Inflatable packers

• US 20060219400A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Espinosa, Frank, Xu, Zheng Rong
• Granted Patent: US 7,331,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/187
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1216 Anti-extrusion means, e.g. means to prevent cold flow of rubber packing
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1277 characterised by the construction or fixation of the sleeve

Abstract

Improved inflatable packers are provided. A packer may be constructed from hybrid structures including slat structures and weave structures. A packer may include a bladder and a cover, with a plurality of slats disposed therebetween, and/or a weave structure or anti-extrusion layer disposed therebetween. The slats may vary in width and thickness, and be provided with a plurality of reinforcement members. The reinforcement members may be longitudinally and/or transversely disposed in the slats. One or more of the various components of the packer preferably include a fiber, a wire, a cable, a nanofiber, a nanotube, and/or a nanoparticle modified elastomer. Anchors may be attached to or embedded in the outer cover. The packer may include a carcass having an end coupling including a plurality of slats. Improved packer cups are also disclosed, and preferably include a body member reinforced with a nanotube or similar material.

Claims

1. An inflatable packer comprising:

an inflatable element having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of slats at the first end and the second end; and

a weave type structure disposed between the plurality of slats at the first end and the plurality of slats at the second end.

2. The inflatable packer of claim 1, wherein one or more slats comprise a plurality of reinforcement members made from at least one of the group consisting of high strength alloys, fiber reinforced polymers and/or elastomers, nanofiber, nanoparticle, and nanotube reinforced polymers and/or elastomers.

3. The inflatable packer of claim 1, wherein one or more slats comprise a composite structure comprising a first sheet, a second sheet and a third sheet, the second sheet being disposed between the first and third sheets, the first and third sheets including a plurality of longitudinal reinforcement members, and the second sheet including a plurality of transverse reinforcement members.

4. An inflatable packer comprising:

a bladder;

a cover comprising a weave type structure;

a plurality,of slats disposed between the bladder and the cover.

5. The inflatable packer of claim 4, wherein one or more slats comprise a plurality of reinforcement members made from at least one of the group consisting of high strength alloys, fiber reinforced polymers and/or elastomers, nanofiber, nanoparticle, and nanotube reinforced polymers and/or elastomers.

6. The inflatable packer of claim 5, wherein one or more slats comprise a composite structure comprising a first sheet, a second sheet and a third sheet, the second sheet being disposed between the first and third sheets.

7. An inflatable packer comprising:

a bladder having at least one of a nanofiber and a nanoparticle modified polymer and/or elastomer;

a carcass having an end coupling and a plurality of slats disposed about the bladder; and

a cover-seal having at least one of a fiber, a nanofiber, a nanotube and a nanoparticle modified polymer and/or elastomer.

8. The inflatable packer of claim 7, wherein the slats include at least one of a fiber, a nanofiber, a nanoparticle modified polymer and/or elastomer and a high strength metal.

9. The inflatable packer of claim 7, further including a anti-extrusion layer disposed between the bladder and the cover seal, and including at least one of a woven fiber, a nanofiber, a nanotube, and a nanoparticle.

10. A slat for use in an inflatable packer comprising:

a body member having a length, a width and a thickness; and

a plurality of reinforcement members disposed in the body member and comprising at least one of a wire, a cable, a fiber, a nanofiber, a nanotube, nanoparticle modifiedelastomer and a high strength metal.

11. The slat of claim 10, wherein the body member may include at least one of an elastomer, a thermoplastic elastomer, an elastoplastic, and a polymer.

12. The slat of claim 10, wherein the wherein the width of the body member varies along at least a portion of the length of the body member

13. The slat of claim 10, wherein the thickness of the body member varies along at least a portion of its length and forms one of a triangular cross section and a curved cross section.

14. The slat of claim 10, wherein the body member has a frictional gradient along its width.

15. The slat of claim 10, wherein the stiffness of the body member varies across its width and across its length.

16. The slat of claim 10, wherein the body member further comprises a notch and key provided for interaction with adjoining slats.

17. An inflatable packer comprising:

an end coupling;

a main body section; and

a transition section extending from the enda coupling to the main body section, wherein the transition section comprises reinforcement members disposed at different angles.

18. The inflatable packer of claim 17, wherein the reinforcement members of the transition section comprise at least one of a fiber, nanofiber, a nanoparticle modified polymer and or elastomer, and a high strength metal.

19. A packer cup comprising:

a body member;

a support member; and

a plurality of reinforcement members disposed in the body member.

20. The packer cup of claim 19, wherein the reinforcement members are selected from nanotubes, nanoparticles, and nanofibers.