Hydraulically activated selective circulating/reverse circulating packer assembly

A packer for sealing an annular space in a wellbore, the wellbore having a string of casing therein, the packer comprising:

• a first tubular subunit;
• a second tubular subunit;
• an inner sleeve operatively connected to the second subunit, and slidably received within the first subunit;
• a flexible packing element disposed between the first subunit and the second subunit, and arranged such that mechanical compression of the first subunit towards the second subunit extrudes the flexible packing element into sealed radial engagement with the surrounding casing;
• and
• a releasable mechanical connection adapted to restrain the first subunit and the second subunit from compressing the flexible packing element until the releasable mechanical connection is released, wherein the temporary mechanical connection is hydraulically released before the flexible packing element is extruded.

A packer for sealing an annular space, comprising:

• a first tubular subunit and a second tubular subunit moveably coupled together;
• a flexible packing element disposed between the first tubular subunit and the second tubular subunit, wherein the first tubular subunit is disposed adjacent a first end of the packing element and wherein the second tubular subunit is disposed adjacent a second end of the packing element;
• a temporary mechanical connection adapted to restrain the first tubular subunit and the second tubular subunit from compressing the flexible packing element, wherein the temporary mechanical connection is adapted to be hydraulically disengaged;
• and
• an aperture, between a central bore of the packer and a housing, adapted to be selectively positioned between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the aperture is in the open position a fluid is permitted to flow into the housing to disengage the temporary mechanical connection, and wherein when the aperture is in the closed position and the packing element is compressed, the fluid is not permitted to flow into the housing.

An apparatus for use in wellbore operations, comprising:

• a valve;
• and
• a packer disposed below the valve, wherein the packer comprises:
• a first tubular subunit and a second tubular subunit moveably coupled together;
• a flexible packing element disposed between the first tubular subunit and the second tubular subunit, wherein the first tubular subunit has a surface disposed adjacent a first end of the packing element and wherein the second tubular subunit has a surface disposed adjacent a second end of the packing element;
• a temporary mechanical connection adapted to restrain the first tubular subunit and the second tubular subunit from compressing the flexible packing element, wherein the temporary mechanical connection is adapted to be hydraulically disengaged;
• and
• a locator selectively fixable against downward weight within the well at a predetermined location, wherein the locator is adapted to be activated by removing a covering.

A method of operating an apparatus disposed on a tubular string in a wellbore to remove a fluid from the tubular string, the wellbore having a string of casing therein, the method comprising the steps of:

• locating the apparatus, comprising a packer and a valve positioned above the packer, at a predetermined location within the wellbore;
• setting the packer, the method of setting the packer comprising:
• applying a first hydraulic pressure within a central bore of the apparatus;
• and
• applying down weight on the apparatus;
• and opening the valve.

A method of operating an apparatus, the apparatus comprising a packer, a valve positioned above the packer, and a cement inflation tool below the packer, the apparatus being run into a wellbore on a working string, the method comprising:

• actuating the cement inflation tool in connection with a wellbore cementing operation;
• setting the packer by utilizing a predetermined fluid pressure to disengage a temporary mechanical connection between a first surface and a second surface of the packer, and by compressing a packing element between the first surface and second surface by application of mechanical compressive force directed through the working string;
• opening the valve;
• and
• circulating a fluid through the valve.