Tapered setting wedge for swell packers and associated method
AssigneeBaker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC
InventorMATTHEW J. KRUEGER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A swell packer sealing element has a wedge on either or both ends that is driven axially when the packer is at the desired borehole location. The wedge releases an end bond of the sealing element and forces the end of the sealing element out radially against the surrounding borehole wall. The actuator for the wedge also forces out an extrusion barrier at the same time. The packer achieves the ability to handle the design differential pressure with aid of the end wedge even as portions of the packer sealing element beyond the end are still swelling into contact with the surrounding borehole wall whether in cased or open hole.
Claims21
A swell packer assembly for borehole use, comprising:
- a mandrel;
- a swelling element mounted to said mandrel having an end;
- a selectively movable wedge on said mandrel movable past said end into a position between said mandrel and said end to force said end toward a surrounding borehole wall.
A borehole treatment method, comprising:
- sealing a borehole with a swelling element mounted to a mandrel;
- advancing a wedge past an end of said swelling element along said mandrel;
- forcing said end of said swelling element away from said mandrel and toward a borehole wall with said wedge;
- isolating one zone from another zone in the borehole from said sealing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.