Wellbore isolation tool using sealing element having shape memory polymer
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsGary Ingram, Minh-Tuan Nguyen, Paul Wilson, Chris Johnson, Deborah L. Banta, Jacob Bramwell, Stone Fagley, Varadaraju A. Gandikota
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Anti-extrusion devices, packer elements, and inflatable packers include shape memory polymer (SMP) materials to enhance the operation of a packer, a bridge plug, or other downhole isolation tool. Seal system use seals of various material including SMP materials as booster for the seal produced. Tool for flow shut-off and sliding sleeve applications use SMP materials to open or close off flow through a tool.
Claims37
A downhole tool, comprising:
- a mandrel;
- an inflatable element disposed on the mandrel, the inflatable element being inflatable to an inflated state to engage a surrounding sidewall;
- and
- at least a portion of the inflatable element being composed of a shape memory polymer and activating from a first state to a second state in response to a predetermined stimulus, the portion in the second state at least partially expanding the inflatable element.
A downhole tool, comprising:
- a mandrel;
- a gage ring disposed on the mandrel;
- a packing element disposed on the mandrel adjacent the gage ring, the packing element composed of an elastomeric material compressible by movement of the gage ring;
- and
- an activatable element composed of a shape memory polymer and associated with the packing element, the activatable element activating from a first state to a second state in response to a predetermined stimulus, the first state allowing the tool to run downhole, the second state blocking extrusion of the elastomeric material of the packing element into a gap between the gage ring and a surrounding sidewall.
A downhole tool, comprising:
- a mandrel;
- and
- at least one packing element disposed on the mandrel and composed of a shape memory polymer, the packing element having a first state in which the packing element situates close to the mandrel, the packing element having a second state in which the packing element distends away from the mandrel to engage a surrounding sidewall, the packing element activated from the first state to the second state by a first predetermined stimulus.
A downhole tool, comprising:
- a mandrel having a bore and defining a port communicating with the bore;
- a seal disposed on the mandrel and movable thereon relative to the port;
- and
- an element composed of a shape memory polymer and disposed on the mandrel adjacent to the seal, one end of the element fixed relative to the mandrel, the element activating from a first state to a second state in response to a predetermined stimulus, the element in one of the first or second states having the seal dispose away from the port, the element in the other of the first or second states having the seal close off the port.
A downhole tool, comprising:
- a mandrel;
- one or more first seals disposed on the mandrel;
- and
- one or more second seals disposed on the mandrel adjacent the one or more first seals, the one or more second seals composed of a shape memory polymer and activating from a first state to a second state in response to a predetermined stimulus, the one or more second seals in the second state compressing the adjacent one or more first seals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.