INFLATABLE PACKERS

• US 20070144734A1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Lovell, John, Corre, Pierre-Yves, Eslinger, David, Espinosa, Frank, Xu, Zheng
• Granted Patent: US 8,894,069 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

Inflatable packers are provided with one or more components to improve longevity and/or functionality. One or more of the packer components utilizes reinforced materials incorporated in a manner that enables the improved longevity and/or functionality.

Claims

1. 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 formed in a braided structure.

2. The slat of claim 1, wherein the body member may include at least one of an elastomer, a thermoplastic elastomer, an elastoplastic, and a polymer.

3. The slat of claim 1, wherein the wherein the width of the body member varies along at least a portion of the length of the body member

4. The slat of claim 1, 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.

5. The slat of claim 1, wherein the body member has a frictional gradient along its width.

6. The slat of claim 1, wherein the stiffness of the body member varies across its width and across its length.

7. The slat of claim 1, wherein the body member further comprises a notch and key provided for interaction with adjoining slats.

14. The slat of claim 1, wherein the body member further comprises a notch and key provided for interaction with adjoining slats.

8. 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 formed in a woven structure.

9. The slat of claim 8, wherein the body member may include at least one of an elastomer, a thermoplastic elastomer, an elastoplastic, and a polymer.

10. The slat of claim 8, wherein the wherein the width of the body member varies along at least a portion of the length of the body member

11. The slat of claim 8, 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.

12. The slat of claim 8, wherein the body member has a frictional gradient along its width.

13. The slat of claim 8, wherein the stiffness of the body member varies across its width and across its length.

15. An inflatable packer comprising:

a bladder; and

a cover, the cover comprising a plurality of reinforcement members formed in a braided structure.

16. The inflatable packer of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of slats disposed between the bladder and the cover.

17. The inflatable packer of claim 16, wherein the plurality of slats comprises a plurality of reinforcement members.

18. The inflatable packer of claim 16, wherein plurality of slats comprises a composite structure having a first sheet, a second sheet and a third sheet.

19. An inflatable packer comprising:

a bladder; and

a cover, the cover comprising a plurality of reinforcement members formed in a woven structure.

20. An inflatable packer comprising:

a bladder, the bladder comprising a plurality of reinforcement members formed in a braided structure.

21. The inflatable packer of claim 20, further comprising a cover.

22. The inflatable packer of claim 21, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of cover reinforcement members formed in a braided structure.

23. The inflatable packer of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of slats disposed between the bladder and the cover.

24. The inflatable packer of claim 23, wherein the plurality of slats comprises a plurality of slat reinforcement members.

25. An inflatable packer comprising:

a bladder having a plurality of reinforcement members, the reinforcement members being at least partially exposed to facilitate anchoring of the inflatable packer against a surrounding wellbore wall.

26. The inflatable packer of claim 25, wherein the reinforcement members are formed of a metal material.

27. The inflatable packer of claim 25, wherein the reinforcement members are formed in a braided structure.

28. The inflatable packer of claim 25, wherein the reinforcement members are formed in a woven structure.

29. An inflatable packer comprising:

a bladder; and

a plurality of slats disposed along the bladder, the plurality of slats having slat reinforcement members, the slat reinforcement members being at least partially exposed to facilitate anchoring of the inflatable packer against a surrounding wellbore wall.

30. The inflatable packer of claim 29, wherein the slat reinforcement members are formed of a metal material.

31. The inflatable packer of claim 29, wherein the slat reinforcement members are formed in a woven structure.

32. The inflatable packer of claim 29, wherein the bladder comprises a plurality of reinforcement members.

33. The inflatable packer of claim 32, wherein the reinforcement members are formed in a braided structure.

34. The inflatable packer of claim 32, wherein the reinforcement members are formed in a woven structure.