CA2075432A1 - Well packer - Google Patents
Well packerInfo
- Publication number
- CA2075432A1 CA2075432A1 CA 2075432 CA2075432A CA2075432A1 CA 2075432 A1 CA2075432 A1 CA 2075432A1 CA 2075432 CA2075432 CA 2075432 CA 2075432 A CA2075432 A CA 2075432A CA 2075432 A1 CA2075432 A1 CA 2075432A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- packer
- well
- well packer
- layers
- inflatable
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
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
-
- 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
- E21B33/129—Packers; Plugs with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing
- E21B33/1295—Packers; Plugs with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing actuated by fluid pressure
Abstract
ABSTRACT
WELL PACKER
An inflatable well packer includes several annular layers 1,3,5,7 of material, consisting of a series of oriented fibres 27 encapsulated in an elastomeric resin. The inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the well packer each carry a protective layer 9,11 of material effective to protect the elastomeric resin. Each layer 9,11 is deposited on the well packer in a folded configuration, such that unfolding of the layers enables inflation of the well packer.
A method of making the well packer, using a moulding technique is also described.
Figure 1 to accompany abstract
WELL PACKER
An inflatable well packer includes several annular layers 1,3,5,7 of material, consisting of a series of oriented fibres 27 encapsulated in an elastomeric resin. The inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the well packer each carry a protective layer 9,11 of material effective to protect the elastomeric resin. Each layer 9,11 is deposited on the well packer in a folded configuration, such that unfolding of the layers enables inflation of the well packer.
A method of making the well packer, using a moulding technique is also described.
Figure 1 to accompany abstract
Description
~7~32 WELL PACKER
This invention relates to well packers. In particular, the invention relates to inflatable well packers, which in use are inflated by fluid under pressure to isolate a zone in a well.
Inflatable well packers have been known for many years, the packers being used to isolate a æone in a well, so as, for example to enable a drill stem test to be performed, to perform a selective chemical treatment, or to isolate a redundant zone in a productive well. There are presently two types of inflatable well packers, each being of a multi layered construction including an elastomeric inner bladder, but varying in the stress bearing system incorporated in the packer. The first type of known well packer includes wire or textile fibres, woven together with their ends secured to end fittings by an epoxy potting process, the sheath of woven wire or fibres being covered in an outer elastomeric boot which will form the hydraulic seal to the casing, or open-hole surface of a well which the well packer will, in use isolate.
The other type of inflatable well packer utilises long, peripherally overlapping strips of spring steel which, when the packer is inflated, slide radially against each okher like venetian blinds, the strips surrounding khe elastomeric inner bladder. The central portions o~ the strips are bonded to an outer annular elastomeric boot which acts as a hydraulic ~eal to the casing or open-hole ~ur~ace in u~e of the well packer.
An example of a well packer of this type is shown in U.S.
Patent Number 3160~11.
With either of these known well packers there are a number of shortcomings. Firstly, the manufacture of either of these well packers is labour intensive. In the case of the woven sheath reinforced well packer, khe reinforcing wire or fabric has to be hand-woven during assembly of the well packer. In the case of the spring steel strip reinforced well packer, the 2~7~4~2 large number o overlapping strips are di-~icult to a~semble and engage in their end fittings.
Furthermore, in either o~ the known types o~ well packer~, khe elastomeric inner bladder has to expand typically by twice the amount that the outer elastomeric boot has to expand Thus, if the packer has to be in-Elated by a ratio o~ 3:1 in order for the outer boot to make the required seal, the inner elastomeric bladder will have to expand by a ratio o~ 6:1.
This results in the inner elastomeric bladder in its inflated state being very thin, thus making the inner elastomeric bladder susceptible to any micro faults which it may have in its structure. Furthermore, the high expansion ratio required by the inner elastomeric bladder severely limits the choice of materials which may be used. As a result of the limited choice of materials, the inner elastomeric bladder tends to have a very limited chemical resistance to any fluid other than water, thus limiting the life of the packer when the pasker is exposed to fluids such as acids, solvents, diesel oil, and surfactants, these all being chemicals which are commonly required for treatments of zones within wells.
