CA2038105C - Inflatable packing element - Google Patents
Inflatable packing element Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2038105C CA2038105C CA002038105A CA2038105A CA2038105C CA 2038105 C CA2038105 C CA 2038105C CA 002038105 A CA002038105 A CA 002038105A CA 2038105 A CA2038105 A CA 2038105A CA 2038105 C CA2038105 C CA 2038105C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- ribs
- sleeve
- tubular
- shoulder
- force transmitting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
- E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
- E21B33/127—Packers; Plugs with inflatable sleeve
- E21B33/1277—Packers; Plugs with inflatable sleeve characterised by the construction or fixation of the sleeve
Abstract
An inflatable packing element for an inflatable packer or bridge plug utilized in subterranean wells comprises a tubular elastomeric sleeve which is surrounded by a plurality of circumferentially overlapping flexible metal ribs. The op-posite ends of the ribs are respectively welded to an external surface provided on a force transmitting sleeve. The sleeve is provided with a shoulder having an abutting relationship with an internally projecting shoulder provided on the tubular mounting structure for the inflatable element.
Description
73~il$-14 ~t'he invention relates to -the construction of an inflatable packing element for use in inflatable packers or bridge plugs employed in subterranean wells.
Inflatable packers (or bridge plugs) have long been utilized in subterranean wells. Such inflatable tools normally comprise an elastomeric sleeve element mounted in sur-rounding relationship to a tubular body portion. Pressured fluid is communicated from the surface of the well to the bore of the tubular body and then through radial passages to the interior of the elastomeric sleeve. To protect the elastomeric sleeve, it is customary to completely surround the elastomeric sleeve with a plurality of peripherally overlapping, resilient, reinforcing slats or ribs. The medial portians of the rein-forcing ribs are surrounded and may be bonded to an outer annular elastomeric packing element or cover of substantial wall thickness. Upper and lower securing assemblies respec-tively engage the ends of the elastomeric sleeve and the reinforcing ribs and is fixedly and sealably secured :r.elative to a central tubular body. A lower securing assembly is scoured to a sealing sub which :Ls rnounted for slidable and sealable movement on the exterior of the central tubular body, in re-sponse to the inflation forces. A structure of this general type is shown in United States patent number 3,160,211 to MALONE.
With inflatable packers of this type, very substan-tial tensile farces are exerted on the reinforcing slats or ribs during the inflation of the elastorneric sleeve. It has been customary to clamp the ends of the ribs to the upper and lower securing assemblies, bwt such clamping arrangements are ~~~~~:~.p 1 subject to failure if the inflatable packer is repeatedly in-:~ flated for engagement with different portions of the well casing f or conduit in which it is inserted.
' More recently, the E~:zds of the flexible ribs have :;
been welded to an internal surface of a securing sleeve, in the manner indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. If the welding op-eration is properly accomplished, this provides a secure anchor-ing of the ends of, the flexible ribs to the mounting sleeve, i but those skilled in the art will recognize the difficulty of ~ making consistently good welds within the relatively small bore ' of a mounting sleeve for the inflatable packing element of an inflatable packer. If one or more of the ribs is not pro-perly welded, such ribs will break loose under the tensile forces imposed by the inflation of the elastomeric sleeve packer or element which is inserted within the ribs and. because there is t:"LIiS C~33t ~ a :Y3»~~ ::tr,~,.3 ~:. t::: Cjl:.:l~;.:.L";..~ :v.~~
~vL
the reinforcing ribs, the substantyal fluid pressure applied to the inflatable elastomeric sleeve can well push such rib aut of alig:~ment with the other ribs and thus produce a potential area of breakage of the inflatable elastomeric sleeve because it will follow the outward displacement of the unanchored rib and .; farm a thin walled bubble.
There is a need therefore for an anchoring system for the peripherally stacked sage of flexible reinforcing ribs which normally surround the inflatable elastomeric sleeve of an inflat-able packer or bridge plug which effects a reliable rigid connec-tion of the ends of the ribs to the mounting sleeves for the ex-pansible packing element.
i _a_ 73818-:L~
SUMMARY OF'THE T1~VEMTTON
The invention provides an inflatable packing ele-ment for use in subterranean well, comprising: a tubular elastomeric body; elongated, peripherally adjacent reinforcing means snugly surrounding a~t least the medial portion of said tubular elastomeric body; an annular seal member disposed over at least a central region of said elongated, peripherally adjacent reinforcing means; a force transmitting sleeve exter-nally secured to at least one end of said reinforcing means in defining an external load transmitting shoulder; and mounting means for said Load force transmitting sleeve defining an internal shoulder abuttable with said force transmitting exter-nal shoulder of said force transmitting sleeve, for receiving from said force transmitting sleeve the tensile farces produced by said reinforcing means by fluid pressure expansion of said tubular elastameric body.
