to cause downward movement of the piston 108, the piston 108 eventually travels to a position that allows a catalyst to be leaked into the chamber 189. The presence of the catalyst in the chamber 189, in turn, causes the chemical reactant 188 to react to generate the pressure wave.
As an example of one out of many possible embodiments of the invention,
In other embodiments of the invention, as an alternative to the radial port 190, one or more o-rings (such as the o-ring 180, for example) may provide leak path(s) into the chamber 189 due to the o-ring(s) leaving their respective sealing surfaces for purposes of communicating the catalyst into the chamber 189.
Other mechanisms may be used for purposes of establishing communication between the chemical reactant 188 and a catalyst upon sufficient movement of the piston 108. As another example,
In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the chemical reactant 188 may be encapsulated with a protective coating for purposes of preventing premature reaction of the reactant 188. For example,
It is noted that the module 300, when immersed in the catalyst, causes the protective coating 304 to dissolve. Alternatively, a chemical other than the catalyst, which is specifically designed to dissolve the coating 304 may be used to first dissolve the coating 304 before or commensurate with the introduction of the catalyst into the chamber 189, in accordance with other embodiments of the invention. Thus, many variations are contemplated and are within the scope of the appended claims.
Mechanisms other than chemical reactants may be disposed in the annular chamber 189 to generate the pressure surge in accordance with other embodiments of the invention. For example,
As shown in
Other variations are contemplated and are within the scope of the appended claims. For example, in accordance with other embodiments of the invention, no initial mechanical movement of the piston 108 may be required to initiate the generation of the pressure wave. More specifically, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the pressure wave is the sole force (i.e., the primary and only force) that is used to drive the piston 108 and set the slips 50 and/or seal element 44.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the communication of the catalyst into the chamber 189 may occur through a control line (not shown in
While directional terms and terms of orientation, such as “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” etc. are used herein for purposes of convenience to describe the packers and associated systems, it is understood that these directions and orientations are not needed to practice the claimed invention. As examples, any of the packers that are disclosed herein may be rotated by one hundred eighty degrees, may be used in lateral or deviated wellbores, etc., in other embodiments of the invention.
While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention.