US20120138315A1 - Downhole Seal - Google Patents
Downhole Seal Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20120138315A1 US20120138315A1 US13/057,206 US200913057206A US2012138315A1 US 20120138315 A1 US20120138315 A1 US 20120138315A1 US 200913057206 A US200913057206 A US 200913057206A US 2012138315 A1 US2012138315 A1 US 2012138315A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- inflatable structure
- seal according
- downhole seal
- swellable particles
- fluid
- 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
Images
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
- E21B33/1208—Packers; Plugs characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means
-
- 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
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a seal, and in particular to a high expansion downhole seal, such as a packer.
- seals to be established to provide fluid barriers within the well. It is often the case that the seal must be established in annular regions, such as between the outer surface of liner tubing and the inner surface of an open or cased bore. These annular regions may be sealed using packers, for example, and may be required for zonal isolation purposes and the like. Many focus of annular seals or packers are known, such as mechanical packers, inflatable packers, swellable packers and the like.
- a downhole seal comprising an inflatable structure adapted to receive a volume of swellable particles at a downhole location.
- the seal may therefore be run into a wellbore in a deflated configuration, and once at the required depth the inflatable structure may be inflated by receiving the swellable particles to establish a downhole seal.
- This arrangement may therefore permit the seal assembly to initially describe a relatively small outer diameter when deflated, for example to pass through one or more wellbore restrictions, and then be inflated by receiving the swellable particles to describe a relatively large outer diameter to permit a high expansion ratio to be achieved.
- the downhole seal may be adapted to permit the swellable particles to become exposed to an activator to initiate swelling of said particles.
- the inflatable structure of the seal assembly may be adapted to become inflated to establish a seal by a combination of receiving the swellable particles and swelling of the particles.
- the activator may comprise a chemical activator, such as a fluid, for example a wellbore fluid.
- the wellbore fluid may comprise water, hydrocarbons, cement, mud or the like.
- the activator may comprise a chemical activator, thermodynamic activator, pressure activator, mechanical activator or the like, or any suitable combination thereof.
- the inflatable structure may be adapted to permit fluid communication of an activator fluid therethrough to expose the swellable particles to said activator fluid. At least a portion of the inflatable structure may be permeable. For example, at least a portion of a wall of the inflatable structure may be permeable.
- the inflatable structure may comprise an osmotic membrane, wherein a fluid may be communicated across said membrane by osmotic action.
- the inflatable structure may be adapted to receive a fluid having a salt concentration which is higher than the salt concentration of a wellbore fluid, thus creating a concentration gradient to establish osmotic flow of the wellbore fluid through the osmotic membrane.
- the inflatable structure may define at least one fluid port.
- the seal may comprise a store of a swelling activator, such as a fluid, wherein the inflatable structure is adapted to receive the swelling activator from said store.
- the store of swelling activator may be provided at surface level. Alternatively, or additionally, the store of swelling activator may be provided in the region of the inflatable structure.
- the seal may comprise a store of swellable particles, wherein the inflatable structure is adapted to receive swellable particles from said store.
- the store of swellable particles may be provided remotely from the inflatable structure.
- the store of swellable particles may be provided at a surface location and delivered downhole to the appropriate location of the inflatable structure.
- the store may be located adjacent the inflatable structure.
- the seal comprising the inflatable structure and the store of swellable particles may be run downhole into a wellbore to the required depth, and swellable particles transferred into the inflatable structure from the store.
- the seal may comprise a communication passage between the inflatable structure and the store of swellable particles.
- the communication passage may comprise a non-return arrangement, such that swellable particles which have entered the inflatable structure may be prevented or restricted from returning to the store.
- the seal may comprise a displacing arrangement adapted to displace swellable particles from the store towards the inflatable structure.
- the displacing arrangement may comprise a piston assembly, pumping assembly or the like.
- the seal may comprise a tubular body, wherein the inflatable structure may be mounted on the tubular body, for example externally of the tubular body.
- the inflatable structure may define a circumferentially contained space disposed around the tubular body.
- the tubular body may comprise a store of swellable particles, such that swellable particles contained within the tubular body may be delivered to the inflatable structure to inflate said inflatable structure.
- the tubular body may define a passage extending between the store of swellable particles and the inflatable structure.
