APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ZONAL ISOLATION

• US 20140196914A1
• Filed: 01/15/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: RING, Lev, GANDIKOTA, Varadaraju
• Granted Patent: US 9,551,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/387
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/06 for setting packers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/12 Packers; Plugs used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1208 characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means E21B33/1277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/124 Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/103 of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/105 Expanding tools specially adapted therefor

Abstract

Methods and apparatus include an expandable packer having a tubing expanded to create a seal in an annulus surrounding the tubing. The tubing includes a non-uniform outer surface configured to cause formation of undulations in a diameter of the tubing upon expansion of the tubing. A plurality of expandable packers may be connected to a tubular string to isolate multiple zones in a wellbore. A production tubular equipped with multiple expandable packers may be installed in the tubular string. The expandable packers may also include non-uniform outer surfaces configured to form undulations upon expansion. The combination of tubular string and production tubular may be used in an enhanced oil recovery application such as injecting steam into a formation to enhance production.

Claims

1. An expandable apparatus, comprising:

a tubular; and

an expandable packer attached to the tubular, wherein the expandable packer has an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the tubular and has a non-uniform outer surface, whereby upon expansion of the expandable packer, undulations are created based on the non-uniform outer surface.

2. The expandable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular extends through the expandable packer and the expandable packer is attached to an outer surface of the tubular.

3. The expandable apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tubular includes a port for fluid communication between a bore of the tubular and an annular area formed between the tubular and the expandable packer.

4. The expandable apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cross-over tubular for connecting the expandable packer to the tubular.

5. The expandable apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of expandable packers are attached to the tubular.

6. The expandable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-uniform outer surface includes a reduced diameter section and an unchanged diameter section.

7. The expandable apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a sealing element disposed on an unchanged diameter section.

8. The expandable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-uniform outer surface includes a first sealing element at a first height and a second sealing element at a second height.

9. The expandable apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second tubular disposed around the first tubular, wherein the second tubular includes a second non-uniform outer surface, whereby upon expansion of the second tubular, undulations are created based on the second non-uniform outer surface

10. A method of isolating multiple zones in a tubular, comprising:

providing an inner tubular having a plurality of expandable packers, wherein the expandable packers have an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the inner tubular and have a non-uniform outer surface;

positioning the plurality of expandable packers inside the tubular adjacent the zones for isolation; and

expanding the plurality of expandable packers into engagement with the tubular;

thereby creating undulations in the plurality of expandable packers based on the non-uniform outer surface the expandable packers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the inner tubular extends through at least one of the plurality of expandable packers and the at least one expandable packer is attached to an outer surface of the inner tubular.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the inner tubular includes a port for fluid communication between a bore of the inner tubular and an annular area formed between the inner tubular and the at least one expandable packer.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising a cross-over tubular for connecting the expandable packer to the inner tubular.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the non-uniform outer surface includes a reduced diameter section and an unchanged diameter section.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein expanding the plurality of expandable packers comprises applying a radial force to the plurality of expandable packers.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising expanding a portion of the inner tubular.

17. A method of isolating multiple zones in a wellbore, comprising:

providing a tubular string having a plurality of expandable packers, wherein each of the plurality of expandable packers include a tubing having a non-uniform outer surface;

positioning the plurality of expandable packers adjacent the zones for isolation; and

expanding the tubing into engagement with the wellbore;

thereby creating undulations in the tubing based on the non-uniform outer diameter of the tubing.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the non-uniform outer diameter includes a reduced outer diameter section and an unchanged outer diameter section.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising disposing a sealing element on the unchanged outer diameter section of the tubing.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the reduced outer diameter section is formed by machining.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

positioning a production tubular in the tubular string, the production tubular having a plurality of expandable production packers; and

expanding the plurality of expandable production packers of the production tubular against the tubular string.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the expandable production packers of the production tubular are expanded against a non-expanded, solid section of the tubular string.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising expanding a portion of the production tubular.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the tubular string includes a slotted tubular.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising expanding a portion of the tubular string.