Reinforced swelling elastomer seal element on expandable tubular
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsJames K. Whanger, Simon J. Harrall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method used for sealing a wellbore. The apparatus includes a swelling elastomer disposed around an outer surface of the tubular body. The swelling elastomer is isolated from wellbore fluid in an annulus. However, upon the application of an outwardly directed force to an inner surface of the tubular body, the tubular body expands radially outward causing the swelling elastomer to contact the wellbore while exposing the swelling elastomer to an activating agent via the one or more apertures, thereby causing the swelling elastomer to create a pressure energized seal with one or more adjacent surfaces in the wellbore.
Claims31
An apparatus for sealing a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
- a tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the tubular body including one or more apertures in a wall thereof to allow selective fluid communication between the inner surface and the outer surface;
- and
- a swelling elastomer disposed around the outer surface of the tubular body, the swelling elastomer isolated from wellbore fluid in an annulus;
- whereby upon the application of an outwardly directed force to the inner surface of the tubular body, the tubular body expands radially outward causing the swelling elastomer to contact the wellbore while exposing the swelling elastomer to an activating agent via the one or more apertures, thereby causing the swelling elastomer to create a pressure energized seal with one or more adjacent surfaces in the wellbore.
A method for sealing a portion of a wellbore, comprising:
- running a sealing apparatus into the wellbore, the sealing apparatus comprising:
- a tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the tubular body including one or more apertures therethrough to allow selective fluid communication between the inner surface and the outer surface;
- and
- a swelling elastomer disposed around the outer surface of the tubular body, the swelling elastomer substantially enclosed within a deformable portion;
- applying an outwardly directed force upon the inner surface of the tubular body causing the tubular body to expand radially outward;
- and
- exposing the swelling elastomer to an activating agent, thereby causing the deformable portion to create a pressure energized seal with one or more adjacent surfaces in the wellbore.
A liner assembly for isolating a zone in a wellbore, the liner assembly comprising:
- a deformable tubular;
- and
- a sealing apparatus disposed at either end of the deformable tubular, the sealing apparatus comprising:
- a tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the tubular body including one or more apertures therethrough to allow selective fluid communication between the inner surface and the outer surface;
- and
- a swelling elastomer disposed around the outer surface of the tubular body, the swelling elastomer substantially enclosed within a deformable portion, whereby upon the application of an outwardly directed force to the inner surface of the tubular body, the tubular body expands radially outward, exposing the swelling elastomer to an activating agent, thereby causing the deformable portion to create a pressure energized seal with one or more adjacent surfaces in the wellbore.
A method for sealing a wellbore, comprising:
- running an expandable liner assembly on a drill string into the wellbore, the expandable liner assembly including:
- a deformable tubular;
- and
- a sealing apparatus disposed at either end of the deformable tubular, the sealing apparatus comprising:
- a tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the tubular body including one or more apertures therethrough;
- and
- a swelling elastomer disposed around the outer surface of the tubular body, the swelling elastomer substantially enclosed within a deformable portion;
- applying an outwardly directed force to the inner surface of the tubular body causing the tubular body to expand radially outward;
- exposing the swelling elastomer to an activating agent, thereby causing the swelling elastomer to expand outward deforming the deformable portion to create a pressure energized seal with one or more adjacent surfaces in the wellbore;
- and
- expanding the deformable tubular.
An apparatus for sealing a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
- a tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface;
- a swelling elastomer disposed around the outer surface of the tubular body, whereupon activation of the swelling elastomer a pressure energized seal is formed between the apparatus and a surface in the wellbore;
- and
- a selectively activatable fluid pathway formed in the tubular body to allow selective fluid communication between the inner surface and the outer surface.
A method for sealing a portion of a wellbore, comprising:
- running a sealing apparatus into the wellbore, the sealing apparatus comprising a tubular body, one or more plug members disposed in one or more apertures formed in the tubular body and a swelling elastomer disposed around the tubular body;
- expanding the tubular body radially outward;
- and
- removing one or more plug members from the one or more apertures to activate the swelling elastomer and create a pressure energized seal with a surface of the wellbore.
An apparatus for sealing a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
- a tubular body having one or more apertures formed therein to allow selective fluid communication between an inner surface and an outer surface;
- a swelling elastomer disposed around the tubular body and substantially enclosed within a deformable portion;
- and
- a plurality of deformable ribs disposed around the tubular body to support the deformable portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.