- the passage may comprise at least one port extending through a wall portion of the tubular body.
- the at least one port may comprise a non-return arrangement adapted to prevent or restrict the swellable particles from re-entering the tubular body from the inflatable structure.
- a displacing arrangement adapted to displace swellable particles from the store towards the inflatable structure may be mounted within the tubular body.
- the displacing arrangement may define a piston slidably mounted within the tubular body.
- the piston may be adapted to be hydraulically actuated, mechanically actuated or the like.
- the displacing arrangement may be adapted to be configured to permit circulation of a fluid through the tubular body and past the displacing arrangement.
- the displacing arrangement may comprise a piston
- the tubular body may comprise a region of increased diameter, wherein location of the piston within said region of increased diameter may permit by-pass of fluid.
- the displacing arrangement may comprise a frangible region adapted to be released or removed to permit fluid by-pass.
- the seal may comprise a slurry of swellable particles adapted to be delivered to the inflatable structure.
- the slurry may comprise a volume of swellable particles mixed with a fluid.
- the fluid may be selected to prevent swelling of the swellable particles.
- the swellable particles may be benign within the fluid of the slurry. This arrangement may therefore prevent the swellable particles from swelling prior to being delivered into the inflatable structure.
- the slurry fluid may comprise a high salinity water, oil or the like. In some embodiments this arrangement may permit osmotic transfer of fluids from the wellbore.
- the inflatable structure may be adapted to permit release of the slurry fluid, thus permitting the swellable particles to become exposed to a swell activating medium.
- the inflatable structure may be adapted to permit the fluid contained within the slurry to be released into the wellbore.
- the inflatable structure may comprise a bag.
- the inflatable structure may be at least partially elastic, inelastic or the like.
- the inflatable structure may be initially folded or the like, such that the inflatable structure unfolds when inflated with swellable particles.
- the inflatable structure may comprise a swellable material.
- a wall portion of the inflatable structure may be at least partially formed of a swellable material.
- the seal may be adapted to be run into a wellbore on a tubing string, such as a production tubing string, coiled tubing or the like.
- the seal may be adapted to be run into a well bore on wireline or the like.
- the seal may define a packer.
- the method may further comprise the step of exposing at least a portion of the swellable particles to a swell-activating medium.
- the inflatable structure may be inflated to establish a seal by the action of both filling the inflatable structure with the swellable particles in combination with swelling of the particles.
- the method may comprise the step of running the inflatable structure through a wellbore restriction, and then inflating said inflatable structure.
- the method according to the present invention may comprise the use of the downhole seal according to the first aspect.
- FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a downhole seal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, shown in a deflated configuration;
- FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the downhole seal of FIG. 1 , shown in an inflated configuration.
- FIG. 1 A downhole seal, generally identified by reference numeral 10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 .
- the seal 10 comprises a tubular body 12 which may form part of a tubing string used to convey the seal 10 into a well to the required depth.
- An inflatable structure 14 in the form of a bag is circumferentially mounted around the outer surface of the tubular body 12 .
- the inflatable structure 14 is shown in FIG. 1 in a deflated configuration in which the bag defines a number of folds 16 , such that the seal 10 may be configured with a relatively small outer diameter. In this configuration the seal 10 may be readily conveyed into a wellbore, and through relatively small wellbore restrictions.
- a slurry mixture of swellable particles 18 and a slurry fluid is stored within the tubular body 12 adjacent the inflatable structure 14 .
- the slurry fluid comprises a fluid within which the swellable particles 18 do not swell. This arrangement therefore assists to prevent premature swelling of the swellable particles 18 .
- the slurry fluid may be selected in accordance with the type of swellable particles 18 used. For example, if the swellable particles 18 are adapted to swell in water then the slurry fluid may comprise a high salinity water, oil or the like.
- the slurry of swellable particles 18 is contained between a fixed lower plate 20 and an upper piston 22 .
- the seal 10 When the seal 10 is located at the required depth within a wellbore, the slurry of swellable particles 18 may then be displaced through ports 24 and into the inflatable structure 14 by downward movement of the piston 22 , as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the inflatable structure 14 may be inflated by the swellable particles 18 to describe a larger outer diameter and thus be configured to establish an annular seal between the tubular body 12 and a bore wall (not shown).