The reinforcing means is preferably a cylindrical cage of peripherally overlapped slats o:e° ribs surroundirxg the inflatable elastomeric sleeve of an inflatable packing element ~0 and respectively welded at the:Lr ends to an E:xte:rnal surface of the force transmitting sleeve. Such force transmitting sleeve has external shoulder disposed in abutting relationship with an internal shoulder provided on the respective mounting sleeve to secure the entire inflatable assemblage to the body of the inflatable packer or bridge plug. Additionally, the location of the abutting shoulders is deliberately selected so as to provide an axial length of the circumferential array of resilient slats or ribs in frictional contact with the :internal bore of the mounting sleeve. Such frictional forces, which are 30 greatly increased through the application of the inflation Ca~~~i.,~..~r.
73818-l~
pressures to the apparatus, significantly reduce the -tensile forces applied to the welds, hence minimizing -the opportunity for any individual rib to break at its weld.
Further advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawings, on which is shown a preferred embodiment of the in-vention.
Figure 1 is a combination perspective and sectional view illustrating a prior art method of welding the ends of the reinforcing ribs to the mounting sleeve of an inflatable packer.
Figure 2 is a vertical quarter sectional view of the mounting sleeve portion of an inflatable packer wherein the rein-forcing ribs are secured by utilization of the construction of this invention.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illus-trating the effects of application of inflation pressures to the elastomerlc sleeve of the mounting construction of F:Lgure 2.
Figure ~ is an enlarged scale sectional view taken on the plane ~-4 of Figure 2.
Referring to Figure 1, a prior art construction for securing the reinforcing ribs of an inflatable element for an inflatable packer or bridge plug is shown. The ends of each rib is welded to an interior surface of a mounting sleeve. After the welding operation, a sleeve of elastomeric material (not shown) is inserted within the rib cage and -the end secured in conventional fashion. It should be noted, however, that -the welding has to be accomplished in a small internal bore surface and this is recognized to be a difficult procedure to consist-ently produce good welds for each of the multitude of reinforc-., ~~~~$r~~,~r ing ribs.
Referring now to ~"igure 2, only the upper securing portion of the inflatable element of an inflatable packer or bridge plug is shown. All other elements of the inflatable packer or bridge plug, including the valuing apparatus for sup-plying inflation pressures are well known in -the art. See for example, United States Patent Na. 4,70$,208; and United States Patent No. 4,805,699.
znflatable element l0 comprises a cylindrical cage of peripherally overlapping flexible slats or ribs 12, the config-- 5a -i ~~.~~i ~~,~ed y ~ oration of which is best shown in the enlarged sectional view ;; of Fag. 4. The ends 12a of such ribs are welded to a force transmitting sleeve 14 by a weld W which is accomplished after the ins:.rtion of the ribs through a mounting sleeve 20. ~'he force transmitting sleeve 14 is provided with an external shoulder 14a which cooperates with an internal shoulder 20a provided on mounting sleeve 20 for transmitting tensile forces exerted on the ribs 12 to the mounting sleeve 20.
i An inflatable tube or sleeve 30 of elastomeric mat-;! erial is inserted within the bore of the rib cage 12 and passes ' through the bore 14b of the force transmitting sleeve 14. Tube retainer la is installed inside the mounting sleeve 20 radially forcing the inflatable tube or sleeve 30 of elastomeric material to extrude and engage in appropriate circumferential grooves ~5 ~ 20c formed in a mounting sleeve 20. Anchor portion 1 is further n ~,~r..i~~.-3 o brh ov4.nr n 1 'h,~o rr._ . yi _. ..., r_.a_ t.._ ads lb fnt threadably engaging the upper end of the mounting sleeve 20. ,such threads are sealed by an O-ring 1e.
A cover portion 35 of elastomeric material is bonded to the medial portions of the rib cage 12 to provide a sealing contact with the bore of a well or well conduit, as is customary.