With regard to the outer elastomeric boot included in either type of known well packers, although this only has to typically expand by a ratio of 3:1, and thus an increased choice o materials enables it to have a better chemical resistance to the fluids used in the wells than khat of the inner elastomeric bladder, the outer elastomeric boot skill has a relatively shork liEe span.
It is an obj~ct o~ the pre~ent ~nvention to provide a weLl packer, together with a method of making the well packer, wherein these problems are at least alleviated.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an inflatable well packer comprising an annular member including a quantity of a flexible material and a stress bearing system, the annular member being such that 2~7~32 pressure Erom the bore of the annular member causes inflation of the well packer, wherein the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the annular member each carry a protective layer of material effective to protec~ the ~lexible material from the surrounding chemical environment.
The flexible material will generally be an elastomeric resin.
The protective layers of material suitably comprise metal foils preferably in the form of a laminated layer of materials highly resistant to corrosion.
Preferably the protective layers of deposited on the inner and outer circumferential surfaces in a folded configuration.
Alternatively, the protective layers may be deposited on the inner and outer circumferential surfaces in a twisted configuration. Thus the protective layers may have different expansion properties to those of the flexible material, the necessary expansion of the layers when the packer is expanded being at least partially produced by an unfolding or untwisting of the protective layers.
In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention, the annular member comprises at least one annular layer of material comprising a ~eries o~ fibres encapsulated in the fle~ible material, at leas~ a portion of the annular layer o~
material being corrugated along the direction o~ the circum~erence of the layer, the layer being designed such that prqssure from the bore of the annular member causes at least partial unfolding of the corrugations, thereby causing-inflation of the well packer.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of making an inflatable well packer, including the steps of forming a first protective layer over a mandrel; forming an annular member, including a quantity of a fle~ible material and a stress bearing system, over the 2~7~32 first protective layer; and forming a second protective layer over the annular member, the first and second protective layers being effective to protect the flexible makerial from the surrounding chemical en~ironment.
Preferably at least part of the flexible material is injected into a mould, defined by the second protective layer and part of the annular member.
The first and second protective layers are suitably formed in a folded configuration, either by exkending the material forming the layers through a die, or alternatively mechanically folding the layers. Such mechanical folding of the layers may be achieved by forming each layer into the shape of a tuber and mechanically folding regions of the tube.
A number of well packers in accordance with embodiments of the invention, together with a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention of making a well packer, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:-Figure 1 is a schematic cross-secti.on of a ~irst well packer in accordance with an embodiment oE the invenkion, the well packer being shown in an uninflated state:
Figure 2 is a ~chemakic cross-section of the well packer o~
Figure 1 in an inflated stake;
Figure 3 is a schematic end-sectional view of a disposable inner mandrel used in a first stage of the method of manufacture of the well packer of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a detail of Figure 3;
Figure 5 illustrates schematically part of a protective layer 207~32 wound round the mandrel of Figure 3 laid on a flat surface, Figure 6 shows the part layer o-f Figure S pulled out into a single planar surface;
Figure 7 shows outer mould places being placed round the disposable mandrel of figure 3;
Figure 8 is a schematic cross-section of a second well packer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and Figure 9 is a schematic cross-section of a third well packer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Referring firstly to Figure 1, the first embodiment of the well packer to be described, comprises four concentric corrugated layers 1,3,5,7 of reinforcing fibres encapsulated in an elastomeric resin system 8 ~although conventional unribbed layers could also be used). The two edges of the layers 1,3,5,7 are secured by respective end fittings, not shown. Conventional end ittlngs such as are well known in the art can be used to secure the ends o the layers.