- the ports 24 comprise a non-return valve arrangement 26 such that the slurry of swellable particles 18 is prevented or restricted from flowing from the inflatable structure back into the tubular body 12 .
- the inflatable structure 14 is permeable to the slurry fluid such that said fluid may pass therethrough, as indicated by arrow 28 , to be released into the wellbore, leaving the swellable particles 18 contained within the inflatable structure 14 . Furthermore, the inflatable structure 14 is permeable to an activator fluid contained within the wellbore, such that said activator fluid may pass through the inflatable structure 14 , indicated by arrow 30 , to become exposed to the swellable particles 18 to activate swelling.
- the activator fluid may comprise water, such as a relatively low salinity formation water.
- the inflatable structure 14 may become inflated to establish an annular seal by a combination of receiving the swellable particles 18 and swelling of the particles 18 .
- relatively high expansion ratios may be achieved without compromising sealing integrity.
- the plate 20 is adapted to be released from the tubular body 12 and downwardly displaced.
- the piston may be adapted to be actuated to shear the plate 20 from the tubular body, and then displace the plate 20 downwards.
- the tubular body may comprise a lower region of slightly increased inner diameter, such that location of the plate 20 and piston 22 within this region of increases diameter will permit fluid by-pass to be achieved.
- At least one of the plate and piston 22 may comprise a bust-disk arrangement adapted to be ruptured to permit fluid to pass therethrough.
- the swellable particles may be supplied from surface level, for example via a conduit or via a sealed container which may permit release of the particles when at the location of the seal.
- the seal itself may comprise the activating fluid to activate swelling of the particles.
- a volume of swell activating fluid may be positioned above the swellable particles, such that the activating fluid may be displaced into the inflatable structure after the swellable particles.
Abstract
A downhole seal (10) comprises an inflatable structure (14) which receives a volume of swellable particles (18) at a downhole location. The seal (10) is adapted to permit the swellable particles (18) to become exposed to an activator to initiate selling of said particles (18) to inflate the inflatable structure (14).
Description
- The present invention relates to a seal, and in particular to a high expansion downhole seal, such as a packer.
- Many downhole oil and gas operations require seals to be established to provide fluid barriers within the well. It is often the case that the seal must be established in annular regions, such as between the outer surface of liner tubing and the inner surface of an open or cased bore. These annular regions may be sealed using packers, for example, and may be required for zonal isolation purposes and the like. Many focus of annular seals or packers are known, such as mechanical packers, inflatable packers, swellable packers and the like.
- The construction and architecture of a conventional well, however, may make establishing effective downhole seals difficult. For example, many wells include a number of restrictions through which a seal assembly must pass before reaching the target seal location. Accordingly, the seal assembly must be capable of being configured with a small outer diameter to pass through the restrictions and then reconfigured to define a larger outer diameter to establish the necessary seal. In many cases the required expansion ratio is significant thus making it difficult to establish a sufficient seal.
- According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a downhole seal comprising an inflatable structure adapted to receive a volume of swellable particles at a downhole location.
- The seal may therefore be run into a wellbore in a deflated configuration, and once at the required depth the inflatable structure may be inflated by receiving the swellable particles to establish a downhole seal. This arrangement may therefore permit the seal assembly to initially describe a relatively small outer diameter when deflated, for example to pass through one or more wellbore restrictions, and then be inflated by receiving the swellable particles to describe a relatively large outer diameter to permit a high expansion ratio to be achieved.
- The downhole seal may be adapted to permit the swellable particles to become exposed to an activator to initiate swelling of said particles. Accordingly, the inflatable structure of the seal assembly may be adapted to become inflated to establish a seal by a combination of receiving the swellable particles and swelling of the particles.
- The activator may comprise a chemical activator, such as a fluid, for example a wellbore fluid. The wellbore fluid may comprise water, hydrocarbons, cement, mud or the like. The activator may comprise a chemical activator, thermodynamic activator, pressure activator, mechanical activator or the like, or any suitable combination thereof.
- The inflatable structure may be adapted to permit fluid communication of an activator fluid therethrough to expose the swellable particles to said activator fluid. At least a portion of the inflatable structure may be permeable. For example, at least a portion of a wall of the inflatable structure may be permeable.
