High-pressure/high temperature packer seal

• US 8,109,340 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2009
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Doane, James C., Robinson, Samuel I.
• Primary Examiner(s): GAY, JENNIFER HAWKINS
• Application Number:
  US12/493,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20100326675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 955 Days
• Field of Search: 166/387, 166/118, 166/196, 166/138, 166/119, 166/216
• US Class Current: 166/387
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1216 Anti-extrusion means, e.g. means to prevent cold flow of rubber packing
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/128 with a member expanded radially by axial pressure E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence

Abstract

A packer device includes an elastomeric packer element which is seated upon an inner sleeve that surrounds a central inner mandrel. The inner sleeve and the inner mandrel are oriented at an angle of departure with respect to the central axis of the tool, thereby providing a ramp assembly which helps to set the packer device. An anchor ring and a retaining ring are located on opposite axial sides of the packer element and contact the surrounding tubular member.

Claims

1. A packer device for forming seals against a surrounding tubular member in a wellbore, the packer device comprising:

an inner mandrel having a central axis and presenting an outer radial surface that is disposed at an angle of departure with respect to the central axis;

an inner sleeve radially surrounding and slidable upon the mandrel, the sleeve presenting a radially outer ramp surface; and

an elastomeric packer element radially surrounding the inner sleeve and slidable upon the ramp surface and being set by both

     1) being axially moved radially outwardly due to axial movement along the outer radial surface and

     2) being axially compressed to form a resilient seal against the surrounding tubular member.

2. The packer device of claim 1 further comprising a substantially rigid anchor ring slidably moveable upon the ramp surface and forming a first contact against the surrounding tubular member upon axial movement of the sleeve on the outer radial surface.

3. The packer device of claim 2 wherein the anchor ring is mechanically interlocked with the packer element.

4. The packer device of claim 2 further comprising a substantially rigid retaining ring radially surrounding the inner mandrel and forming a second contact against the surrounding tubular member upon axial movement of the inner sleeve on the outer radial surface.

5. The packer device of claim 4 wherein the retaining ring is mechanically interlocked with the packer element.

6. The packer device of claim 4 wherein the retaining ring presents a radially outer surface for forming a contact with the surrounding tubular and wherein a deformable raised portion is formed upon the radially outer surface.

7. The packer device of claim 2 wherein the packer element is axially compressed by movement of the anchor ring upon the ramp surface.

8. The packer device of claim 7 further comprising a fluid seal disposed between the sleeve and the inner mandrel.

9. The packer device of claim 1 wherein the angle of departure is about 3 degrees.

10. A packer device for forming seals against a surrounding tubular member in a wellbore, the packer device comprising:

an inner mandrel having a central axis and presenting an outer radial surface that is disposed at an angle of departure with respect to the central axis;

an inner sleeve radially surrounding and slidable upon the mandrel, the sleeve presenting a radially outer ramp surface;

an elastomeric packer element radially surrounding the inner sleeve and slidable upon the ramp surface and being set by both

     1) being axially moved radially outwardly due to axial movement along the outer radial surface and

     2) being axially compressed to form a resilient seal against the surrounding tubular member; and

a substantially rigid anchor ring slidably moveable upon the ramp surface and forming a first contact against the surrounding tubular member upon axial movement of the sleeve on the outer radial surface.

11. The packer device of claim 10 wherein the anchor ring is mechanically interlocked with the packer element.

12. The packer device of claim 10 further comprising a substantially rigid retaining ring radially surrounding the inner mandrel and forming a second contact against the surrounding tubular member upon axial movement of the inner sleeve on the outer radial surface.

13. The packer device of claim 12 wherein the retaining ring is mechanically interlocked with the packer element.

14. The packer device of claim 12 wherein the retaining ring presents a radially outer surface for forming a contact with the surrounding tubular and wherein a deformable raised portion is formed upon the radially outer surface.

15. The packer device of claim 10 wherein the angle of departure is about 3 degrees.

16. The packer device of claim 10 wherein the packer element is axially compressed by movement of the anchor ring upon the ramp surface.

17. The packer device of claim 16 further comprising a fluid seal disposed between the sleeve and the inner mandrel, the fluid seal being energized upon the setting of the packer device.

18. A method of setting a packer device within a surrounding tubular member, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a first contact between an anchor ring of the packer device and the surrounding tubular member, the anchor ring being slidably moveable upon a ramp surface of a sleeve that radially surrounds and is moveable upon a mandrel;

radially expanding a packer element that is in contact with the anchor ring and forming a resilient seal between the packer element and the surrounding tubular member;

forming a second contact between a retaining ring of the packer device and the surrounding tubular member; and

compressing the packer element between the anchor ring and the retaining ring by sliding the anchor ring upon the ramp surface.