On the inner ~ur~ace o the innermost layer 1 and the outer layer o~ the outermost ~ur~ace 7, there are ca:rried respec~lve protective layers 9,11. The layers 9,11 ea~h comprlse a material haviny a hic~h chemical resistance to oil wel1 ~luids and khe fluids which are pumped lnko reservoir zones, examples of a suitable material being most metals and selected fluoroplastics such as Teflon or Ryton. Alternatively, the layers may be formed from other materials having suitably high chemical resistance properties, for example polyphenylene sulphide which is sold under the trade names Ryton and Supec.
The well packer shown in Figure 1 is installed on a running tool mandrel 13, a space 15 being defined between the outer surface of the mandrel 13 and the protective layer 9.
207~432 Referring now to Figure 2, in use of khe well packer the packer is inserted in the core of a well, or in a casing such as a cylindrical steel casing, only the lininy 17 oE the casing being shown in the figure. To inflate khe well packer, fluid is pumped into the space 15 between the mandrel 13 and the inner protective layer 9, until the outer protective layer 11 conforms to the inner surface of the lining 17 of the steel casing, the unwinding of the corrugations in the layers 1,3,5,7 enabling the expansion of the well packer. Thus the corrugations enable the well packer to expand without relying totally on the elastic expansion of the elastomeric resin. It is particularly important to ensure that the outer and innermost protective layers 9, 11 are securely sealed to the end fittings to ensure that no corrosive elements penetrate into the inner layers of the packer.
Referring now to Figure 3, in order to manufacture the well packer shown in Figures 1 and 2, the inner protective layer 9 is laid round a disposable or reusable mandrel 19, as shown in more detail in Figure 4. As can be seen in Figure 5, the layer 9 has a folded configuration, the layer 11 being of a similar configuration, this thus increasing the effective length of the layers 9, 11 within the packer by the ratio X x X x Y where X and Y are the distances indicated in Figur0s 6 and 5 respectively. This folded configuration can be produced by extruding the raw material through a dye. ~lternat:Lvely, the folded configuration o~ la~ers 9,11 can be produced mechanically, by forming the layers 9,11 into tubes each having a diameter equivalent ko the respective diameters that the layers 9,11 will have when the packer is inflated, and then performing a mechanical folding operation on the tubes.
The layers 9,11 are designed so that when the well packer has inflated as shown in Figure 2, the folds are at least partially removed. In a preferred embodiment the layers 9,11 have memory properties, such that when the well packer returns to its unextended configuration, when the pressure inside the packer is reduced, the layers resume their folds once more.
207~
This can be achieved by including short fibres tn the layer~
9,11 at the time o~ extrusion of the raw material used to produce the layers 9,11 through a dye. ~uitable fibres for this purpose are glass fibr~s, or short Kevlar fibres.
It will be appreciated that in a well packer in accordance with the inventio~, the protective layers 9,11 act as the internal pressure containment barrier, and also form the external hydraulic seal to the surface of the bore or casing into which the packer is inserted. Thus the temperature and differential pressure limits for the well packer are increased.
It will also be appreciated that, whilst a well packer in accordance with the invention has particular application a ribbed well packer described, a well packer in accordance with the present invention has equal application to well packers which do not incorporate the corrugated reinforcing layers shown in my co-pending application, but incorporate alternative forms of stress-bearing systems. Examples of well packers in accordance with the invention incorporating such alternative forms of stress-bearing systems are shown in Figures 8 and 90 Referring firstly to figure 8, this figure shows a cross section of a well packer in which the stréss bearing system is of the type including long, peripherally overlapping strips o spring steel 51. The inner 53 and outer 55 protective layers are formed of layers of material which are folded back on themselves to ~orm ~olds around khe inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the skress-bearing system 51. E~pansion of the well packer is thus enabled by the sliding over each other of the strips of spring steel 51 and the unfolding of the folds of the layer 53,55 as the packer inflates.
Referring now to Figure 9, the third well packer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention to be described, includes a braided wire type stress bearing system 57. Inner 59 and 207~3~
outer 61 protective layers are formed in the inner an~ outer circumferential surfaces of the braided wire 57, with radially directed folds, which, during inflation of the well packer, unfold to accommodate the e~pansion of the well packer.