- The inflatable structure may comprise an osmotic membrane, wherein a fluid may be communicated across said membrane by osmotic action. For example, the inflatable structure may be adapted to receive a fluid having a salt concentration which is higher than the salt concentration of a wellbore fluid, thus creating a concentration gradient to establish osmotic flow of the wellbore fluid through the osmotic membrane.
- Alternatively, or additionally the inflatable structure may define at least one fluid port.
- The seal may comprise a store of a swelling activator, such as a fluid, wherein the inflatable structure is adapted to receive the swelling activator from said store. The store of swelling activator may be provided at surface level. Alternatively, or additionally, the store of swelling activator may be provided in the region of the inflatable structure.
- The seal may comprise a store of swellable particles, wherein the inflatable structure is adapted to receive swellable particles from said store. The store of swellable particles may be provided remotely from the inflatable structure. For example the store of swellable particles may be provided at a surface location and delivered downhole to the appropriate location of the inflatable structure.
- Alternatively, or additionally, the store may be located adjacent the inflatable structure. In this arrangement the seal comprising the inflatable structure and the store of swellable particles may be run downhole into a wellbore to the required depth, and swellable particles transferred into the inflatable structure from the store.
- The seal may comprise a communication passage between the inflatable structure and the store of swellable particles. The communication passage may comprise a non-return arrangement, such that swellable particles which have entered the inflatable structure may be prevented or restricted from returning to the store. The seal may comprise a displacing arrangement adapted to displace swellable particles from the store towards the inflatable structure. The displacing arrangement may comprise a piston assembly, pumping assembly or the like.
- In one embodiment the seal may comprise a tubular body, wherein the inflatable structure may be mounted on the tubular body, for example externally of the tubular body. In this arrangement the inflatable structure may define a circumferentially contained space disposed around the tubular body.
- The tubular body may comprise a store of swellable particles, such that swellable particles contained within the tubular body may be delivered to the inflatable structure to inflate said inflatable structure.
- The tubular body may define a passage extending between the store of swellable particles and the inflatable structure. The passage may comprise at least one port extending through a wall portion of the tubular body. The at least one port may comprise a non-return arrangement adapted to prevent or restrict the swellable particles from re-entering the tubular body from the inflatable structure.
- A displacing arrangement adapted to displace swellable particles from the store towards the inflatable structure may be mounted within the tubular body. In one embodiment the displacing arrangement may define a piston slidably mounted within the tubular body. The piston may be adapted to be hydraulically actuated, mechanically actuated or the like.
- The displacing arrangement may be adapted to be configured to permit circulation of a fluid through the tubular body and past the displacing arrangement. For example, the displacing arrangement may comprise a piston, and the tubular body may comprise a region of increased diameter, wherein location of the piston within said region of increased diameter may permit by-pass of fluid.
- Alternatively, the displacing arrangement may comprise a frangible region adapted to be released or removed to permit fluid by-pass.
- The seal may comprise a slurry of swellable particles adapted to be delivered to the inflatable structure. The slurry may comprise a volume of swellable particles mixed with a fluid. The fluid may be selected to prevent swelling of the swellable particles. For example, the swellable particles may be benign within the fluid of the slurry. This arrangement may therefore prevent the swellable particles from swelling prior to being delivered into the inflatable structure.
- The slurry fluid may comprise a high salinity water, oil or the like. In some embodiments this arrangement may permit osmotic transfer of fluids from the wellbore.
- The inflatable structure may be adapted to permit release of the slurry fluid, thus permitting the swellable particles to become exposed to a swell activating medium. For example, the inflatable structure may be adapted to permit the fluid contained within the slurry to be released into the wellbore.
- The inflatable structure may comprise a bag. The inflatable structure may be at least partially elastic, inelastic or the like. The inflatable structure may be initially folded or the like, such that the inflatable structure unfolds when inflated with swellable particles.
- The inflatable structure may comprise a swellable material. For example, a wall portion of the inflatable structure may be at least partially formed of a swellable material.
- The seal may be adapted to be run into a wellbore on a tubing string, such as a production tubing string, coiled tubing or the like. The seal may be adapted to be run into a well bore on wireline or the like.
- The seal may define a packer.
