Claims
- 1. A packer for use in a subterranean wellbore, comprising:a mandrel body having a first mandrel portion coupled to a second mandrel portion by a releasing sleeve; a plurality of slips spaced circumferentially about the first mandrel portion, wherein the plurality of slips move between an outwardly extended set position and an inwardly retracted running position based on movement of the releasing sleeve; and a release mechanism connected to at least one of the first and the second mandrel portions and positioned to selectively move the releasing sleeve upon an independent input, wherein the independent input comprises a hydraulic input delivered by a controllable source of fluid independent of pressure changes in the passageway, wherein the release mechanism comprises a flow responsive valve in fluid communication with the controllable source, the flow responsive valve moving to a closed position upon application of sufficient pressure applied via the controllable source.
- 2. The packer as recited in claim 1, wherein the release mechanism comprises a pressure bleed-off line that is closed when the flow responsive valve moves to the closed position.
- 3. The packer as recited in claim 2, wherein the release mechanism comprises a releasing piston positioned to move the releasing sleeve upon sufficient pressure increase intermediate the flow responsive valve and the releasing piston following movement of the flow responsive valve to the closed position.
- 4. The packer as recited in claim 3, wherein the flow responsive valve is held in an open position by a shear screw.
- 5. The packer as recited in claim 3 wherein the flow responsive valve is held in an open position by a collet.
- 6. A packer for use in a subterranean wellbore, comprising:a mandrel body having a first mandrel portion coupled to a second mandrel portion by a releasing sleeve, wherein the mandrel body includes a passageway adapted for fluid communication with a tubing string, and a setting port to permit fluid communication between the passageway and the setting piston such that sufficient pressure in the passageway results in actuation of the setting piston, wherein the passageway is eccentrically positioned to accommodate a control line; a plurality of slips spaced circumferentially about the first mandrel portion, wherein the plurality of slips move between an outwardly extended set position and an inwardly retracted running position based on movement of the releasing sleeve; and a release mechanism connected to at least one of the first and the second mandrel portions and positioned to selectively move the releasing sleeve upon an independent input.
- 7. A packer system for use in a wellbore having a wellbore casing, comprising:a mandrel body configured for connection to a tubing string and including a separate bypass line; a plurality of wellbore casing gripping members that may be moved to a set position against the wellbore casing via pressure applied through the tubing string; and a release mechanism coupled to the separate bypass line, wherein upon a sufficient input via the separate bypass line the release mechanism releases the plurality of wellbore casing gripping members from the set position, wherein the separate bypass line comprises a hydraulic control line and the release mechanism is hydraulically actuatable, wherein the release mechanism comprises a flow responsive valve in fluid communication with the hydraulic control line.
- 8. The packer system as recited in claim 7, wherein the mandrel body comprises a first mandrel portion, a second mandrel portion and a releasing sleeve.
- 9. The packer system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a sealing element circumferentially disposed about the first mandrel portion.
- 10. The packer system as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of wellbore casing gripping members comprise a plurality of slips.
- 11. The packer system as recited in claim 10, further comprising a setting piston acuatable to move the sealing element into a radially outward position for sealing engagement with a wellbore casing.
- 12. The packer system as recited in claim 11 wherein the setting piston is utilized to force the plurality of slips to an outwardly extended set position.
- 13. The packer system as recited in claim 7, wherein the release mechanism comprises a releasing piston positioned to move the releasing sleeve upon sufficient pressure increase intermediate the flow responsive valve and the releasing piston following movement of the flow responsive valve to the closed position.
- 14. The packer of claim 7, wherein the mandrel body includes at least one bypass line therethrough.
- 15. The packer of claim 14 further comprising a bypass line tubing located within at least one of the bypass lines and extending between the first and second mandrel portions.
- 16. The packer of claim 15 wherein the bypass line tubing provides a sealed passageway through the relevant bypass line between the first and second mandrel portions.