In a further advantayeous embodiment of the invention a suitable material which can transmit pressure such as a suitable liquid or silicone is present between the inner layers 1, 53, 59 and the other layers 3, 55, 61 of the packer respectively. This material would help to prevent the build up of hydrostatic pressure between the inner and outer layers and the main body of the packer. This allows the folds or corrugations in the inner and outer layers to unfold easily and avoids pinching of the folds which would prevent the layers from unfolding.
-It will be appreciated that in each of the well packers inaccordance with embodiments of the invention, inflation of the well packer is enabled by folding the layer of material forming the inner and outer protective layers, the necessary expansion of the layers on inflakion of the well packer can be achieved by twisting a tubular layer over the inner and outer circumferential surfaces o$ the stress bearing system, the tubular layer having a largar circumference than the circumferential surfaces. Thus, partlal untwi~ting o~ the tubular layers as the packer in~lates, wl.ll aause at lea~t part of the necessary expanslon o~ the layers.
It will also be appreciated that whilst it is advanta~eous to enable expansion of the protective layers on inflation of the packer, without relying totally on the elastic expansion properties of the material forming the protective layers, materials for the protective layers may be chosen which at least partially accommodate the inflation of the packer by virtue of their inherent elastic properties. For example, some grades of Teflon have an elastic elongation before their elastic limit ls reached. Thus by use of these materials, the 2~7~2 need for folded or twisted protective layers may ~e avoided.
Where, however, polyphenylene sulphide, for e~ample Ryton or Supec, is used for the protective layers, in view of the more limited elastic properties of khese materials, it will be ecessary to form the protective layers in a folded or twisted configuration to achieve nearly all the necessary expansion.
This invention relates to well packers. In particular, the invention relates to inflatable well packers, which in use are inflated by fluid under pressure to isolate a zone in a well.
Inflatable well packers have been known for many years, the packers being used to isolate a æone in a well, so as, for example to enable a drill stem test to be performed, to perform a selective chemical treatment, or to isolate a redundant zone in a productive well. There are presently two types of inflatable well packers, each being of a multi layered construction including an elastomeric inner bladder, but varying in the stress bearing system incorporated in the packer. The first type of known well packer includes wire or textile fibres, woven together with their ends secured to end fittings by an epoxy potting process, the sheath of woven wire or fibres being covered in an outer elastomeric boot which will form the hydraulic seal to the casing, or open-hole surface of a well which the well packer will, in use isolate.
The other type of inflatable well packer utilises long, peripherally overlapping strips of spring steel which, when the packer is inflated, slide radially against each okher like venetian blinds, the strips surrounding khe elastomeric inner bladder. The central portions o~ the strips are bonded to an outer annular elastomeric boot which acts as a hydraulic ~eal to the casing or open-hole ~ur~ace in u~e of the well packer.
An example of a well packer of this type is shown in U.S.
Patent Number 3160~11.
With either of these known well packers there are a number of shortcomings. Firstly, the manufacture of either of these well packers is labour intensive. In the case of the woven sheath reinforced well packer, khe reinforcing wire or fabric has to be hand-woven during assembly of the well packer. In the case of the spring steel strip reinforced well packer, the 2~7~4~2 large number o overlapping strips are di-~icult to a~semble and engage in their end fittings.
Furthermore, in either o~ the known types o~ well packer~, khe elastomeric inner bladder has to expand typically by twice the amount that the outer elastomeric boot has to expand Thus, if the packer has to be in-Elated by a ratio o~ 3:1 in order for the outer boot to make the required seal, the inner elastomeric bladder will have to expand by a ratio o~ 6:1.