- According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of establishing a downhole seal, said method comprising the steps of:
- locating an inflatable structure within a wellbore; and
- inflating said inflatable structure with swellable particles.
- The method may further comprise the step of exposing at least a portion of the swellable particles to a swell-activating medium. In this arrangement the inflatable structure may be inflated to establish a seal by the action of both filling the inflatable structure with the swellable particles in combination with swelling of the particles.
- The method may comprise the step of running the inflatable structure through a wellbore restriction, and then inflating said inflatable structure.
- The method according to the present invention may comprise the use of the downhole seal according to the first aspect.
- These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a downhole seal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, shown in a deflated configuration; and -
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the downhole seal ofFIG. 1 , shown in an inflated configuration. - A downhole seal, generally identified by
reference numeral 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIG. 1 . Theseal 10 comprises atubular body 12 which may form part of a tubing string used to convey theseal 10 into a well to the required depth. Aninflatable structure 14 in the form of a bag is circumferentially mounted around the outer surface of thetubular body 12. Theinflatable structure 14 is shown inFIG. 1 in a deflated configuration in which the bag defines a number offolds 16, such that theseal 10 may be configured with a relatively small outer diameter. In this configuration theseal 10 may be readily conveyed into a wellbore, and through relatively small wellbore restrictions. - A slurry mixture of
swellable particles 18 and a slurry fluid is stored within thetubular body 12 adjacent theinflatable structure 14. In the embodiment shown the slurry fluid comprises a fluid within which theswellable particles 18 do not swell. This arrangement therefore assists to prevent premature swelling of theswellable particles 18. The slurry fluid may be selected in accordance with the type ofswellable particles 18 used. For example, if theswellable particles 18 are adapted to swell in water then the slurry fluid may comprise a high salinity water, oil or the like. - The slurry of
swellable particles 18 is contained between a fixedlower plate 20 and anupper piston 22. When theseal 10 is located at the required depth within a wellbore, the slurry ofswellable particles 18 may then be displaced throughports 24 and into theinflatable structure 14 by downward movement of thepiston 22, as shown inFIG. 2 . In this way, theinflatable structure 14 may be inflated by theswellable particles 18 to describe a larger outer diameter and thus be configured to establish an annular seal between thetubular body 12 and a bore wall (not shown). - As shown in
FIG. 1 , theports 24 comprise anon-return valve arrangement 26 such that the slurry ofswellable particles 18 is prevented or restricted from flowing from the inflatable structure back into thetubular body 12. - Referring again to
FIG. 2 , theinflatable structure 14 is permeable to the slurry fluid such that said fluid may pass therethrough, as indicated byarrow 28, to be released into the wellbore, leaving theswellable particles 18 contained within theinflatable structure 14. Furthermore, theinflatable structure 14 is permeable to an activator fluid contained within the wellbore, such that said activator fluid may pass through theinflatable structure 14, indicated byarrow 30, to become exposed to theswellable particles 18 to activate swelling. The activator fluid may comprise water, such as a relatively low salinity formation water. - Accordingly, the
inflatable structure 14 may become inflated to establish an annular seal by a combination of receiving theswellable particles 18 and swelling of theparticles 18. Thus, relatively high expansion ratios may be achieved without compromising sealing integrity. - It may be necessary to circulate a fluid through the
tubular member 12 after theinflatable structure 14 has been inflated to define a seal. Accordingly, in the embodiment shown theplate 20 is adapted to be released from thetubular body 12 and downwardly displaced. For example, the piston may be adapted to be actuated to shear theplate 20 from the tubular body, and then displace theplate 20 downwards. The tubular body may comprise a lower region of slightly increased inner diameter, such that location of theplate 20 andpiston 22 within this region of increases diameter will permit fluid by-pass to be achieved. - In alternative arrangements, at least one of the plate and
piston 22 may comprise a bust-disk arrangement adapted to be ruptured to permit fluid to pass therethrough. - It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the swellable particles may be supplied from surface level, for example via a conduit or via a sealed container which may permit release of the particles when at the location of the seal.
- Additionally, the seal itself may comprise the activating fluid to activate swelling of the particles. For example, a volume of swell activating fluid may be positioned above the swellable particles, such that the activating fluid may be displaced into the inflatable structure after the swellable particles.
