Packer cup systems for use inside a wellbore

• US 7,703,512 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Ortiz, Avel, Xu, Zheng R., Espinosa, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Gay; Jennifer H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hutchins; Cathleen R
• Application Number:
  US11/277,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20070227725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 166/202, 166/387, 166/187, 277/335, 277/337, 277339-340
• US Class Current: 166/202
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/124 Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/126 with fluid-pressure-operated elastic cup or skirt E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a packer cup system for use inside a wellbore comprising a packer cup and a backup component coupled thereto. In one configuration, the backup component further comprises a support member and a rubber ring disposed between the support member and the packer cup. The support member is configured to prevent the rubber ring from moving toward the support member.

Claims

1. A packer cup system for use inside a wellbore formed in an earth formation, comprising:

a packer cup disposed on an outside diameter of a mandrel for sealing between the outside diameter of the mandrel and the wellbore, the mandrel in fluid communication with a source of fluid from the earth'"'"'s surface and operable to allow fluid to flow from the surface through the mandrel and beyond the packer cup; and

a backup component coupled to the packer cup, wherein the backup component comprises;

a support member;

a piston moveably disposed against the support member and in fluid communication with an interior of the mandrel; and

a rubber ring disposed between the piston and the packer cup, wherein the piston is configured to move between the support member and the rubber ring.

2. The packer cup system of claim 1, wherein the rubber ring comprises a helical spring circumferentially embedded around the rubber ring.

3. The packer cup system of claim 2, wherein the helical spring is configured to radially expand as the piston presses the rubber ring against the packer cup.

4. The packer cup system of claim 1, wherein the backup component is activated by fluid pressure causing the piston to push the rubber ring against the packer cup.

5. The packer cup system of claim 4 wherein the fluid pressure is communicated from the earth'"'"'s surface through the interior of the mandrel.

6. The packer cup system of claim 1, wherein the rubber ring is configured to radially expand as the piston pushes the rubber ring against the packer cup.

7. The packer cup system of claim 1, wherein the backup component further comprises a holding pin disposed between the piston and the rubber ring, wherein the holding pin is configured to prevent the packer cup and the rubber ring to move toward the piston.

8. The packer cup system of claim 7, wherein the backup component further comprises a spring disposed between the piston and the holding pin, wherein the spring is configured to exert a predetermined amount of force against the piston.

9. The packer cup system of claim 1, wherein the backup component further comprises a wave spring disposed between the piston and the rubber ring.

10. The packer cup system of claim 1, wherein the wave spring is configured to expand radially as the piston presses the wave spring against the rubber ring and the packer cup.

15. The packer cup system of claim 4 wherein the fluid pressure causing the piston to push the rubber ring against the packer cup is communicated from an interior of the mandrel.

11. A packer cup system for use inside a wellbore formed in an earth formation, comprising:

a packer cup disposed on an outside diameter of a mandrel for sealing between the outside diameter of the mandrel and the wellbore, the mandrel in fluid communication with a source of fluid from the earth'"'"'s surface and operable to allow fluid to flow from the surface through the mandrel and beyond the packer cup;

a backup component coupled to the packer cup, wherein the backup component comprises;

a support member;

a piston moveably disposed against the support member and in fluid communication with an interior of the mandrel; and

a wave spring disposed between the piston and the packer cup, wherein the piston is configured to move between the support member and the wave spring.

12. The packer cup system of claim 11, wherein the wave spring is configured to expand radially as the piston presses the wave spring against the packer cup.

13. The packer cup system of claim 11, wherein the backup component further comprises a holding pin disposed between the piston and the wave spring, wherein the holding pin is configured to prevent the packer cup and the wave spring from moving toward the piston.

14. The packer cup system of claim 11, wherein the backup component further comprises a spring disposed between the piston and the holding pin.

16. The packer cup system of claim 11, wherein the backup component is activated by fluid pressure causing the piston to push the wave spring against the packer cup.

17. The packer cup system of claim 16 wherein the fluid pressure is communicated from the earth'"'"'s surface through the interior of the mandrel.

18. The packer cup system of claim 16 wherein the fluid pressure causing the piston to push the wave spring against the packer cup is communicated from an interior of the mandrel.