As is customary in inflatable packers, the internal surface of anchor body 1 cooperates with an internal body tube f 2 to define an annular passage lc and radial ports ld for . application of fluid pressure to the interior of the elastomeric sleeve 30. The application and maintenance of fluid pressure on the interior of the elastomeric sleeve 30 is accomplished in a manner well known in the art and fully disclosed in the afore--i :~ mentioned patents, hence further description .is deemed unneces-sary. Thus, when such fluid pressure is applied through the ~i ;, 1 '! fluid passage lc, the inflatable packing element 10 is expanded I~
i~ to assume the configuration illustrated in Fig. 3. The tensile , j~ forces developed in the ribs 12 by such expansion are transmitted . by the welds W to the force transmitting sleeve 14 and by the .
~ peripheral shoulder 14a to the mounting sleeve 20 and the ' anchor body 1.
As best shown in Fig. 3, the location of the force i~ transmitting sleeve 14 relative to the length of the mounting 4 sleeve 20 is an important feature of this invention. The force .
II transmitting sleeve is preferably loeated above the central~or , I
;~ medial portion of the mounting sleeve 20 so that a substantial length of the ribs 12 are disposed in frictional engagement with the bore 20b of the mounting sleeve 20. These frictional forces are substantially increased by the fluid pressure forces illustrated by the arrows shown in Fig. 3 and result from the ~~ application of the inflation pressure.
'1 It will be therefore be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that a very substantial frictional force may be developed to resist the tensile forces exerted on the rein-forcing ribs 12 by the inflation of the elastomeric sleeve 30.
I! Such frictional forces substantially diminish the tensile forces i exerted on the welds W and thus provide further insurance against the separation of any of the welds W.
While only the mounting structure fox one end of the , ~! inflatable packing element 10 has been shown, those skilled in ,;
the art will recognize that, the other end of the element is of :; identical construction. 'thus, the other ends of the reinforc-~~ ing ribs 12 axe secured by external welds W to a force trans-iI mu ting sleeve which is identical to sleeve 14 except that it will be disposed in a vertically reversed relationship.
~I
_7_ I.
i i ~~~~J~~~.~,~e~7 , ,, The afor.edescxibed construction resolves a trouble-i~ some constructur.a~. defect of inf7.atable packers or bridge plugs ii ~~ through not only the substantial elimination of welding defects , !;
:! caused by performing rib welds in an irat~rnal bore, but also ', significantly reduces the tenvile forces applied to the welds through the utilization of an ex'cended longitudinal bore area '~ of the mounting sleeve in frictional con'cact with the reinforc-ing ribs 12 when such ribs are expaf~ded by inflation pressure.
'i Although the ~.nventiori has been descr. ibed in teams of i.
~~ specified embodimen~cs which are set foPth in detail, it should 'i ;
be understood that this is by illustration only and that the invention is not necessara~.y lambted thereto since alternative embodiments and operatyng techniques v~il1 become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the disclosure. Accordingly, ~5 modifications are contemplated which can be made without de-parting Pram the spirit of the described invention.
,i , ~ ! i ~I
:i ;
n _~_
Inflatable packers (or bridge plugs) have long been utilized in subterranean wells. Such inflatable tools normally comprise an elastomeric sleeve element mounted in sur-rounding relationship to a tubular body portion. Pressured fluid is communicated from the surface of the well to the bore of the tubular body and then through radial passages to the interior of the elastomeric sleeve. To protect the elastomeric sleeve, it is customary to completely surround the elastomeric sleeve with a plurality of peripherally overlapping, resilient, reinforcing slats or ribs. The medial portians of the rein-forcing ribs are surrounded and may be bonded to an outer annular elastomeric packing element or cover of substantial wall thickness. Upper and lower securing assemblies respec-tively engage the ends of the elastomeric sleeve and the reinforcing ribs and is fixedly and sealably secured :r.elative to a central tubular body. A lower securing assembly is scoured to a sealing sub which :Ls rnounted for slidable and sealable movement on the exterior of the central tubular body, in re-sponse to the inflation forces. A structure of this general type is shown in United States patent number 3,160,211 to MALONE.
With inflatable packers of this type, very substan-tial tensile farces are exerted on the reinforcing slats or ribs during the inflation of the elastorneric sleeve. It has been customary to clamp the ends of the ribs to the upper and lower securing assemblies, bwt such clamping arrangements are ~~~~~:~.p 1 subject to failure if the inflatable packer is repeatedly in-:~ flated for engagement with different portions of the well casing f or conduit in which it is inserted.