Claims (25)
1. A downhole seal comprising an inflatable structure adapted to receive a volume of swellable particles at a downhole location.
2. The downhole seal according to claim 1 , wherein the downhole seal is adapted to permit the swellable particles to become exposed to an activator to initiate swelling of said particles.
3. The downhole seal according to claim 1 , wherein the inflatable structure is adapted to permit fluid communication of an activator fluid therethrough to expose the swellable particles to said activator fluid.
4. The downhole seal according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the inflatable structure is permeable.
5. The downhole seal according to claim 1 , wherein the inflatable structure comprises an osmotic membrane adapted to establish fluid communication across said membrane by osmotic action.
6. The downhole seal according to claim 1 , wherein the inflatable structure defines at least one fluid port.
7. The downhole seal according to claim 1 , further comprising a store of a swelling activator, wherein the inflatable structure is adapted to receive the swelling activator from said store.
8. The downhole seal according to claim 7 , wherein the store of swelling activator is provided at surface level and/or in the region of the inflatable structure.
9. The downhole seal according to claim 1 , further comprising a store of swellable particles, wherein the inflatable structure is adapted to receive swellable particles from said store.
10. The downhole seal according to claim 9 , wherein the store of swellable particles is provided remotely from the inflatable structure and/or located adjacent the inflatable structure.
11. The downhole seal according to claim 9 , further comprising a communication passage between the inflatable structure and the store of swellable particles.
12. The downhole seal according to claim 9 further comprising a displacing arrangement adapted to displace swellable particles from the store towards the inflatable structure.
13. The downhole seal according to claim 1 , further comprising a tubular body, wherein the inflatable structure is mounted on the tubular body.
14. The downhole seal according to claim 13 , wherein the tubular body comprises a store of swellable particles, such that swellable particles contained within the tubular body may be delivered to the inflatable structure to inflate said inflatable structure.
15. The downhole seal according to claim 14 , further comprising a displacing arrangement mounted within the tubular body and adapted to displace swellable particles from the store towards the inflatable structure.
16. The downhole seal according to claim 15 , wherein the displacing arrangement is adapted to be configured to permit circulation of a fluid through the tubular body and past the displacing arrangement.
17. The downhole seal according to claim 16 , wherein the displacing arrangement comprises a piston, and the tubular body comprises a region of increased diameter, wherein location of the piston within said region of increased diameter permits by-pass of fluid.
18. The downhole seal according to claim 1 , further comprising a slurry of swellable particles adapted to be delivered to the inflatable structure, wherein the slurry is formed by a volume of swellable particles mixed with a fluid.
19. The downhole seal according to claim 18 , wherein the fluid is selected to prevent swelling of the swellable particles.
20. The downhole seal according to claim 18 , wherein the slurry fluid comprises a high salinity fluid.
21. The downhole seal according to claim 18 wherein the inflatable structure is adapted to permit release of the slurry fluid, thus permitting the swellable particles to become exposed to a swell activating medium.
22. The downhole seal according to claim 1 , wherein the inflatable structure comprises a swellable material.
23. A method of establishing a downhole seal, said method comprising the steps of:
locating an inflatable structure within a wellbore; and
inflating said inflatable structure with swellable particles.
24. The method according to claim 23 , further comprising the step of exposing at least a portion of the swellable particles to a swell-activating medium.