This results in the inner elastomeric bladder in its inflated state being very thin, thus making the inner elastomeric bladder susceptible to any micro faults which it may have in its structure. Furthermore, the high expansion ratio required by the inner elastomeric bladder severely limits the choice of materials which may be used. As a result of the limited choice of materials, the inner elastomeric bladder tends to have a very limited chemical resistance to any fluid other than water, thus limiting the life of the packer when the pasker is exposed to fluids such as acids, solvents, diesel oil, and surfactants, these all being chemicals which are commonly required for treatments of zones within wells.
With regard to the outer elastomeric boot included in either type of known well packers, although this only has to typically expand by a ratio of 3:1, and thus an increased choice o materials enables it to have a better chemical resistance to the fluids used in the wells than khat of the inner elastomeric bladder, the outer elastomeric boot skill has a relatively shork liEe span.
It is an obj~ct o~ the pre~ent ~nvention to provide a weLl packer, together with a method of making the well packer, wherein these problems are at least alleviated.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an inflatable well packer comprising an annular member including a quantity of a flexible material and a stress bearing system, the annular member being such that 2~7~32 pressure Erom the bore of the annular member causes inflation of the well packer, wherein the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the annular member each carry a protective layer of material effective to protec~ the ~lexible material from the surrounding chemical environment.
The flexible material will generally be an elastomeric resin.
The protective layers of material suitably comprise metal foils preferably in the form of a laminated layer of materials highly resistant to corrosion.
Preferably the protective layers of deposited on the inner and outer circumferential surfaces in a folded configuration.
Alternatively, the protective layers may be deposited on the inner and outer circumferential surfaces in a twisted configuration. Thus the protective layers may have different expansion properties to those of the flexible material, the necessary expansion of the layers when the packer is expanded being at least partially produced by an unfolding or untwisting of the protective layers.
In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention, the annular member comprises at least one annular layer of material comprising a ~eries o~ fibres encapsulated in the fle~ible material, at leas~ a portion of the annular layer o~
material being corrugated along the direction o~ the circum~erence of the layer, the layer being designed such that prqssure from the bore of the annular member causes at least partial unfolding of the corrugations, thereby causing-inflation of the well packer.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of making an inflatable well packer, including the steps of forming a first protective layer over a mandrel; forming an annular member, including a quantity of a fle~ible material and a stress bearing system, over the 2~7~32 first protective layer; and forming a second protective layer over the annular member, the first and second protective layers being effective to protect the flexible makerial from the surrounding chemical en~ironment.
Preferably at least part of the flexible material is injected into a mould, defined by the second protective layer and part of the annular member.
The first and second protective layers are suitably formed in a folded configuration, either by exkending the material forming the layers through a die, or alternatively mechanically folding the layers. Such mechanical folding of the layers may be achieved by forming each layer into the shape of a tuber and mechanically folding regions of the tube.
A number of well packers in accordance with embodiments of the invention, together with a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention of making a well packer, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:-Figure 1 is a schematic cross-secti.on of a ~irst well packer in accordance with an embodiment oE the invenkion, the well packer being shown in an uninflated state:
Figure 2 is a ~chemakic cross-section of the well packer o~
Figure 1 in an inflated stake;
Figure 3 is a schematic end-sectional view of a disposable inner mandrel used in a first stage of the method of manufacture of the well packer of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a detail of Figure 3;
Figure 5 illustrates schematically part of a protective layer 207~32 wound round the mandrel of Figure 3 laid on a flat surface, Figure 6 shows the part layer o-f Figure S pulled out into a single planar surface;
Figure 7 shows outer mould places being placed round the disposable mandrel of figure 3;
Figure 8 is a schematic cross-section of a second well packer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and Figure 9 is a schematic cross-section of a third well packer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Referring firstly to Figure 1, the first embodiment of the well packer to be described, comprises four concentric corrugated layers 1,3,5,7 of reinforcing fibres encapsulated in an elastomeric resin system 8 ~although conventional unribbed layers could also be used). The two edges of the layers 1,3,5,7 are secured by respective end fittings, not shown. Conventional end ittlngs such as are well known in the art can be used to secure the ends o the layers.
