# US 2014/0196914 A1 · Apparatus and method of zonal isolation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196914 A1 - Document ID: US20140196914A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/156,178 - Filed: 2014-01-15 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2008-02-19 - Assignees: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. - Applicants: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. - Inventors: Lev RING; Varadaraju GANDIKOTA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196914A1 ## CPC - E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) - E21B 23/06: for setting packers - E21B 33/124: Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space - E21B 43/103: {of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like} - E21B 43/105: {Expanding tools specially adapted therefor} - E21B 33/1208: {characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means (E21B33/1277 takes precedence)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract Methods and apparatus include an expandable packer having a tubing expanded to create a seal in an annulus surrounding the tubing. The tubing includes a non-uniform outer surface configured to cause formation of undulations in a diameter of the tubing upon expansion of the tubing. A plurality of expandable packers may be connected to a tubular string to isolate multiple zones in a wellbore. A production tubular equipped with multiple expandable packers may be installed in the tubular string. The expandable packers may also include non-uniform outer surfaces configured to form undulations upon expansion. The combination of tubular string and production tubular may be used in an enhanced oil recovery application such as injecting steam into a formation to enhance production. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An expandable apparatus, comprising: a tubular; and an expandable packer attached to the tubular, wherein the expandable packer has an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the tubular and has a non-uniform outer surface, whereby upon expansion of the expandable packer, undulations are created based on the non-uniform outer surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The expandable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular extends through the expandable packer and the expandable packer is attached to an outer surface of the tubular. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The expandable apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tubular includes a port for fluid communication between a bore of the tubular and an annular area formed between the tubular and the expandable packer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The expandable apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cross-over tubular for connecting the expandable packer to the tubular. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The expandable apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of expandable packers are attached to the tubular. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The expandable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-uniform outer surface includes a reduced diameter section and an unchanged diameter section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The expandable apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a sealing element disposed on an unchanged diameter section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The expandable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-uniform outer surface includes a first sealing element at a first height and a second sealing element at a second height. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The expandable apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second tubular disposed around the first tubular, wherein the second tubular includes a second non-uniform outer surface, whereby upon expansion of the second tubular, undulations are created based on the second non-uniform outer surface ### Claim 10 A method of isolating multiple zones in a tubular, comprising: providing an inner tubular having a plurality of expandable packers, wherein the expandable packers have an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the inner tubular and have a non-uniform outer surface; positioning the plurality of expandable packers inside the tubular adjacent the zones for isolation; and expanding the plurality of expandable packers into engagement with the tubular; thereby creating undulations in the plurality of expandable packers based on the non-uniform outer surface the expandable packers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the inner tubular extends through at least one of the plurality of expandable packers and the at least one expandable packer is attached to an outer surface of the inner tubular. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the inner tubular includes a port for fluid communication between a bore of the inner tubular and an annular area formed between the inner tubular and the at least one expandable packer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising a cross-over tubular for connecting the expandable packer to the inner tubular. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the non-uniform outer surface includes a reduced diameter section and an unchanged diameter section. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein expanding the plurality of expandable packers comprises applying a radial force to the plurality of expandable packers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising expanding a portion of the inner tubular. ### Claim 17 A method of isolating multiple zones in a wellbore, comprising: providing a tubular string having a plurality of expandable packers, wherein each of the plurality of expandable packers include a tubing having a non-uniform outer surface; positioning the plurality of expandable packers adjacent the zones for isolation; and expanding the tubing into engagement with the wellbore; thereby creating undulations in the tubing based on the non-uniform outer diameter of the tubing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the non-uniform outer diameter includes a reduced outer diameter section and an unchanged outer diameter section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising disposing a sealing element on the unchanged outer diameter section of the tubing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the reduced outer diameter section is formed by machining. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: positioning a production tubular in the tubular string, the production tubular having a plurality of expandable production packers; and expanding the plurality of expandable production packers of the production tubular against the tubular string. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the expandable production packers of the production tubular are expanded against a non-expanded, solid section of the tubular string. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising expanding a portion of the production tubular. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the tubular string includes a slotted tubular. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising expanding a portion of the tubular string.