25. The method according to claim 23 , comprising the step of running the inflatable structure through a wellbore restriction, and then inflating said inflatable structure.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0817149.8 | 2008-09-19 | ||
GBGB0817149.8A GB0817149D0 (en) | 2008-09-19 | 2008-09-19 | Downhole seal |
PCT/GB2009/002150 WO2010031991A1 (en) | 2008-09-19 | 2009-09-08 | Downhole seal |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20120138315A1 true US20120138315A1 (en) | 2012-06-07 |
Family
ID=39951845
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/057,206 Abandoned US20120138315A1 (en) | 2008-09-19 | 2009-09-08 | Downhole Seal |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20120138315A1 (en) |
GB (2) | GB0817149D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010031991A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN104343408A (en) * | 2013-08-09 | 2015-02-11 | 胜利油田胜机石油装备有限公司 | Filling and permanent fixing type pipe external sealing and separating method and tool thereof |
US20220325599A1 (en) * | 2021-04-12 | 2022-10-13 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Multiple layers of open-hole seal in a wellbore |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AU2011301781B2 (en) * | 2010-09-15 | 2015-08-20 | Rise Mining Developments Pty Ltd | Drill hole plugs |
EP2644821A1 (en) * | 2012-03-30 | 2013-10-02 | Welltec A/S | An annular barrier having a flexible connection |
CN111791457B (en) * | 2020-09-09 | 2020-11-20 | 东营鑫华莲石油机械有限公司 | External packer for casing |
Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2945541A (en) * | 1955-10-17 | 1960-07-19 | Union Oil Co | Well packer |
US3301329A (en) * | 1964-05-15 | 1967-01-31 | John N Loomis | Tool for cementing and/or plugging a well or the like |
US4674570A (en) * | 1984-09-10 | 1987-06-23 | J.J. Seismic Flowing Hole Control (C.I.) Inc. | Bore hole plug |
US5195583A (en) * | 1990-09-27 | 1993-03-23 | Solinst Canada Ltd | Borehole packer |
US5271469A (en) * | 1992-04-08 | 1993-12-21 | Ctc International | Borehole stressed packer inflation system |
US20040055758A1 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2004-03-25 | Brezinski Michael M. | Annular isolators for expandable tubulars in wellbores |
US20050016740A1 (en) * | 2003-02-12 | 2005-01-27 | Walter Aldaz | Seal |
US20080289812A1 (en) * | 2007-04-10 | 2008-11-27 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | System for downhole packing |
US7527099B2 (en) * | 2003-07-29 | 2009-05-05 | Shell Oil Company | System for sealing a space in a wellbore |
US20090218107A1 (en) * | 2008-03-01 | 2009-09-03 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Reservoir Tool for Packer Setting |
US7665537B2 (en) * | 2004-03-12 | 2010-02-23 | Schlumbeger Technology Corporation | System and method to seal using a swellable material |
US20100314134A1 (en) * | 2007-06-21 | 2010-12-16 | Swelltec Limited | Swellable Apparatus and Method of Forming |
US8540032B2 (en) * | 2007-06-21 | 2013-09-24 | Swelltec Limited | Apparatus and method with hydrocarbon swellable and water swellable body |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7527095B2 (en) * | 2003-12-11 | 2009-05-05 | Shell Oil Company | Method of creating a zonal isolation in an underground wellbore |
MY143661A (en) * | 2004-11-18 | 2011-06-30 | Shell Int Research | Method of sealing an annular space in a wellbore |
-
2008
- 2008-09-19 GB GBGB0817149.8A patent/GB0817149D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2009
- 2009-09-08 WO PCT/GB2009/002150 patent/WO2010031991A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-09-08 GB GB1101473.5A patent/GB2475805B/en active Active
- 2009-09-08 US US13/057,206 patent/US20120138315A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (27)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2945541A (en) * | 1955-10-17 | 1960-07-19 | Union Oil Co | Well packer |
US3301329A (en) * | 1964-05-15 | 1967-01-31 | John N Loomis | Tool for cementing and/or plugging a well or the like |
US4674570A (en) * | 1984-09-10 | 1987-06-23 | J.J. Seismic Flowing Hole Control (C.I.) Inc. | Bore hole plug |
US5195583A (en) * | 1990-09-27 | 1993-03-23 | Solinst Canada Ltd | Borehole packer |
US5271469A (en) * | 1992-04-08 | 1993-12-21 | Ctc International | Borehole stressed packer inflation system |
US6854522B2 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2005-02-15 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Annular isolators for expandable tubulars in wellbores |
US20040055758A1 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2004-03-25 | Brezinski Michael M. | Annular isolators for expandable tubulars in wellbores |
US20050023003A1 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2005-02-03 | Echols Ralph H. | Annular isolators for tubulars in wellbores |
US20080251250A1 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2008-10-16 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Annular Isolators for Expandable Tubulars in Wellbores |
US7216706B2 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2007-05-15 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Annular isolators for tubulars in wellbores |
