Downhole seal assembly and method for use of same

A hydraulic control assembly for actuating a hydraulically controllable downhole device comprising:

• a continuous section of tubular having an inner surface defining a fluid passageway therethrough and an outer surface;
• a hydraulically controllable downhole device operably positioned around the outer surface of the continuous section of tubular;
• an operating fluid conduit positioned between the inner and outer surfaces of the continuous section of tubular, the operating fluid conduit being in fluid communication with the hydraulically controllable downhole device;
• and
• a hydraulic fluid source operably associated with the operating fluid conduit, the hydraulic fluid source providing a pressurized hydraulic fluid that selectively actuates the hydraulically controllable downhole device.

A seal assembly for controlling the flow of fluids in a wellbore comprising:

• a section of composite coiled tubing including a plurality of composite layers, a substantially impermeable material lining an inner surface of the innermost composite layer forming a fluid passageway and an operating fluid conduit integrally positioned between two of the composite layers;
• a mandrel having a flange positioned around the section of composite coiled tubing;
• first and second slip ramps positioned around the mandrel;
• anchor slips positioned around the mandrel between the first and second slip ramps, the anchor slips radially extendable into a gripping engagement against the wellbore in response to relative axial movement of the first and second slip ramps toward one another;
• a setting assembly positioned around the mandrel and in fluid communication with the operating fluid conduit, the setting assembly hydraulically actuatable to axially shift the first slip ramp toward the second slip ramp;
• and
• a seal element positioned around the mandrel between the flange and the second slip ramp, the seal element radially expandable into a sealing engagement with the wellbore in response to a compressive axial force applied to the seal element between the second slip ramp and the flange after actuation of the setting assembly.

A method for assembling a seal assembly on a tubular having an operating fluid conduit associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a mandrel having a flange around the exterior of the tubular;
• disposing first and second slip ramps around the mandrel;
• positioning anchor slips around the mandrel between the first and second slip ramps;
• coupling a setting assembly around the mandrel;
• establishing fluid communication between the operating fluid conduit and the setting assembly;
• and
• positioning a seal element around the mandrel between the flange and the second slip ramp, such that upon hydraulic actuation of the setting assembly, the first and second slip ramps radially expand the anchor slips and the seal element is radially expanded in response to a compressive axial force applied to the seal element between the second slip ramp and the flange.

A method for operating a seal assembly comprising the steps of:

• positioning the seal assembly around a tubular, the seal assembly comprising a mandrel having a flange positioned around the tubular, first and second slip ramps positioned around the mandrel, anchor slips positioned around the mandrel between the first and second slip ramps, a setting assembly coupled around the mandrel and in fluid communication with an operating fluid conduit integral with the tubular and a seal element positioned around the mandrel between the flange and the second slip ramp;
• disposing the seal assembly within a wellbore;
• communicating an operating fluid to the setting assembly through the operating fluid conduit;
• axially shifting the first slip ramp toward the second slip ramp with the setting assembly;
• radially expanding the anchor slips into gripping engagement with the wellbore in response to the relative axially movement of the first and second slip ramps;
• and
• radially expanding the seal element into sealing engagement with the wellbore in response to a compressive axial force applied to the seal element between the second slip ramp and the flange.