Interventionless set packer and setting method for same

• US 8,936,101 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2011
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: McGlothen, Jody Ray, Ezell, Michael D., Falconer, Roderick Brand, Scott, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOIKITH, CATHERINE A
• Application Number:
  US13/168,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20120160521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 166/134, 166/120, 166/387
• US Class Current: 166/387
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1285 by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1295 actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71

Abstract

A packer (80) for establishing sealing engagement with a surface disposed in a wellbore includes a packer mandrel (90) and a seal assembly (100, 102, 104) slidably disposed about the packer mandrel (90). The seal assembly (100, 102, 104) has a running position and a radially expanded sealing position. A piston (122) is slidably disposed about the packer mandrel (90) and operably associated with the seal assembly (100, 102, 104). A release assembly 145 is disposed about the packer mandrel (90) and is releasably coupled to the piston (122) such that actuation of the release assembly (145) decouples the release assembly (145) from the piston (122) allowing the piston (122) to shift longitudinally relative to the packer mandrel (90) to operate the seal assembly (100, 102, 104) from the running position to the radially expanded sealing position, thereby setting the packer (80).

Claims

1. A method for setting a packer in a wellbore, the method comprising:

providing a packer having a packer mandrel with a seal assembly and a piston slidably disposed thereabout;

running the packer into the wellbore;

resisting a force acting on the piston generated by a pressure difference between pressure in the wellbore and pressure in a chamber defined between the piston and the packer mandrel by restraining movement of the piston toward the seal assembly with a release assembly;

actuating the release assembly responsive to contact with a profile in the wellbore; and

responsive to the pressure difference, longitudinally shifting the piston relative to the packer mandrel toward the seal assembly, to operate the seal assembly from a running position to a radially expanded sealing position, thereby setting the packer.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein actuating the release assembly further comprises decoupling a collet assembly from the piston.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein actuating the release assembly further comprises disengaging a split ring from the piston.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein actuating the release assembly further comprises decoupling a collet assembly from a sleeve slidably disposed about the packer mandrel, shifting the sleeve toward the piston and breaking a frangible member coupling the piston and the packer mandrel.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising engaging a time delay assembly of the packer with the profile in the wellbore prior to actuating the release assembly.

6. A method for setting a packer a wellbore, the method comprising:

providing a packer having a packer mandrel with a seal assembly, a slip assembly and a piston slidably disposed thereabout;

running the packer into the wellbore;

resisting a force acting on the piston generated by a pressure difference between pressure in the wellbore and pressure in a chamber defined between the piston and the packer mandrel by restraining movement of the piston toward the seal assembly with a release assembly;

actuating the release assembly responsive to contact with a profile in the wellbore; and

responsive to the pressure difference, longitudinally shifting the piston relative to the packer mandrel toward the seal assembly, to operate the seal assembly from a running position to a radially expanded sealing position and to operate the slip assembly from the running position to the radially expanded gripping position, thereby setting the packer.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein actuating the release assembly further comprises decoupling a collet assembly from the piston.

8. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein actuating the release assembly further comprises disengaging a split ring from the piston.

9. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein actuating the release assembly further comprises decoupling a collet assembly from a sleeve slidably disposed about the packer mandrel, shifting the sleeve toward the piston and breaking a frangible member coupling the piston and the packer mandrel.

10. The method as recited in claim 6 further comprising engaging a time delay assembly of the packer with the profile in the wellbore prior to actuating the release assembly.

11. A packer for use in a wellbore having a profile, comprising:

a packer mandrel;

a seal assembly slidably disposed about the packer mandrel;

a piston slidably disposed about the packer mandrel and defining a chamber therewith; and

a release assembly disposed about the packer mandrel and releasably coupled to the piston,

wherein, the release assembly initially restrains movement of the piston toward the seal assembly resisting a force generated by a pressure difference between pressure in the wellbore and pressure in the chamber until the release assembly is actuated responsive to contact with the profile in the wellbore, thereby allowing the pressure difference to shift the piston longitudinally relative to the packer mandrel toward the seal assembly to operate the seal assembly from a running position to a radially expanded sealing position, thereby setting the packer.

12. The packer as recited in claim 11 wherein the release assembly further comprises a collect assembly disposed about the packer mandrel.

13. The packer as recited in claim 11 wherein the release assembly further comprises a split ring disposed about the packer mandrel and at least one release key positioned at least partially between the split ring and the piston.

15. The packer as recited in claim 11 further comprising a time delay assembly disposed about the packer mandrel and operable to prevent premature actuation of the release assembly.

14. The packer as recited in 11 wherein the release assembly further comprises a collect assembly disposed about the packer mandrel, a sleeve slidably disposed about the packer mandrel and a frangible member coupling the piston and the packer mandrel.

16. A packer for use in a wellbore having a profile, comprising:

a packer mandrel;

a seal assembly slidably disposed about the packer mandrel;

a slip assembly slidably disposed about the packer mandrel;

a piston slidably disposed about the packer mandrel and defining a chamber therewith; and

a release assembly disposed about the packer mandrel and releasably coupled to the piston,

wherein, the release assembly initially restrains movement of the piston toward the seal assembly and the slip assembly resisting a force generated by a pressure difference between pressure in the wellbore and pressure in the chamber until the release assembly is actuated responsive to contact with the profile in the wellbore, thereby allowing the pressure difference to shift the piston longitudinally relative to the packer mandrel toward the seal assembly and the slip assembly to operate the seal assembly from a running position to a radially expanded sealing position and to operate the slip assembly from a running position to a radially expanded gripping position, thereby setting the packer.

17. The packer as recited in claim 16 wherein the release assembly further comprises a collect assembly disposed about the packer mandrel.

18. The packer as recited in claim 16 wherein the release assembly further comprises a split ring disposed about the packer mandrel and at least one release key positioned at least partially between the split ring and the piston.

20. The packer as recited in claim 16 further comprising a time delay assembly disposed about the packer mandrel and operable to prevent premature actuation of the release assembly.

19. The packer as recited in 16 wherein the release assembly further comprises a collect assembly disposed about the packer mandrel, a sleeve slidably disposed about the packer mandrel and a frangible member coupling the piston and the packer mandrel.