' More recently, the E~:zds of the flexible ribs have :;
been welded to an internal surface of a securing sleeve, in the manner indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. If the welding op-eration is properly accomplished, this provides a secure anchor-ing of the ends of, the flexible ribs to the mounting sleeve, i but those skilled in the art will recognize the difficulty of ~ making consistently good welds within the relatively small bore ' of a mounting sleeve for the inflatable packing element of an inflatable packer. If one or more of the ribs is not pro-perly welded, such ribs will break loose under the tensile forces imposed by the inflation of the elastomeric sleeve packer or element which is inserted within the ribs and. because there is t:"LIiS C~33t ~ a :Y3»~~ ::tr,~,.3 ~:. t::: Cjl:.:l~;.:.L";..~ :v.~~
~vL
the reinforcing ribs, the substantyal fluid pressure applied to the inflatable elastomeric sleeve can well push such rib aut of alig:~ment with the other ribs and thus produce a potential area of breakage of the inflatable elastomeric sleeve because it will follow the outward displacement of the unanchored rib and .; farm a thin walled bubble.
There is a need therefore for an anchoring system for the peripherally stacked sage of flexible reinforcing ribs which normally surround the inflatable elastomeric sleeve of an inflat-able packer or bridge plug which effects a reliable rigid connec-tion of the ends of the ribs to the mounting sleeves for the ex-pansible packing element.
i _a_ 73818-:L~
SUMMARY OF'THE T1~VEMTTON
The invention provides an inflatable packing ele-ment for use in subterranean well, comprising: a tubular elastomeric body; elongated, peripherally adjacent reinforcing means snugly surrounding a~t least the medial portion of said tubular elastomeric body; an annular seal member disposed over at least a central region of said elongated, peripherally adjacent reinforcing means; a force transmitting sleeve exter-nally secured to at least one end of said reinforcing means in defining an external load transmitting shoulder; and mounting means for said Load force transmitting sleeve defining an internal shoulder abuttable with said force transmitting exter-nal shoulder of said force transmitting sleeve, for receiving from said force transmitting sleeve the tensile farces produced by said reinforcing means by fluid pressure expansion of said tubular elastameric body.
The reinforcing means is preferably a cylindrical cage of peripherally overlapped slats o:e° ribs surroundirxg the inflatable elastomeric sleeve of an inflatable packing element ~0 and respectively welded at the:Lr ends to an E:xte:rnal surface of the force transmitting sleeve. Such force transmitting sleeve has external shoulder disposed in abutting relationship with an internal shoulder provided on the respective mounting sleeve to secure the entire inflatable assemblage to the body of the inflatable packer or bridge plug. Additionally, the location of the abutting shoulders is deliberately selected so as to provide an axial length of the circumferential array of resilient slats or ribs in frictional contact with the :internal bore of the mounting sleeve. Such frictional forces, which are 30 greatly increased through the application of the inflation Ca~~~i.,~..~r.
73818-l~
pressures to the apparatus, significantly reduce the -tensile forces applied to the welds, hence minimizing -the opportunity for any individual rib to break at its weld.
Further advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawings, on which is shown a preferred embodiment of the in-vention.
Figure 1 is a combination perspective and sectional view illustrating a prior art method of welding the ends of the reinforcing ribs to the mounting sleeve of an inflatable packer.
Figure 2 is a vertical quarter sectional view of the mounting sleeve portion of an inflatable packer wherein the rein-forcing ribs are secured by utilization of the construction of this invention.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illus-trating the effects of application of inflation pressures to the elastomerlc sleeve of the mounting construction of F:Lgure 2.
Figure ~ is an enlarged scale sectional view taken on the plane ~-4 of Figure 2.
Referring to Figure 1, a prior art construction for securing the reinforcing ribs of an inflatable element for an inflatable packer or bridge plug is shown. The ends of each rib is welded to an interior surface of a mounting sleeve. After the welding operation, a sleeve of elastomeric material (not shown) is inserted within the rib cage and -the end secured in conventional fashion. It should be noted, however, that -the welding has to be accomplished in a small internal bore surface and this is recognized to be a difficult procedure to consist-ently produce good welds for each of the multitude of reinforc-., ~~~~$r~~,~r ing ribs.
