Swelling layer inflatable
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a wellbore inflatable packer, comprising:
- providing an inflatable element on a rigid mandrel to define an annular space therebetween and an inlet further comprising a check valve assembly to said annular space from within said mandrel;
providing in said annular space, at a spaced relation to said inlet, a material that grows in volume in response to fluid delivered into said annular space;
delivering fluid under pressure to said annular space in sufficient volume to inflate the inflatable element to a sealing relation with the surrounding wellbore while retaining the pressure with said check valve assembly;
enhancing the seal against the wellbore already obtained from said delivering of fluid by a volume enlargement of said material.
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Abstract
An inflatable features a swelling layer. The swelling layer can be made integral or attached to the element or it can be bonded or otherwise secured to the mandrel. Upon inflation with fluid, the element expands into sealing contact with a surrounding tubular or wellbore. The fluid is absorbed or otherwise interacts with the swelling layer so that, in a preferred embodiment, the total occupied volume of the swelling layer and fluid individually is retained after mixing with the swelling of the layer acting to hold the seal of the inflatable element even if a problem develops in the sealing element.
64 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a wellbore inflatable packer, comprising:
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providing an inflatable element on a rigid mandrel to define an annular space therebetween and an inlet further comprising a check valve assembly to said annular space from within said mandrel; providing in said annular space, at a spaced relation to said inlet, a material that grows in volume in response to fluid delivered into said annular space; delivering fluid under pressure to said annular space in sufficient volume to inflate the inflatable element to a sealing relation with the surrounding wellbore while retaining the pressure with said check valve assembly; enhancing the seal against the wellbore already obtained from said delivering of fluid by a volume enlargement of said material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification