Tension release packer for a bottomhole assembly
AssigneeKobold Corporation
InventorsPer Angman, Mark Andreychuk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A resettable elastomeric packer element of a packer, compressed for sealing in a wellbore, is released from sealing engagement in the wellbore by applying tension to an end of the packer element. The elastomeric packer element stretches and releases from the wellbore forming an annular passageway between the packer element and the wellbore. In the absence of a pressure equalization valve or flow passages through the packer, the annular passageway equalizes pressure differentials across the packer element allowing a tool, in which the packer is incorporated, to be moved in the wellbore with little or no damage to the packer element and further, allows debris to flow from above the packer to below the packer.
Claims32
A method for completing a wellbore comprising:
- running a completion tool, having a releasable packer therein, into the wellbore, the releasable packer having
- an annular elastomeric sealing element;
- an anchor for anchoring the sealing element in the wellbore;
- and
- a mandrel and a housing, the mandrel being axially and telescopically moveable within the housing, the elastomeric sealing element being positioned circumferentially about the mandrel and connected at least at a pull end thereof;
- locating the sealing element below a zone of interest in the wellbore;
- axially compressing the elastomeric sealing element into sealing engagement with the wellbore and actuating the anchor by moving the mandrel axially toward the housing;
- treating the zone of interest above the compressed elastomeric sealing element, creating a pressure differential across the sealing element, and thereafter;
- applying axial tension to the pull end of the elastomeric sealing element for radially retracting at least the pull end thereof by moving the mandrel axially away from the housing for forming an annular passageway between the elastomeric sealing element and the wellbore, allowing pressure thereabove to equalize with pressure therebelow, for releasing the packer from sealing engagement with the wellbore.
A method of equalizing pressure above and below a compressible, annular sealing element of a packer, the packer having
- a mandrel and a housing;
- the mandrel being axially and telescopically moveable within the housing;
- the annular sealing element being positioned circumferentially about the mandrel;
- and
- a pull end being secured thereto,
- set within a wellbore for sealing therebelow, comprising:
- applying axial tension to the pull end of the annular sealing element for radially retracting at least the pull end by moving the mandrel axially away from the housing for forming an annular passageway between the annular sealing element and the wellbore, releasing the annular sealing element from sealing therein,
- wherein pressure above and below the elastomeric sealing element is equalized through the annular passageway.
A method for protecting a compressible, annular sealing element of a packer in a tool, the packer having
- a mandrel and a housing;
- the mandrel being axially and telescopically moveable within the housing;
- the annular sealing element being positioned circumferentially about the mandrel;
- and
- a pull end being secured thereto,
- set within a wellbore and having a pressure differential thereacross, prior to moving the tool within the wellbore, comprising:
- applying axial tension to the pull end of the annular sealing element by moving the mandrel and pull end axially away from the housing for release from the wellbore for radially retracting at least the pull end for forming an annular passageway between the annular sealing element and the wellbore for equalizing pressure above and below the annular sealing element;
- and thereafter moving the tool in the wellbore.
A pressure equalization tool for use in a wellbore comprising:
- a tubular housing having a bore therethrough;
- a mandrel fit to the bore of the housing and being telescopically and axially moveable therein;
- an elastomeric, annular packer element fit concentrically about the mandrel and connected at a pull end thereto;
- and
- an anchor for anchoring the housing in the wellbore,
- wherein when the mandrel and annular packer element are moved axially toward the housing, the anchor is set and the annular packer element is compressed therebetween into sealing engagement with the wellbore for sealing an annulus between the mandrel and the wellbore;
- and
- wherein when the mandrel and annular packer element are pulled axially away from the housing, the annular packer element is pulled axially into tension for radially retracting at least the pull end for release from sealing engagement with the wellbore, forming a fluid passageway in the annulus for fluid communication past the annular packer element for equalizing pressure thereacross.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.