Synchronic dual packer

• US 9,494,010 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2014
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Flores, Juan Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Neuder, William P
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUNYAN, RONALD R
• Application Number:
  US14/318,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20150376968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/124 Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space

Abstract

A downhole tool having a first packing element and a second packing element configured to synchronically set to selectively hydraulically isolate a portion of the wellbore. The movement of a pin along a j-slot track on a second sleeve sets the second packer in compression and the movement of a pin along a j-slot track on a first sleeve the first packer in tension after the second packer has been set. The j-slot track on the first sleeve has six different pin positions and the j-slot track on the second sleeve has four different pin positions. The pin positions and direction of travel of the j-slot tracks are adapted to permit the synchronized setting of the two packing elements to hydraulically isolate a portion of the wellbore. The wellbore may then be treated by flowing fluid out of a ported sub positioned between the packing elements.

Claims

1. A dual packer comprising:

a first packing element;

a first sleeve having a first continuous j-slot track that extends completely around a perimeter of the first sleeve, wherein movement of a first pin along the first j-slot track actuates the first packing element between a set position and a running position;

a second packing element; and

a second sleeve having a second continuous j-slot track that extends completely around a perimeter of the second sleeve, wherein movement of a second pin along the second j-slot track actuates the second packing element between a set position and a running position, wherein the second j-slot track is inverted with respect to the first j-slot track.

2. The dual packer of claim 1, further comprising a slip joint positioned between the first packing element and the second packing element, wherein the slip joint is adapted to change a length between the first and second packing elements.

3. The dual packer of claim 2, wherein the first packing element may be first set against a portion of a wellbore and wherein the second packing element may then be set against a portion of the wellbore while connected to the first packing element via the slip joint.

4. The dual packer of claim 1, further comprising a casing collar locator.

5. The dual packer of claim 1, wherein the first packing element is an upper packer that is set in tension and the second packing element is a lower packer that is set in compression.

6. The dual packer of claim 1, wherein the first packing element is an upper packer that is set in compression and the second packing element is a lower packer that is set in tension.

7. The dual packer of claim 1, the first j-slot track having six pin positions along a circumferential length of the first j-slot track and the second j-slot track having four pin positions along a circumferential length of the second j-slot track.

8. The dual packer of claim 7, the six pin positions of the first j-slot track being approximately sixty degrees apart and the four pin positions of the second j-slot track being approximately ninety degrees apart.

9. The dual packer of claim 7, wherein movement of the second pin from a second pin position to a third pin position along the second j-slot track sets the second packing element and wherein movement of the first pin from a third pin position to a fourth pin position along the first j-slot track sets the first packing element.

10. The dual packer of claim 9, wherein a second distance between the third pin position and a fourth pin position of the second j-slot track is greater than a first distance between the third pin position and the fourth pin position of the first j-slot track.

11. The dual packer of claim 10, wherein the first distance is approximately two thirds the second distance.

12. The dual packer of claim 1, the first j-slot track comprising more than one set of six pin positions along a circumferential length of the first j-slot track and the second j-slot track comprising more than one set of four pin positions along a circumferential length of the second j-slot track.

13. A method of treating a wellbore formation using the dual packer of claim 1.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein treating further comprises stimulating the wellbore formation.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein treating further comprises fracturing the wellbore formation.

16. A system to isolate and treat a portion of a wellbore comprising:

an upper packer;

a first sleeve having a continuous j-slot track that extends completely around a perimeter of the first sleeve, wherein movement of a first pin along the j-slot track of the first sleeve actuates the upper packer between a set position and a running position;

a lower packer;

a second sleeve having a continuous j-slot track that extends completely around a perimeter of the second sleeve, wherein movement of a second pin along the j-slot track of the second sleeve actuates the lower packer between a set position and a running position, the j-slot track of the second sleeve being inverted with respect to the j-slot track of the first sleeve; and

a ported sub being connected between the upper packer and the lower packer.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a work string connected to the upper packer, wherein fluid may be pumped down the work string and out the ported sub.

18. The system of claim 16, the j-slot track of the first sleeve having six pin positions along the first sleeve and the j-slot track of the second sleeve having four pin positions along the second sleeve.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the lower packer may be first set against a portion of a wellbore and wherein the upper packer may then be set against a portion of the wellbore while being connected to the lower packer via the ported sub.

20. A method of isolating a portion of a wellbore comprising:

running a tool on a work string into a wellbore;

positioning the tool adjacent a portion of the wellbore;

picking up the work string to move a first pin along a continuous j-slot track of a first sleeve that extends completely around a perimeter of the first sleeve and to move a second pin along a continuous j-slot track of a second sleeve that extends completely around a perimeter of the second sleeve;

setting a lower packer of the tool;

setting an upper packer of the tool after setting the lower packer;

releasing the upper packer of the tool; and

releasing the lower packer of the tool after releasing the upper packer.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein picking up the work string moves the first pin from a first pin position on the continuous j-slot track of the first sleeve to a second pin position and moves the second pin from a second pin position on the continuous j-slot track of the second sleeve to a second pin position.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein setting the lower packer further comprises moving the first pin from the second pin position on the j-slot track of the first sleeve to a third position and moving the second pin from the second pin position on the j-slot track of the second sleeve to a third position.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein setting the upper packer further comprises moving the first pin from the third pin position on the j-slot track of the first sleeve to a fourth pin position while the lower packer remains set.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein releasing the upper packer further comprises moving the first pin from the fourth pin position on the j-slot track of the first sleeve to a fifth pin position while the lower packer remains set.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein releasing the lower packer further comprises moving the first pin from the fifth pin position on the j-slot track of the first sleeve to a sixth pin position and moving the second pin from the third pin position on the j-slot track of the second sleeve to a fourth pin position.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising pumping fluid down the work string and out a ported sub of the tool after setting the upper packer of the tool.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the upper packer is set in tension and the lower packer is set in compression.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising increasing a length between the upper packer and the lower packer while setting the upper packer of the tool.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the set lower packer and set upper packer are both connected to the tool.