Referring now to ~"igure 2, only the upper securing portion of the inflatable element of an inflatable packer or bridge plug is shown. All other elements of the inflatable packer or bridge plug, including the valuing apparatus for sup-plying inflation pressures are well known in -the art. See for example, United States Patent Na. 4,70$,208; and United States Patent No. 4,805,699.
znflatable element l0 comprises a cylindrical cage of peripherally overlapping flexible slats or ribs 12, the config-- 5a -i ~~.~~i ~~,~ed y ~ oration of which is best shown in the enlarged sectional view ;; of Fag. 4. The ends 12a of such ribs are welded to a force transmitting sleeve 14 by a weld W which is accomplished after the ins:.rtion of the ribs through a mounting sleeve 20. ~'he force transmitting sleeve 14 is provided with an external shoulder 14a which cooperates with an internal shoulder 20a provided on mounting sleeve 20 for transmitting tensile forces exerted on the ribs 12 to the mounting sleeve 20.
i An inflatable tube or sleeve 30 of elastomeric mat-;! erial is inserted within the bore of the rib cage 12 and passes ' through the bore 14b of the force transmitting sleeve 14. Tube retainer la is installed inside the mounting sleeve 20 radially forcing the inflatable tube or sleeve 30 of elastomeric material to extrude and engage in appropriate circumferential grooves ~5 ~ 20c formed in a mounting sleeve 20. Anchor portion 1 is further n ~,~r..i~~.-3 o brh ov4.nr n 1 'h,~o rr._ . yi _. ..., r_.a_ t.._ ads lb fnt threadably engaging the upper end of the mounting sleeve 20. ,such threads are sealed by an O-ring 1e.
A cover portion 35 of elastomeric material is bonded to the medial portions of the rib cage 12 to provide a sealing contact with the bore of a well or well conduit, as is customary.
As is customary in inflatable packers, the internal surface of anchor body 1 cooperates with an internal body tube f 2 to define an annular passage lc and radial ports ld for . application of fluid pressure to the interior of the elastomeric sleeve 30. The application and maintenance of fluid pressure on the interior of the elastomeric sleeve 30 is accomplished in a manner well known in the art and fully disclosed in the afore--i :~ mentioned patents, hence further description .is deemed unneces-sary. Thus, when such fluid pressure is applied through the ~i ;, 1 '! fluid passage lc, the inflatable packing element 10 is expanded I~
i~ to assume the configuration illustrated in Fig. 3. The tensile , j~ forces developed in the ribs 12 by such expansion are transmitted . by the welds W to the force transmitting sleeve 14 and by the .
~ peripheral shoulder 14a to the mounting sleeve 20 and the ' anchor body 1.
As best shown in Fig. 3, the location of the force i~ transmitting sleeve 14 relative to the length of the mounting 4 sleeve 20 is an important feature of this invention. The force .
II transmitting sleeve is preferably loeated above the central~or , I
;~ medial portion of the mounting sleeve 20 so that a substantial length of the ribs 12 are disposed in frictional engagement with the bore 20b of the mounting sleeve 20. These frictional forces are substantially increased by the fluid pressure forces illustrated by the arrows shown in Fig. 3 and result from the ~~ application of the inflation pressure.
'1 It will be therefore be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that a very substantial frictional force may be developed to resist the tensile forces exerted on the rein-forcing ribs 12 by the inflation of the elastomeric sleeve 30.
I! Such frictional forces substantially diminish the tensile forces i exerted on the welds W and thus provide further insurance against the separation of any of the welds W.
While only the mounting structure fox one end of the , ~! inflatable packing element 10 has been shown, those skilled in ,;
the art will recognize that, the other end of the element is of :; identical construction. 'thus, the other ends of the reinforc-~~ ing ribs 12 axe secured by external welds W to a force trans-iI mu ting sleeve which is identical to sleeve 14 except that it will be disposed in a vertically reversed relationship.
~I
_7_ I.
i i ~~~~J~~~.~,~e~7 , ,, The afor.edescxibed construction resolves a trouble-i~ some constructur.a~. defect of inf7.atable packers or bridge plugs ii ~~ through not only the substantial elimination of welding defects , !;
:! caused by performing rib welds in an irat~rnal bore, but also ', significantly reduces the tenvile forces applied to the welds through the utilization of an ex'cended longitudinal bore area '~ of the mounting sleeve in frictional con'cact with the reinforc-ing ribs 12 when such ribs are expaf~ded by inflation pressure.
'i Although the ~.nventiori has been descr. ibed in teams of i.
