High temperature packers
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorsKai Sun, Thomas Gary Corbett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Self-initialized packers for use in high temperature steam injection applications in wellbores are provided. The packers include an actuating mechanism for setting a packing element for sealing within an openhole or cased hole. The actuating mechanism includes an actuator sleeve that includes an actuating element constructed from a shape memory alloy that has a transformation temperature range greater than a geothermal temperature of the wellbore, and is actuated upon heating from steam injection. Systems and methods of using the packers are also provided.
Claims29
A packer for use in a wellbore, comprising:
- a housing having a cavity extending therethrough;
- a packing element coupled to an exterior of the housing, the packing element positionable between a normal state and a set state;
- and
- an actuating mechanism for transitioning the packing element from the normal state to the setting state, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises an actuating element constructed from a shape memory alloy, wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a piston movable between a first piston position and a second piston position, wherein when the piston is in the first piston position, the packing element is in the normal state, and wherein when the piston is in the second piston position, the packing element is in the set state.
An actuator sleeve for actuating a packer for use in a wellbore, the actuator sleeve comprising:
- a housing having a wall and a housing cavity extending therethrough, the housing having a first end and a second end, the housing having at least one channel therein, wherein the at least one channel is open to the second end;
- one or more actuating elements, wherein the actuating elements are positioned within the at least one channel of the housing, wherein the one or more actuating elements transitions from a compressed normal state to an elongated set state, wherein a portion of the one or more actuating elements exits the second end when in the elongated set state, wherein the actuating element comprises a shape memory alloy;
- and
- an inner cup having an inner cup cavity extending therethrough, the inner cup coupled to the second end of the housing, wherein the housing cavity is aligned with the inner cup cavity, the inner cup positionable between a normal state and a set state, wherein the wall of the housing and the inner cup further comprise one or more grooves for receiving anti-rotation guide bars therein, wherein the anti-rotation guide bars prevent rotation of the inner cup with respect to the housing when the inner cup is in the set state.
An actuator sleeve for actuating a packer for use in a wellbore, the actuator sleeve comprising:
- a housing having a wall and a housing cavity extending therethrough, the housing having a first end and a second end, the housing having at least one channel therein, wherein the at least one channel is open to the second end;
- one or more actuating elements, wherein the actuating elements are positioned within the at least one channel of the housing, wherein the one or more actuating elements transitions from a compressed normal state to an elongated set state, wherein a portion of the one or more actuating elements exits the second end when in the elongated set state, wherein the actuating element comprises a shape memory alloy;
- and
- an inner cup having an inner cup cavity extending therethrough, the inner cup coupled to the second end of the housing, wherein the housing cavity is aligned with the inner cup cavity, the inner cup positionable between a normal state and a set state, wherein the wall of the housing and the inner cup further comprise one or more grooves for receiving shear screws therein, wherein the shear screws shear when the one or more actuating elements transitions from the compressed normal state to the elongated set state, wherein shearing of the shear screws allows the inner cup to transition from the normal state to the set state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.