On the inner ~ur~ace o the innermost layer 1 and the outer layer o~ the outermost ~ur~ace 7, there are ca:rried respec~lve protective layers 9,11. The layers 9,11 ea~h comprlse a material haviny a hic~h chemical resistance to oil wel1 ~luids and khe fluids which are pumped lnko reservoir zones, examples of a suitable material being most metals and selected fluoroplastics such as Teflon or Ryton. Alternatively, the layers may be formed from other materials having suitably high chemical resistance properties, for example polyphenylene sulphide which is sold under the trade names Ryton and Supec.
The well packer shown in Figure 1 is installed on a running tool mandrel 13, a space 15 being defined between the outer surface of the mandrel 13 and the protective layer 9.
207~432 Referring now to Figure 2, in use of khe well packer the packer is inserted in the core of a well, or in a casing such as a cylindrical steel casing, only the lininy 17 oE the casing being shown in the figure. To inflate khe well packer, fluid is pumped into the space 15 between the mandrel 13 and the inner protective layer 9, until the outer protective layer 11 conforms to the inner surface of the lining 17 of the steel casing, the unwinding of the corrugations in the layers 1,3,5,7 enabling the expansion of the well packer. Thus the corrugations enable the well packer to expand without relying totally on the elastic expansion of the elastomeric resin. It is particularly important to ensure that the outer and innermost protective layers 9, 11 are securely sealed to the end fittings to ensure that no corrosive elements penetrate into the inner layers of the packer.
Referring now to Figure 3, in order to manufacture the well packer shown in Figures 1 and 2, the inner protective layer 9 is laid round a disposable or reusable mandrel 19, as shown in more detail in Figure 4. As can be seen in Figure 5, the layer 9 has a folded configuration, the layer 11 being of a similar configuration, this thus increasing the effective length of the layers 9, 11 within the packer by the ratio X x X x Y where X and Y are the distances indicated in Figur0s 6 and 5 respectively. This folded configuration can be produced by extruding the raw material through a dye. ~lternat:Lvely, the folded configuration o~ la~ers 9,11 can be produced mechanically, by forming the layers 9,11 into tubes each having a diameter equivalent ko the respective diameters that the layers 9,11 will have when the packer is inflated, and then performing a mechanical folding operation on the tubes.
The layers 9,11 are designed so that when the well packer has inflated as shown in Figure 2, the folds are at least partially removed. In a preferred embodiment the layers 9,11 have memory properties, such that when the well packer returns to its unextended configuration, when the pressure inside the packer is reduced, the layers resume their folds once more.
207~
This can be achieved by including short fibres tn the layer~
9,11 at the time o~ extrusion of the raw material used to produce the layers 9,11 through a dye. ~uitable fibres for this purpose are glass fibr~s, or short Kevlar fibres.
It will be appreciated that in a well packer in accordance with the inventio~, the protective layers 9,11 act as the internal pressure containment barrier, and also form the external hydraulic seal to the surface of the bore or casing into which the packer is inserted. Thus the temperature and differential pressure limits for the well packer are increased.
It will also be appreciated that, whilst a well packer in accordance with the invention has particular application a ribbed well packer described, a well packer in accordance with the present invention has equal application to well packers which do not incorporate the corrugated reinforcing layers shown in my co-pending application, but incorporate alternative forms of stress-bearing systems. Examples of well packers in accordance with the invention incorporating such alternative forms of stress-bearing systems are shown in Figures 8 and 90 Referring firstly to figure 8, this figure shows a cross section of a well packer in which the stréss bearing system is of the type including long, peripherally overlapping strips o spring steel 51. The inner 53 and outer 55 protective layers are formed of layers of material which are folded back on themselves to ~orm ~olds around khe inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the skress-bearing system 51. E~pansion of the well packer is thus enabled by the sliding over each other of the strips of spring steel 51 and the unfolding of the folds of the layer 53,55 as the packer inflates.
