Sealing assembly

A method of establishing a downhole seal, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a base pipe;
• mounting a sleeve on an outer surface the base pipe to define a flow path therebetween, wherein the sleeve comprises a swellable medium;
• running the base pipe into a wellbore;
• and
• causing the swellable medium to swell to establish a seal.

A method of completing a wellbore, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a tubing string;
• mounting at least one sleeve on an outer surface of the tubing string to define a flow path therebetween, wherein the sleeve comprises a swellable medium;
• running the tubing string into a wellbore;
• causing the swellable medium to swell;
• and
• flowing cement into the annulus formed between the tubing string and a wall of the wellbore, wherein cement flows through the flow path.

A cement shoe comprising:

• a tubular body adapted to be mounted on a lower end of a tubing string;
• a sleeve including a swellable medium mounted on an outer surface of the tubular body;
• and
• a flow path defined between the tubular body and the sleeve.

A method of supporting a tubular body within a bore, said method comprising the steps of:

• mounting a sleeve comprising a swellable medium on an outer surface of the tubular body to define a flow path between the sleeve and the body;
• running the tubular body into a bore;
• and
• activating the swellable medium to engage a wall of the bore.