Drillable inflatable packer and methods of use

A system for installing an inflatable packer in a bore, the system comprising

• running apparatus,
• an inflatable packer releasably connected to the running apparatus, the inflatable packer comprising an inflatable packer comprising a packer body, the packer body having a fluid flow bore therethrough, an inflatable bladder mounted around the packer body, a bladder support mounted around the inflatable bladder, the packer body, the inflatable bladder and the bladder support made of drillable material, a valve apparatus connected with the packer body and in fluid communication with the fluid flow bore of the packer body for selectively controlling fluid flow from the packer to a space outside the packer system, and the valve apparatus made of drillable material,
• the running apparatus selectively releasable from the inflatable packer following setting of the inflatable packer in the bore, and
• fluid flow means for controllably flowing fluid through the running apparatus, through the inflatable packer and its valve apparatus, and out from the system into the bore below the system.

A system for installing an inflatable packer in a bore, the system comprising

• running apparatus,
• an inflatable packer releasably connected to the running apparatus, the inflatable packer comprising an inflatable packer comprising a packer body, the packer body having a fluid flow bore therethrough, an inflatable bladder mounted around the packer body, a bladder support mounted around the inflatable bladder, the packer body, the inflatable bladder and the bladder support made of drillable material, a valve apparatus connected with the packer body and in fluid communication with the fluid flow bore of the packer body for selectively controlling fluid flow from the packer to a space outside the packer system, and the valve apparatus made of drillable material,
• the running apparatus selectively releasable from the inflatable packer following setting of the inflatable packer in the bore,
• the valve apparatus including selectively controllable apparatus for selectively permitting fluid flow out from the valve apparatus into the bore below the system, and
• the running apparatus including fluid flow means which includes an activation apparatus for selectively co-acting with the selectively controllable apparatus of the valve apparatus to shut off fluid flow through the valve apparatus upon removal of the running apparatus from the inflatable packer.

A system for installing an inflatable packer in a bore, the system comprising

• running apparatus,
• an inflatable packer releasably connected to the running apparatus, the inflatable packer comprising an inflatable packer comprising a packer body, the packer body having a fluid flow bore therethrough, an inflatable bladder mounted around the packer body, a bladder support mounted around the inflatable bladder, the packer body, the inflatable bladder and the bladder support made of drillable material, a valve apparatus connected with the packer body and in fluid communication with the fluid flow bore of the packer body for selectively controlling fluid flow from the packer to a space outside the packer system, and the valve apparatus made of drillable material,
• the running apparatus selectively releasable from the inflatable packer following setting of the inflatable packer in the bore, and
• a valve assembly in the running apparatus for controlling fluid flow to the inflatable packer.