~~ specified embodimen~cs which are set foPth in detail, it should 'i ;
be understood that this is by illustration only and that the invention is not necessara~.y lambted thereto since alternative embodiments and operatyng techniques v~il1 become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the disclosure. Accordingly, ~5 modifications are contemplated which can be made without de-parting Pram the spirit of the described invention.
,i , ~ ! i ~I
:i ;
n _~_
Claims (7)
1. ~An inflatable packing element for use in a sub-terranean well comprising:
a tubular elastomeric body;
a plurality of elongated, peripherally adjacent, flexible metal ribs snugly surrounding at least the medial portion of said tubular elastomeric body;
an annular elastomeric packing cover disposed over at least a portion of said plurality of elongated peripherally adjacent, flexible metal ribs;~
a force transmitting sleeve externally welded to at least one end of each said metal ribs and defining an external load transmitting shoulder; and a mounting sleeve for said force transmitting sleeve defining an internal shoulder abuttable with said force trans-mitting external shoulder of said force transmitting sleeve, thereby transmitting to said mounting sleeve the tensile forces produced in said ribs by fluid pressure expansion of said tubular elastomeric body.
a tubular elastomeric body;
a plurality of elongated, peripherally adjacent, flexible metal ribs snugly surrounding at least the medial portion of said tubular elastomeric body;
an annular elastomeric packing cover disposed over at least a portion of said plurality of elongated peripherally adjacent, flexible metal ribs;~
a force transmitting sleeve externally welded to at least one end of each said metal ribs and defining an external load transmitting shoulder; and a mounting sleeve for said force transmitting sleeve defining an internal shoulder abuttable with said force trans-mitting external shoulder of said force transmitting sleeve, thereby transmitting to said mounting sleeve the tensile forces produced in said ribs by fluid pressure expansion of said tubular elastomeric body.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said internal shoulder is disposed in a medial location in the mounting sleeve, whereby a length of the ands of said ribs is moved by expansion of said tubular elastomeric body into frictional engagement with the bore of said mounting sleeve, thereby absorbing a portion of said tensile forces.
3. An inflatable packing element for use in a subterranean well comprising:
a tubular elastomeric body;
a plurality of elongated, peripherally adjacent, flexible metal ribs snugly surrounding at least the medial portion of said tubular elastomeric body;
an annular elastomeric packing cover disposed over at least a portion of said plurality of elongated, peripherally adjacent, flexible metal ribs;
a load transmitting means externally welded to each end of said metal ribs and defining an external load trans-mitting shoulder; and an anchor sleeve for each of said load transmitting means defining an internal shoulder abuttable with the respec-tive load transmitting external shoulder of said load transmit-ting means, thereby transmitting to said anchor sleeves the tensile forces produced in said ribs by fluid pressure expansion of said tubular elastomeric body.
a tubular elastomeric body;
a plurality of elongated, peripherally adjacent, flexible metal ribs snugly surrounding at least the medial portion of said tubular elastomeric body;
an annular elastomeric packing cover disposed over at least a portion of said plurality of elongated, peripherally adjacent, flexible metal ribs;
a load transmitting means externally welded to each end of said metal ribs and defining an external load trans-mitting shoulder; and an anchor sleeve for each of said load transmitting means defining an internal shoulder abuttable with the respec-tive load transmitting external shoulder of said load transmit-ting means, thereby transmitting to said anchor sleeves the tensile forces produced in said ribs by fluid pressure expansion of said tubular elastomeric body.
4. ~The apparatus of Claim 3 wherein said internal annular shoulders are respectively disposed in a medial location in the anchor sleeves, whereby a substantial length of the ends of said ribs are respectively expanded by said tubular elasto-meric body into frictional engagement with the bores of said anchor sleeves, thereby absorbing a portion of said tensile forces.
5. ~An inflatable packing element for use in a sub-terranean well comprising, in combination:
a pair of tubular bodies having internally project-ing annular shoulders;
a pair of end rings formed of a weldable material and respectively insertable in said tubular bodies;
a plurality of elongated flexible ribs also formed of a weldable material;
said ribs being disposed in a cylindrical, over-lapping array, with each rib having its opposite ends respec-tively welded to the exterior of said end rings;
a sleeve of elastomeric material inserted in said cylindrical array of ribs;
a sleeve of elastomeric material disposed over at least a portion of said cylindrical array of ribs;
an external load carrying shoulder on each said ring; and said load carrying external shoulders being respectively abuttable with said internal shoulders of said tubular bodies to transmit tension loads imposed on said ribs by inflation of said elastomeric sleeve.
