US 9,790,764 B2 · Packer assembly having dual hydrostatic pistons for redundant interventionless setting

Abstract

A packer for use in a wellbore includes a packer mandrel. First and second pistons are slidably disposed about the packer mandrel defining first and second chambers therewith. A first activation assembly initially prevents movement of the first piston. A second activation assembly initially prevents movement of the second piston. A seal assembly is disposed about the packer mandrel between the first and second pistons such that actuation of the first activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the first chamber to shift the first piston in a first direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly and actuation of the second activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the second chamber to shift the second piston in a second direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A packer assembly for use in a wellbore comprising:

a packer mandrel;
a first piston slidably disposed about the packer mandrel defining a first chamber therewith;
a first activation assembly disposed about the packer mandrel initially preventing movement of the first piston;
a piston assembly including an intermediate piston section spaced away from a second piston, the piston assembly being slidably disposed about the packer mandrel and the second piston defining a second chamber therewith;
a second activation assembly disposed about the packer mandrel initially preventing movement of the second piston;
and
a seal assembly disposed about the packer mandrel and positioned between the first and second pistons;
wherein, actuation of the first activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the first chamber to shift the first piston in a first direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly;
and
wherein, actuation of the second activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the second chamber to shift the second piston in a second direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly.

7 more elements

A method for setting a packer assembly in a wellbore, the method comprising:

providing a packer assembly having a packer mandrel with a seal assembly disposed thereabout;
running the packer assembly into the wellbore;
preventing movement of a first piston toward the seal assembly with a first activation assembly disposed about the packer mandrel;
preventing movement of a second piston toward the seal assembly with a second activation assembly disposed about the packer mandrel;
increasing wellbore pressure to a first predetermined actuation pressure;
actuating the first activation assembly to allow a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and a first chamber defined between the first piston and the packer mandrel to shift the first piston in a first direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly;
increasing wellbore pressure to a second predetermined actuation pressure;
and
actuating the second activation assembly to allow a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and a second chamber defined between the second piston and the packer mandrel to shift the second piston in a second direction toward an intermediate piston section spaced away from the second piston and toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Packer assembly having dual hydrostatic pistons for redundant interventionless setting

Life of this patent

Packer assembly having dual hydrostatic pistons for redundant interventionless setting

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25