Referring now to Figure 9, the third well packer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention to be described, includes a braided wire type stress bearing system 57. Inner 59 and 207~3~
outer 61 protective layers are formed in the inner an~ outer circumferential surfaces of the braided wire 57, with radially directed folds, which, during inflation of the well packer, unfold to accommodate the e~pansion of the well packer.
In a further advantayeous embodiment of the invention a suitable material which can transmit pressure such as a suitable liquid or silicone is present between the inner layers 1, 53, 59 and the other layers 3, 55, 61 of the packer respectively. This material would help to prevent the build up of hydrostatic pressure between the inner and outer layers and the main body of the packer. This allows the folds or corrugations in the inner and outer layers to unfold easily and avoids pinching of the folds which would prevent the layers from unfolding.
-It will be appreciated that in each of the well packers inaccordance with embodiments of the invention, inflation of the well packer is enabled by folding the layer of material forming the inner and outer protective layers, the necessary expansion of the layers on inflakion of the well packer can be achieved by twisting a tubular layer over the inner and outer circumferential surfaces o$ the stress bearing system, the tubular layer having a largar circumference than the circumferential surfaces. Thus, partlal untwi~ting o~ the tubular layers as the packer in~lates, wl.ll aause at lea~t part of the necessary expanslon o~ the layers.
It will also be appreciated that whilst it is advanta~eous to enable expansion of the protective layers on inflation of the packer, without relying totally on the elastic expansion properties of the material forming the protective layers, materials for the protective layers may be chosen which at least partially accommodate the inflation of the packer by virtue of their inherent elastic properties. For example, some grades of Teflon have an elastic elongation before their elastic limit ls reached. Thus by use of these materials, the 2~7~2 need for folded or twisted protective layers may ~e avoided.
Where, however, polyphenylene sulphide, for e~ample Ryton or Supec, is used for the protective layers, in view of the more limited elastic properties of khese materials, it will be ecessary to form the protective layers in a folded or twisted configuration to achieve nearly all the necessary expansion.
Claims (12)
1. An inflatable well packer for use in an oil well comprising an expandable portion, characterised in that the expandable portion is protected on the outside or inside by a barrier layer of material which is inert to the corrosive fluids present in a well and which can expand as the expandable material expands during inflation of the well packer.
2. An inflatable packer according to claim 1, characterised in that at least a portion of the barrier layer comprises folds or ribs.
3. An inflatable packer according to claim 2, characterised in that the folds are formed in a direction generally parallel to the circumference of the packer.
4. An inflatable packer according to claim 2, characterised in that the folds or ribs are formed in a direction generally perpendicular to the circumference of the packer.
5. An inflatable packer according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least a portion of the expandable portion comprises folds or ribs.
6. An inflatable well packer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least a portion of the barrier layer is at least partially twisted with respect to the expandable portion.
7. An inflatable packer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the barrier layer comprises a metal sheet.
8. An inflatable packer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the barrier layer comprises a laminated layer.
9. An inflatable packer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a layer of pressure transmitting material between the barrier layers.
10. An inflatable packer according to claim 9, characterised in that the pressure transmitting material comprises a liquid.
11. An inflatable packer according to claim 9, characterised in that the pressure transmitting material comprises silicone.