a pair of tubular bodies having internally project-ing annular shoulders;
a pair of end rings formed of a weldable material and respectively insertable in said tubular bodies;
a plurality of elongated flexible ribs also formed of a weldable material;
said ribs being disposed in a cylindrical, over-lapping array, with each rib having its opposite ends respec-tively welded to the exterior of said end rings;
a sleeve of elastomeric material inserted in said cylindrical array of ribs;
a sleeve of elastomeric material disposed over at least a portion of said cylindrical array of ribs;
an external load carrying shoulder on each said ring; and said load carrying external shoulders being respectively abuttable with said internal shoulders of said tubular bodies to transmit tension loads imposed on said ribs by inflation of said elastomeric sleeve.
6. ~The apparatus of Claim 5 wherein said internal annular shoulders are respectively located in medial portions of said tubular bodies and the end portions of said ribs are respectively fractionally engaged with a substantial portion of the interior surfaces of said tubular bodies.
7. ~An inflatable packing element fox use in sub-terranean well, comprising:
a tubular elastomeric body;
elongated, peripherally adjacent reinforcing means snugly surrounding at least the medial portion of said tubular elastomeric body;
an annular seal member disposed over at least a central region of said elongated, peripherally adjacent re-inforcing means;
a force transmitting sleeve externally secured to at least one end of said reinforcing means in defining an external load transmitting shoulder; and~
mounting means for said load force transmitting sleeve defining an internal shoulder abuttable with said force transmitting external shoulder of said force transmitting sleeve, for receiving from said force transmitting sleeve the tensile forces produced by said reinforcing means by fluid pressure expansion of said tubular elastomeric body.
a tubular elastomeric body;
elongated, peripherally adjacent reinforcing means snugly surrounding at least the medial portion of said tubular elastomeric body;
an annular seal member disposed over at least a central region of said elongated, peripherally adjacent re-inforcing means;
a force transmitting sleeve externally secured to at least one end of said reinforcing means in defining an external load transmitting shoulder; and~
mounting means for said load force transmitting sleeve defining an internal shoulder abuttable with said force transmitting external shoulder of said force transmitting sleeve, for receiving from said force transmitting sleeve the tensile forces produced by said reinforcing means by fluid pressure expansion of said tubular elastomeric body.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US492,841 | 1983-05-09 | ||
| US49284190A | 1990-03-13 | 1990-03-13 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2038105A1 CA2038105A1 (en) | 1991-09-14 |
| CA2038105C true CA2038105C (en) | 2002-01-08 |
Family
ID=23957844
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002038105A Expired - Lifetime CA2038105C (en) | 1990-03-13 | 1991-03-12 | Inflatable packing element |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0447204B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE155203T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2038105C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69126722D1 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO303698B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6666276B1 (en) * | 2001-10-19 | 2003-12-23 | John M. Yokley | Downhole radial set packer element |
| EP3049612A4 (en) * | 2013-09-24 | 2017-10-18 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Reinforced drill pipe seal with floating backup layer |
| CN110042868B (en) * | 2019-05-14 | 2023-12-29 | 中建五局土木工程有限公司 | Anti-jump inspection well and construction method thereof |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4403660A (en) * | 1980-08-08 | 1983-09-13 | Mgc Oil Tools, Inc. | Well packer and method of use thereof |
| US4544165A (en) * | 1983-05-16 | 1985-10-01 | Xenpax, Inc. | Inflatable packer |
| US4979570A (en) * | 1989-11-28 | 1990-12-25 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Inflatable tool with rib expansion support |
-
1991
- 1991-03-12 NO NO910983A patent/NO303698B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1991-03-12 CA CA002038105A patent/CA2038105C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-03-13 EP EP91302105A patent/EP0447204B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-03-13 DE DE69126722T patent/DE69126722D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-03-13 AT AT91302105T patent/ATE155203T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2038105A1 (en) | 1991-09-14 |
| EP0447204B1 (en) | 1997-07-09 |
| EP0447204A3 (en) | 1992-03-04 |
| NO910983L (en) | 1991-09-16 |
| DE69126722D1 (en) | 1997-08-14 |
| EP0447204A2 (en) | 1991-09-18 |
| NO303698B1 (en) | 1998-08-17 |
| NO910983D0 (en) | 1991-03-12 |
| ATE155203T1 (en) | 1997-07-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |