Downhole apparatus with a swellable support structure
AssigneeSwelltec Limited
InventorsKim Nutley, Brian Nutley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A downhole apparatus having a radially expanding portion and a support structure are described. The support structure comprises an attachment means for coupling to the apparatus and a support portion configured to be deployed from a first unexpanded condition to a second expanded condition by expansion of the apparatus. In one aspect of the invention, the downhole apparatus is expanded by exposing the swellable material to at least one predetermined fluid, and the support structure abuts the swellable material in its expanded form. A method of use and its application to a well packer, a hanging member, an anchor and a centralising apparatus are described.
Claims54
A support structure for a downhole apparatus, the downhole apparatus having a radially expanding portion comprising a swellable elastomeric material selected to expand on exposure to at least one predetermined fluid, and the support structure comprising:
- an attachment means for coupling to the apparatus;
- and
- a support portion,
- wherein the support structure has a first unexpanded condition and a second expanded condition, and
- wherein the support structure is operable to be deployed to its second expanded condition by expansion of the radially expanding portion of the apparatus, and
- wherein the support structure comprises at least one layer of pivoting support members arranged circumferentially on the support structure.
A method of expanding an apparatus in a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the apparatus at a downhole location in a first, unexpanded condition;
- and
- effecting the expansion of an expanding portion of the apparatus by exposing a swellable elastomeric material of the expanding portion to at least one predetermined fluid selected to swell the expanding portion, such expansion thereby deploying a support structure to an expanded condition in which it provides support to the expanding portion,
- wherein deploying the support structure comprises pivoting at least one layer of support members arranged circumferentially on the support structure.
A support structure for a downhole apparatus,
- the downhole apparatus having a radially expanding portion comprising:
- a swellable elastomeric material selected to expand on exposure to at least one predetermined fluid, and
- the support structure comprising:
- an attachment means for coupling to the downhole apparatus;
- and
- a support portion, comprising:
- a first inner layer of support members arranged circumferentially on the support structure;
- and
- a second outer layer of support members arranged circumferentially on the support structure and disposed around the first inner layer,
- wherein the support structure has a first unexpanded condition and a second expanded condition, and
- wherein the support structure is operable to be deployed to its second expanded condition by expansion of the radially expanding portion of the apparatus.
A method of expanding an apparatus in a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the apparatus at a downhole location in a first, unexpanded condition;
- effecting the expansion of an expanding portion of the apparatus by exposing a swellable elastomeric material of the expanding portion to at least one predetermined fluid selected to swell the expanding portion, such expansion thereby deploying a support structure;
- and wherein deploying the support structure comprises deploying a first inner layer of support members and deploying a second outer layer of support members and disposed around the first inner layer to an expanded condition in which they provide support to the expanding portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.