- 17. A packer for use in a subterranean wellbore, comprising:a mandrel body having a first mandrel portion coupled to a second mandrel portion by a releasing sleeve, wherein the mandrel body includes at least one bypass line therethrough; a plurality of slips spaced circumferentially about the first mandrel portion, wherein the plurality of slips move between an outwardly extended set position and an inwardly retracted running position based on movement of the releasing sleeve; a release mechanism connected to at least one of the first and the second mandrel portions and positioned to selectively move the releasing sleeve upon an independent input; and a bypass line tubing located within at least one of the bypass lines and extending between the first and second mandrel portions.
- 18. The packer of claim 17, wherein the bypass line tubing provides a sealed passageway through the relevant bypass line between the first and second mandrel portions.
- 19. A packer for use in a subterranean wellbore, comprising:a mandrel body having a first mandrel portion coupled to a second mandrel portion by a release sleeve; the mandrel body including a passageway adapted for fluid communication with a tubing string; the release sleeve adapted to be shifted from within the passageway; at least one slip, wherein the at least one slip moves between an outwardly extended position and an inwardly retracted position based on the shifting of the release sleeve; and the mandrel body includes at least one bypass line therethrough, wherein a tool selectively disposed within the passageway selectively engages a profile defined on the release sleeve to shift the release sleeve.
- 20. The packer of claim 19 wherein the mandrel body includes a plurality of bypass lines therethrough.
- 21. A packer for use in a subterranean wellbore, comprising:a mandrel body having a first mandrel portion coupled to a second mandrel portion by a release sleeve; the mandrel body including a passageway adapted for fluid communication with a tubing string; the release sleeve adapted to be shifted from within the passageway; at least one slip, wherein the at least one slip moves between an outwardly extended position and an inwardly retracted position based on the shifting of the release sleeve; and the mandrel body includes at least one bypass line therethrough, further comprising a bypass line tubing located within at least one of the bypass lines and extending between the first and second mandrel portions.
- 22. The packer of claims 21, wherein the bypass line tubing provides a sealed passageway through the relevant bypass line between the first and second mandrel portions.
- 23. The packer of claim 21, further comprising a bypass line tubing located within each of the bypass lines and extending between the first and second mandrel portions.
- 24. A packer for use in a subterranean wellbore, comprising:a mandrel body having a first mandrel portion coupled to a second mandrel portion by a release sleeve; the mandrel body including a passageway adapted for fluid communication with a tubing string; the release sleeve adapted to be shifted from within the passageway; at least one slip, wherein the at least one slip moves between an outwardly extended position and an inwardly retracted position based on the shifting of the release sleeve; and the mandrel body includes at least one bypass line therethrough, wherein the passageway is eccentrically positioned to the mandrel body.
- 25. A method for selectively actuating and releasing a packer disposed within a wellbore, comprising:connecting a release sleeve to a mandrel body including a first and a second mandrel portion, the release sleeve coupling the first and second mandrel portions; providing the mandrel body with at least one bypass line therethrough; engaging at least one slip disposed on the mandrel body to a wellbore casing to secure the mandrel body at a desired location in the wellbore; and releasing the at least one slip from engagement with the casing by shifting the release sleeve from within a passageway included in the mandrel body, wherein the releasing step comprises deploying a tool within the passageway, securing the tool to a profile defined on the release sleeve, and shifting the release sleeve by manipulating the tool.
- 26. A packer for use in a subterranean wellbore, comprising:a mandrel body having a first mandrel portion coupled to a second mandrel portion by a connecting member; at least one slip, wherein the at least one slip moves between an outwardly extended position and an inwardly retracted position based on the movement of the connecting member; the mandrel body includes at least one bypass line therethrough; the mandrel body includes a passageway adapted for fluid communication with a tubing string; and the connecting member at least partially extends within the passageway, wherein the connecting member is moved as a result of a mechanical force.
- 27. The packer of claim 26, wherein the connecting member is a release sleeve that is concentric with the passageway.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is based on and claims the priority of provisional application No. 60/139,708, filed on Jun. 17, 1999 and entitled Well Packer and Method.
US Referenced Citations (23)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
WO 9821445 |
May 1998 |
WO |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/139708 |
Jun 1999 |
US |