US20070114018A1 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2007-05-24 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Annular Isolators for Expandable Tubulars in Wellbores |
US20070267201A1 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2007-11-22 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Annular Isolators for Expandable Tubulars in Wellbores |
US7299882B2 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2007-11-27 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Annular isolators for expandable tubulars in wellbores |
US7320367B2 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2008-01-22 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Annular isolators for expandable tubulars in wellbores |
USRE41118E1 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2010-02-16 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Annular isolators for expandable tubulars in wellbores |
US7363986B2 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2008-04-29 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Annular isolators for expandable tubulars in wellbores |
US7404437B2 (en) * | 2002-09-23 | 2008-07-29 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Annular isolators for expandable tubulars in wellbores |
US20050016740A1 (en) * | 2003-02-12 | 2005-01-27 | Walter Aldaz | Seal |
US7357189B2 (en) * | 2003-02-12 | 2008-04-15 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Seal |
US7527099B2 (en) * | 2003-07-29 | 2009-05-05 | Shell Oil Company | System for sealing a space in a wellbore |
US7665537B2 (en) * | 2004-03-12 | 2010-02-23 | Schlumbeger Technology Corporation | System and method to seal using a swellable material |
US20100139930A1 (en) * | 2004-03-12 | 2010-06-10 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | System and method to seal using a swellable material |
US8499843B2 (en) * | 2004-03-12 | 2013-08-06 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | System and method to seal using a swellable material |
US20080289812A1 (en) * | 2007-04-10 | 2008-11-27 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | System for downhole packing |
US20100314134A1 (en) * | 2007-06-21 | 2010-12-16 | Swelltec Limited | Swellable Apparatus and Method of Forming |
US8540032B2 (en) * | 2007-06-21 | 2013-09-24 | Swelltec Limited | Apparatus and method with hydrocarbon swellable and water swellable body |
US20090218107A1 (en) * | 2008-03-01 | 2009-09-03 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Reservoir Tool for Packer Setting |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN104343408A (en) * | 2013-08-09 | 2015-02-11 | 胜利油田胜机石油装备有限公司 | Filling and permanent fixing type pipe external sealing and separating method and tool thereof |
US20220325599A1 (en) * | 2021-04-12 | 2022-10-13 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Multiple layers of open-hole seal in a wellbore |
US11959353B2 (en) * | 2021-04-12 | 2024-04-16 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Multiple layers of open-hole seal in a wellbore |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2475805A (en) | 2011-06-01 |
GB201101473D0 (en) | 2011-03-16 |
WO2010031991A1 (en) | 2010-03-25 |
GB2475805B (en) | 2012-11-07 |
GB0817149D0 (en) | 2008-10-29 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CA2547007C (en) | Swelling layer inflatable | |
US4421165A (en) | Multiple stage cementer and casing inflation packer | |
DK1891296T3 (en) | Gasket with positionable cuff | |
US3746092A (en) | Means for stabilizing wellbores | |
AU2016310072B2 (en) | Downhole completion system sealing against the cap layer | |
US5526878A (en) | Stage cementer with integral inflation packer | |
US8752625B2 (en) | Method of gravel packing multiple zones with isolation | |
US20140318780A1 (en) | Degradable component system and methodology | |
US9404335B2 (en) | Annular barrier system with flow lines | |
EP1840324A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for selective treatment of a perforated casing | |
US8025102B2 (en) | Wellbore delivery apparatus | |
NO317404B1 (en) | A damping assembly and method for placing and cementing of feed rudders in horizontal wells | |
NO325734B1 (en) | Gravel-inflated insulation gasket as well as a method for sealing an annulus in a well. | |
NO322718B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for sealing an incompletely filled compartment with stop pulp | |
US20060266530A1 (en) | System and method for fluid control in expandable tubing | |
US20090255691A1 (en) | Permanent packer using a slurry inflation medium | |
US20120138315A1 (en) | Downhole Seal | |
EP3159478A1 (en) | Downhole completion system sealing against the cap layer | |
Coronado et al. | Development of a one-trip ECP cement inflation and stage cementing system for open hole completions | |
RU2182958C2 (en) | Device for formations segregation | |
US11655687B2 (en) | Modular additive cementing |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SWELLFIX B.V., NETHERLANDS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:DEWAR, JOHN;VLIEGENTHART, ARIE;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110312 TO 20120117;REEL/FRAME:027844/0659 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |