# US 10,370,931 B2 · Methods and apparatus for use in oil and gas well completion

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,370,931 B2
- Document ID: US10370931B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/502,966
- Filed: 2015-08-14
- Published: 2017-08-17
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-15
- Assignees: BiSN Tec Ltd
- Applicants: Bisn Tec Ltd.
- Inventors: Paul Carragher
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370931B2

## CPC

- E21B 33/122: Multiple string packers
- E21B 17/042: Threaded
- E21B 19/00: Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
- E21B 29/10: Reconditioning of well casings, e.g. straightening
- E21B 31/007: {fishing tools with means for attaching comprising fusing or sticking}
- E21B 33/04: Casing heads; Suspending casings or tubings in well heads
- E21B 33/1208: {characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means (E21B33/1277 takes precedence)}
- E21B 33/124: Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
- E21B 33/13: Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
- E21B 33/14: for cementing casings into boreholes
- E21B 36/008: {using chemical heat generating means}
- E21B 43/10: Setting of casings, screens, liners {or the like} in wells
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A first aspect of the invention provides a gas or oil well tubing having an annular packer mounted thereon, wherein the annular packer is formed from an eutectic alloy. By prefabricating the annular packer on the tubing it can be placed in situ from the outset and thus can be active by melting at any time to form a eutectic seal quickly and easily. An annular packer with by-pass conduits is also provided to enable cement to be pumped past the annular packer when it is in situ. The annular packer is further provided with conduit clearance means to clear cement from within the conduits.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a gas or oil well tubing, said method comprising:
providing a length of tubing; and
mounting a eutectic/bismuth alloy annular packer to the tubing;
wherein the annular packer is formed within the tubing by:
locating a blocking tube concentrically within the tubing;
providing a melted eutectic/bismuth alloy within the annular space between the tubing and the blocking tube;
allowing the alloy to cool; and
removing the blocking tube from within the cooled alloy to leave a void.

### Claim 2

A thermally deformable annular packer formed from an eutectic or bismuth based alloy and configured to be mounted to a gas or oil well tubing, said packer comprising:
one or more conduits oriented at least substantially parallel to the central axis of packer so as to permit the flow of fluid through the packer when the packer is mounted on a gas or oil well tubing; and
one or more resiliency biased conduit clearance means located adjacent to said one or more conduits, wherein said clearance means are biased towards said conduits;
wherein the conduit clearance means are held away from the conduit by alloy, such that when the alloy is melted the conduit clearance means can move towards said conduits under the biasing force.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The annular packer of claim 2, wherein the conduit clearance means comprise one or more ring springs mounted in recesses in either the inner, the outer or both the inner and outer surfaces of the annular packer.