Reinforced swelling elastomer seal element on expandable tubular

A method for sealing a portion of a wellbore, comprising:

• running a sealing apparatus into the wellbore, the sealing apparatus comprising:
• a tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the tubular body including one or more apertures therethrough to allow selective fluid communication between the inner surface and the outer surface;
• and
• a swelling elastomer disposed around the outer surface of the tubular body, the swelling elastomer substantially enclosed within a deformable portion;
• applying an outwardly directed force upon the inner surface of the tubular body causing the tubular body to expand radially outward;
• and
• exposing the swelling elastomer to an activating agent, thereby causing the deformable portion to create a pressure energized seal with one or more adjacent surfaces in the wellbore.

A liner assembly for isolating a zone in a wellbore, the liner assembly comprising:

• a deformable tubular;
• and
• a sealing apparatus disposed at either end of the deformable tubular, the sealing apparatus comprising:
• a tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the tubular body including one or more apertures therethrough to allow selective fluid communication between the inner surface and the outer surface;
• and
• a swelling elastomer disposed around the outer surface of the tubular body, the swelling elastomer substantially enclosed within a deformable portion, whereby upon the application of an outwardly directed force to the inner surface of the tubular body, the tubular body expands radially outward, exposing the swelling elastomer to an activating agent, thereby causing the deformable portion to create a pressure energized seal with one or more adjacent surfaces in the wellbore.

A method for sealing a wellbore, comprising:

• running an expandable liner assembly on a drill string into the wellbore, the expandable liner assembly including:
• a deformable tubular;
• and
• a sealing apparatus disposed at either end of the deformable tubular, the sealing apparatus comprising:
• a tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the tubular body including one or more apertures therethrough;
• and
• a swelling elastomer disposed around the outer surface of the tubular body, the swelling elastomer substantially enclosed within a deformable portion;
• applying an outwardly directed force to the inner surface of the tubular body causing the tubular body to expand radially outward;
• exposing the swelling elastomer to an activating agent, thereby causing the swelling elastomer to expand outward deforming the deformable portion to create a pressure energized seal with one or more adjacent surfaces in the wellbore;
• and
• expanding the deformable tubular.