# US 8,770,305 B2 · Modular hydraulic packer-and-port system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,305 B2 - Document ID: US8770305B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/232,876 - Filed: 2011-09-14 - Published: 2012-05-24 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-22 - Assignees: Boise State University - Applicants: Warren Barrash; Michael Cardiff - Inventors: Warren Barrash; Michael Cardiff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770305B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/122: Multiple string packers - E21B 33/1243: {with inflatable sleeves} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract Modular hydraulic packer-and-port system and corresponding methods of operation. The system may be installed for temporary, semi-permanent, or permanent deployments. The system and method may provide for hydraulic isolation of target zones in a well while allowing pass-through tubes to the target zones for taking samples, inserting monitoring sensors, and the like. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular hydraulic packer-and-port system comprising: a tubular riser section; a tubular spacer section; a tubular packer section having a longitudinal axis and an internal volume, the tubular packer section further comprising: a packer pipe; an upper packer collar comprising an external flange on the packer pipe, the upper packer collar having a plurality of pass-through holes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular packer section; a lower packer collar comprising an external flange on the packer pipe, the lower packer collar having a plurality of pass-through holes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular packer section; a packer sleeve secured to the upper packer collar and the lower packer collar, the packer sleeve comprising a flexible, water-impervious material, wherein the packer sleeve has an inner surface in fluid communication with the internal volume of the tubular packer section through a hole in the packer pipe through which the packer sleeve may be inflated or deflated by the flow of fluid therethrough; wherein each packer collar pass-through hole comprises an external collar connector located external to the packer sleeve and an internal collar connector located within the packer sleeve; and at least one tube line configured to be connectable between any of the plurality internal collar connectors of the upper packer collar and any of the plurality of internal collar connectors of the lower packer collar. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular hydraulic packer-and-port system of claim 1, wherein the spacer section and the packer section has a first end and a second end, wherein each first end comprises a male cam-lock connector and each second end comprises a female cam-lock connector adapted to receive a male cam-lock connector of another spacer section or packer section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular hydraulic packer-and-port system of claim 1, wherein the packer sleeve is secured to the upper and lower packer collars with clamps. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular hydraulic packer-and-port system of claim 1, wherein the at least one tube line is adapted to provide fluid communication between the external collar connector of the upper packer collar and the external collar connector of the lower packer collar. ### Claim 5 A well isolation and monitoring apparatus, comprising: a packer section having a relatively straight packer pipe and a packer sleeve manufactured of flexible, water-impervious material, wherein the packer pipe is adapted to provide fluid communication between an internal volume of the packer pipe and an inner surface of the packer sleeve in order to inflate or deflate the packer sleeve; an upper packer collar comprising an external flange on the packer pipe, the upper packer collar having a plurality of pass-through holes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the packer section; a lower packer collar comprising an external flange on the packer pipe, the lower packer collar having a plurality of pass-through holes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the packer section; wherein each packer collar pass-through hole comprises an external collar connector located external to the packer sleeve and an internal collar connector located within the packer sleeve; a first tube, connected to an internal collar connector of the upper packer collar and an internal collar connector of the lower packer collar; a second tube connected to an external collar connector of the lower packer collar and further adapted to provide fluid communication between a target isolation zone and a well surface level, wherein the first tube is located within the packer sleeve and the second tube is located outside the packer sleeve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The well isolation and monitoring apparatus of claim 5, wherein the packer sleeve is secured to the upper and lower packer collars with clamps. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The well isolation and monitoring apparatus of claim 5, wherein the internal and external collar connectors are adapted to secure to the at least one tube first and second tubes. ### Claim 8 A method of isolating and monitoring sections in a well, comprising: deploying at least one packer section into a well, the well having an in-well ambient aquifer hydraulic head, and the at least one packer section further comprising: an upper packer collar comprising an external flange on the packer pipe, the upper packer collar having a plurality of pass-through holes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular packer section; a lower packer collar comprising an external flange on the packer pipe, the lower packer collar having a plurality of pass-through holes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular packer section; a packer sleeve secured to the upper packer collar and the lower packer collar, the packer sleeve comprising a flexible, water-impervious material, wherein the packer sleeve has an inner surface in fluid communication with the internal volume of the tubular packer section through a hole in the packer pipe through which the packer sleeve may be inflated or deflated by the flow of fluid therethrough; wherein each packer collar pass-through hole comprises an external collar connector located external to the packer sleeve and an internal collar connector located within the packer sleeve; and at least one tube line configured to be connectable between any of the plurality internal collar connectors of the upper packer collar and any of the plurality of internal collar connectors of the lower packer collar; the method further comprising: introducing a fluid or slurry into a central volume of the at least one packer section at a fluid static pressure greater than the in-well ambient aquifer hydraulic head; causing the packer sleeve to inflate and form a seal against an inner surface of the well thereby selectively isolating a section of the well. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising inserting at least one measuring device into at least one of the at least one tube line to selectively monitor, sample from, or inject fluid into isolated sections in the well. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein introducing a fluid or slurry into a central volume of the at least one packer section comprises pouring water into a riser section installed in the well. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein introducing a fluid or slurry into a central volume of the at least one packer section comprises pouring grout or cement into a riser section installed in the well.