12
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB919117684A GB9117684D0 (en) | 1991-08-16 | 1991-08-16 | Well packer |
| GB9117684.2 | 1991-08-16 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2075432A1 true CA2075432A1 (en) | 1993-02-17 |
Family
ID=10700060
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2075432 Abandoned CA2075432A1 (en) | 1991-08-16 | 1992-08-06 | Well packer |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0528328A3 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2075432A1 (en) |
| GB (2) | GB9117684D0 (en) |
Families Citing this family (16)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2275066A (en) * | 1993-02-16 | 1994-08-17 | Xl Technology Limited | Inflatable well packer |
| FR2722239B1 (en) * | 1994-07-07 | 1996-10-04 | Drillflex | IN SITU CURABLE FLEXIBLE PREFORM FOR THE PIPING OF A WELL OR PIPELINE, AND METHOD FOR PLACING IT WITHOUT CEMENT IN THE WELL OR PIPELINE |
| US6073692A (en) * | 1998-03-27 | 2000-06-13 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Expanding mandrel inflatable packer |
| WO2001006088A1 (en) * | 1999-07-19 | 2001-01-25 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Dowhole packer inflation control device |
| US7392851B2 (en) | 2004-11-04 | 2008-07-01 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Inflatable packer assembly |
| US20100170682A1 (en) | 2009-01-02 | 2010-07-08 | Brennan Iii William E | Inflatable packer assembly |
| US7510015B2 (en) * | 2006-02-23 | 2009-03-31 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Packers and methods of use |
| US9322240B2 (en) | 2006-06-16 | 2016-04-26 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Inflatable packer with a reinforced sealing cover |
| US7699124B2 (en) | 2008-06-06 | 2010-04-20 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Single packer system for use in a wellbore |
| US8028756B2 (en) | 2008-06-06 | 2011-10-04 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Method for curing an inflatable packer |
| US7874356B2 (en) | 2008-06-13 | 2011-01-25 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Single packer system for collecting fluid in a wellbore |
| US8113293B2 (en) | 2008-11-20 | 2012-02-14 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Single packer structure for use in a wellbore |
| US8091634B2 (en) | 2008-11-20 | 2012-01-10 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Single packer structure with sensors |
| US8336181B2 (en) | 2009-08-11 | 2012-12-25 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Fiber reinforced packer |
| FR3012512A1 (en) | 2013-10-30 | 2015-05-01 | Saltel Ind | EXPANDABLE METAL SHIRT AND DEVICE USING THE SAME |
| CN104975821B (en) * | 2014-04-04 | 2017-09-08 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司 | Packer |
Family Cites Families (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2872230A (en) * | 1954-08-23 | 1959-02-03 | Schlumberger Well Surv Corp | Borehole apparatus |
| US2778432A (en) * | 1956-03-15 | 1957-01-22 | Lynes Inc | Packer braid reinforcing and retainer |
| US4003581A (en) * | 1973-06-06 | 1977-01-18 | Chevron Research Company | Field dressable inflatable packer |
| FR2414850A7 (en) * | 1978-01-12 | 1979-08-10 | Kleber Colombes | Expandable and extendable tube for borehole plug - has contiguous lengths capable radial enlargement and axial extension respectively |
| US4424861A (en) * | 1981-10-08 | 1984-01-10 | Halliburton Company | Inflatable anchor element and packer employing same |
| US4444403A (en) * | 1982-06-21 | 1984-04-24 | Camco, Incorporated | Thermal and/or corrosion seal for a well tool |
| US4768590A (en) * | 1986-07-29 | 1988-09-06 | Tam International, Inc. | Inflatable well packer |
| US4923007A (en) * | 1988-11-15 | 1990-05-08 | Tam International | Inflatable packer with improved reinforcing members |
| US4892144A (en) * | 1989-01-26 | 1990-01-09 | Davis-Lynch, Inc. | Inflatable tools |
| JPH05507331A (en) * | 1990-05-18 | 1993-10-21 | ノビロー，フィリップ | Preforms, apparatus and methods for casing and/or lining cylinders |
-
1991
- 1991-08-16 GB GB919117684A patent/GB9117684D0/en active Pending
-
1992
- 1992-08-04 GB GB9216531A patent/GB2258674B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-08-06 CA CA 2075432 patent/CA2075432A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-08-11 EP EP19920113657 patent/EP0528328A3/en not_active Ceased
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9216531D0 (en) | 1992-09-16 |
| EP0528328A3 (en) | 1993-05-26 |
| GB9117684D0 (en) | 1991-10-02 |
| GB2258674A (en) | 1993-02-17 |
| GB2258674B (en) | 1995-05-10 |
| EP0528328A2 (en) | 1993-02-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |