# US 12,768,241 B2 · Wireless casing packer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,768,241 B2 - Document ID: US12768241B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 19/186,009 - Filed: 2025-04-22 - Published: 2025-08-07 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-13 - Assignees: Metrol Technology Limited - Applicants: Metrol Technology Limited - Inventors: Leslie Jarvis; Shaun Ross; David Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12768241B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/128: with a member expanded radially by axial pressure (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) - E21B 23/06: for setting packers - E21B 33/1294: {characterised by a valve, e.g. a by-pass valve} - E21B 47/13: by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A casing packer apparatus (P) comprising a mandrel (2) having a longitudinal throughbore, a packer element (6) mounted on the mandrel, and an expansion mechanism comprising a piston (11, 12) configured to move the packer element from a first position radially outwards to a second position. A bypass conduit (25) extends generally in said longitudinal direction, from one side of an outer sealing face of the packer element to an opposite side of the outer sealing face, and a bypass valve (41) controls said bypass conduit. The bypass valve is controlled by signals received via a wireless receiver (40). The casing packer can be deployed as an integral part of the casing string and used to control pressure build-up in the casing annulus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A casing packer apparatus comprising: a mandrel having a throughbore extending in a longitudinal direction; a packer element mounted on the mandrel, the packer element comprising an outer sealing face; a bypass conduit extending from one side of the outer sealing face to an opposite side of the outer sealing face; a bypass valve to control the bypass conduit; a wireless receiver to receive wireless signals to control the bypass valve; wherein the mandrel comprises a one-piece mandrel defining an internal static body of a low-pressure chamber, the one-piece mandrel comprising one or more of: (a) a mounting for a wedge portion, or (b) an integral wedge portion of a hydrostatic setting mechanism; and wherein the ratio between a gauge diameter of the packer apparatus in a first position and an inner diameter of the packer apparatus in the first position is less than 1.6. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bypass valve is one or more of: (a) moveable more than once, or (b) operable to open in a choke configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bypass valve comprises one or more of a multi-cycle valve or a piston valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow area through the bypass valve is at most 0.5 square inches. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bypass conduit incorporates a filter with maximum openings smaller than the smallest restriction in the bypass conduit and the bypass valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a threaded portion to attach to a casing, and wherein the minimum inner diameter of the packer is no less than a drift diameter of an API casing with a corresponding size and weight of thread. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packer apparatus has a packer gauge diameter greater than 7.5 inches and less than 8.6 inches. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a hydrostatic setting mechanism including a member comprising a wedge portion mounted on the mandrel, and wherein the member comprising the wedge portion and the packer element is moveable so that the wedge portion deflects the packer element radially outwards. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein one or more of: (a) the packer element is moveable towards the member comprising the wedge portion, (b) at least a portion of the bypass conduit is provided in the member comprising the wedge portion, or (c) a piston is configured to move at least one of the member comprising the wedge portion or the packer element from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one of a wireless transmitter or a wireless transceiver which comprises the wireless receiver, and wherein the wireless signals include one or more of acoustic or electromagnetic signals. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mandrel has an eccentric shape defined by the central axis of the inner diameter of the mandrel being is different to the central axis of the outer diameter of the mandrel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bypass conduit extends generally in said longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, and having at least one first port at the first end and at least one second port at the second end, the bypass conduit extending through the apparatus from the at least one first port on said one side of the outer sealing face to the at least one second port on said opposite side of the outer sealing face, and wherein the bypass valve is moveable between, at least, an open position where pressure can communicate through the apparatus via the ports and the bypass conduit, and a closed position where pressure cannot communicate through the apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packer apparatus has a packer gauge diameter greater than 9.25 inches but less than 19 inches. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the mandrel is at least one of 5.5 inches and 8 inches. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packer gauge diameter of the packer apparatus in an unset state is greater than 11.0 inches and less than 15.0 inches, and wherein the inner diameter of the mandrel is at least 8.0 inches. ### Claim 16 A well comprising casing and a casing packer apparatus comprising: a mandrel having a throughbore extending in a longitudinal direction; a packer element mounted on the mandrel, the packer element comprising an outer sealing face; a bypass conduit extending from one side of the outer sealing face to an opposite side of the outer sealing face; a bypass valve to control the bypass conduit; a wireless receiver to receive wireless signals to control the bypass valve; a hydrostatic setting mechanism having a member comprising a wedge portion which is fixed to, and sealed to, the mandrel; and wherein the ratio between a gauge diameter of the packer apparatus in a first position and an inner diameter of the packer apparatus in the first position is less than 1.6. ### Claim 17 A well comprising casing and a casing packer apparatus comprising: a mandrel having a throughbore extending in a longitudinal direction; a packer element mounted on the mandrel, the packer element comprising an outer sealing face; a bypass conduit extending from one side of the outer sealing face to an opposite side of the outer sealing face; a bypass valve to control the bypass conduit; a wireless receiver to receive wireless signals to control the bypass valve; a hydrostatic setting mechanism including a trigger device to allow well pressure through a port into a drive chamber to move one or more pistons when in operation, and wherein the trigger device comprises a wirelessly controlled valve; and wherein the ratio between a gauge diameter of the packer apparatus in a first position and an inner diameter of the packer apparatus in the first position is less than 1.6. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the hydrostatic setting mechanism further comprises a low-pressure chamber, and wherein the one or more pistons is configured to be driven, at least in part, by well pressure in the associated drive chamber against the action of the associated low-pressure chamber when in operation. ### Claim 19 A well comprising casing and a casing packer apparatus, comprising: a mandrel having a throughbore extending in a longitudinal direction; a packer element mounted on the mandrel, the packer element comprising an outer sealing face; a bypass conduit extending from one side of the outer sealing face to an opposite side of the outer sealing face; a bypass valve to control the bypass conduit; a wireless receiver to receive wireless signals to control the bypass valve; wherein the ratio between a gauge diameter of the packer apparatus in a first position and an inner diameter of the packer apparatus in the first position is less than 1.6; provided in a casing annulus, and wherein the casing annulus comprises a pressure sensor located above the casing packer apparatus, the pressure sensor including a wireless transmitter. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method of operating the well as claimed in claim 19, comprising moving the bypass valve from one of an open or closed position to the other of the open or closed position in order to open or close communication between a portion of the casing annulus above the packer apparatus and a formation.