The field relates to packers used in the oil and gas industry.
In the drawings and description that follow, like parts are typically marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. In addition, similar reference numerals may refer to similar components in different embodiments disclosed herein. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form and some details of conventional elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The present invention is susceptible to embodiments of different forms. Specific embodiments are described in detail and are shown in the drawings, with the understanding that the present disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated and described herein. It is to be fully recognized that the different teachings of the embodiments discussed herein may be employed separately or in any suitable combination to produce desired results.
Unless otherwise specified, use of the terms “connect,” “engage,” “couple,” “attach,” or any other like term describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the elements and may also include indirect interaction between the elements described.
Unless otherwise specified, use of the terms “up,” “upper,” “upward,” “up-hole,” “upstream,” or other like terms shall be construed as generally toward the surface; likewise, use of “down,” “lower,” “downward,” “down-hole,” “downstream,” or other like terms shall be construed as generally away from the surface, regardless of the wellbore orientation. Use of any one or more of the foregoing terms shall not be construed as denoting positions along a perfectly vertical axis. A wellbore can include vertical, inclined or horizontal portions, and can be straight or curved.
An annulus 30 is defined by and between packer 20 and wellbore 10. Although depicted in wellbore 10 with casing 5 therein, it is understood that use of the compression packer 20 is not so limited, and may be used in an uncased wellbore. Likewise, while compression packer 20 is shown in a vertical wellbore, it is understood that the compression packer 20 may be used in a deviated, or a horizontal wellbore. Compression packer 20 comprises a packer body 32 with upper end 34 and lower end 36. Compression packer 20 is shown in a first, or run-in position 38 in
A sliding sleeve 52 is slidably disposed in packer body 32. Sliding sleeve 52 is shown in a first position 54 in
A setting sleeve 64 is disposed about packer body 20 and is slidable thereon. Setting sleeve 64 is connected to sliding sleeve 52 with shearable drive pins 66. Slots 68 with upper end 70 and lower end 72 are defined in packer body 32. Setting sleeve 64 has upper end 74 and lower end 76. Lower end 76 is a flat, or snub-nosed end 76, which may be described as a flat annular face.
A plurality of locking elements 80 are disposed in grooves 82 in setting sleeve 64. Locking elements in one embodiment may comprise lock rings 84 and a biasing element 86, which may comprise a wave spring that biases a lock ring 84 toward packer body 32.
A packer stop 90 is attached to packer body 32 and may be threaded thereto. Packer stop 90 has upper end 92 and lower end 94. Upper end 92 is a flat, snub nosed stop 92, which may be described as a flat annular face. Lock screws 96 may be used to hold packer stop 90 in place. A packer element 98 is disposed about packer body 32 and has upper and lower ends 100 and 102 respectively.
An upper anti-extrusion element 104 covers upper end 100 of packer element 98 and has an upwardly extending leg 105. Leg 105 encircles packer body 32 above packer element 98. A lower anti-extrusion element 106 covers lower end 102 of packer element 98 and has a downwardly extending leg 107. Leg 107 encircles packer body 32 below packer element 98. An annular space 108 is defined by and between setting sleeve 64 and packer body 32 at the lower end 76 of setting sleeve 64. Leg 105 is positioned in space 108, and is captured between packer body 32 and setting sleeve 64 at lower end 76 thereof. An annular space 112 is defined by and between packer stop 90 at the upper end 92 of packer stop 90. Leg 107 is positioned in space 112, and is captured between packer body 32 and packer stop 90 at upper end 92 thereof.
In operation, the apparatus 20 is lowered into a wellbore on casing string 15. Once the desired depth is reached, apparatus 20 may be moved to the set position in which packer element 98 is expanded radially outwardly to engage wellbore 10, which in the embodiment described is a cased wellbore, but which may also be an uncased wellbore. Packer element 98 is moved outwardly solely by placing the packer element 98 in compression, as opposed to using inflation, or the use of wedges and ramps which are commonly used to expand packer elements in other packer tools. Apparatus 20 is moved to the set position with the use of a setting plug 110. Setting plug 110 is passed into casing 15 and will be moved downwardly therein until setting plug 110 engages setting plug seat 60. Once setting plug 110 engages setting plug seat 60, pressure is increased to move sliding sleeve 52 downwardly in packer body 32. Setting sleeve 64 will move downwardly with sliding sleeve 52 since setting sleeve 64 and sliding sleeve 52 are connected with frangible drive pins 66. Pressure is continuously applied so that setting sleeve 64 is pushed into packer element 98.
Compression is applied to packer element 98 by the annular flat face at the lower end 76 of setting sleeve 64 to the upper end 100 of packer element 98. Packer stop 90 is fixed to packer body 32 and is stationary. Packer element 98 is prevented from moving downward by the annular flat upper face at the upper end 92 of packer stop 90. Compression is applied to packer 98 until it expands radially outwardly sufficiently to move to the set position 40 in which packer element 98 engages and seals against wellbore 10. Locking elements 80 are biased toward packer body 32, and will be urged into grooves in the packer body 32 to hold setting sleeve 64 in place in its set position. Pressure is continuously applied in casing 15 until a sufficient pressure, which may be a predetermined pressure, is reached to apply a force to drive pins 66 that is sufficient to break the frangible drive pins 66. Once drive pins 66 are broken, sliding sleeve 52 will move downwardly in packer body 32 so that the apparatus 20 is in its completed position 42, in which setting sleeve 64 is fixed to packer body 32 with locking elements 80 such that it maintains compression on packer element 98 to keep the apparatus 20 in its set position. No ramps or wedges are used to expand packer element 98, and the radial expansion of packer element 98 is caused solely by the compassion applied by setting sleeve 64. In addition, no communication is allowed from central flow passage 46 to the annulus 30 through packer body 32, either before or after compression packer 20 is moved to the set position.
Upper anti-extrusion element 104 captures upper end 100 of packer element 98 so that packer element 98 does not extrude around setting sleeve 64, and does not intrude into any gaps that may exist between setting sleeve 64 and packer body 32. Leg 105 of anti-extrusion element 104 occupies the space defined between setting sleeve 64 and packer body 32 to prevent the packer element 98 from intruding, or squeezing into that space. Lower anti-extrusion element 106 captures lower end 102 of packer element 98 so that packer element 98 does not extrude around packer stop 90, and does not intrude into any gaps that may exist between packer stop 90 and packer body 32. Leg 107 of anti-extrusion element 106 occupies the space defined between packer stop 90 and packer body 32 to prevent the packer element 98 from intruding, or squeezing into that space.
While compression packer 20 may be used in connection with stage cementing processes, it is understood that the compression packer 20 is usable with other downhole tools and in other scenarios in which a packer is needed.
Embodiments include:
Therefore, the apparatus, methods, and systems of the present disclosure are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the present disclosure may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is, therefore, evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
As used herein, the words “comprise,” “have,” “include,” and all grammatical variations thereof are each intended to have an open, non-limiting meaning that does not exclude additional elements or steps. While compositions, systems, and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the compositions, systems, and methods also can “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. It should also be understood that, as used herein, “first,” “second,” and “third,” are assigned arbitrarily and are merely intended to differentiate between two or more cement compositions, flow ports, etc., as the case may be, and does not indicate any sequence. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the mere use of the word “first” does not require that there be any “second,” and the mere use of the word “second” does not require that there be any “third,” etc.
Whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range is specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent(s) or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.