Non-extruding inflatable packer assembly

• US 4,349,204 A
• Filed: 04/29/1981
• Issued: 09/14/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lynes Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lynes Incorporated
• Inventors: Malone, Billy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, Jr., Robert S.
• Application Number:
  US06/258,706
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 277/30, 277/31, 277/34, 277/34.3, 277/34.6, 166/120, 166/187, 166/196, 166/207, 166/212
• US Class Current: 277/334
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1216 Anti-extrusion means, e.g. means to prevent cold flow of rubber packing
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1277 characterised by the construction or fixation of the sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/166 with means to prevent the extrusion of the packing
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/46 with packing ring expanded or pressed into place by fluid pressure, e.g. inflatable packings connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; for sealing arrangements in vehicles B60J10/244; for sealing arrangements of openings in buildings E06B7/2318; for tube connections F16L

Abstract

An extrusion resistant expansible element for use as a sealing element or packer in a subterranean well bore. The expansible element comprises an inner elastomeric sleeve to which fluid pressure is internally applied to produce the expansion forces. The internal sleeve is surrounded by an annular array of elongated reinforcing slats formed of a relatively rigid, yet deformable material such as metal or a plastic filled with reinforcing material such as fiber glass. The medial portion of the reinforcing slats is surrounded by an outer elastomeric sleeve which effects the primary seal with the well bore when the internal elastomeric sleeve is expanded through the application of fluid pressure. Those portions of the reinforcing slats adjacent to each end of the outer elastomeric sleeve are deformed into frictional abutting engagement with the well bore, thus providing securement against any axial displacement or extrusion of the outer elastomeric sleeve due to cold flow under the long applied pressure, or excessive fluid pressure or temperatures encountered in the well bore. In a modification, the elongated reinforcing slats are individually coated with an elastomeric material to improve the sealing of these elements against each other.

Claims

1. An extrusion resistant inflatable packing device for a subterranean well bore to provide a seal between a conduit carrying the device and an interior surface within the well bore, comprising:

an axially elongated, annular inflatable body;

an annular means collar rigidly secured to each end of said inflatable body;

means for mounting said collar means in a well bore permitting axial movement of said collars toward each other;

said inflatable body comprising an annular array of elongated slats disposed in laterally overlapping relation, said slats being formed from a relatively rigid, deformable material;

an inner sleeve of elastomeric material abutting the inner wall defined by said slats; and

an outer sleeve of elastomeric material surrounding only a portion of the length of the external wall of said annular array of slats, whereby the application of fluid pressure to the interior of said inner sleeve produces a radially outward displacement of said slats to force said outer elastomeric sleeve into sealing relation with the well bore and the outer surfaces of the uncovered portions of said slats into frictional relation with the well bore to thereby resist extrusion of said outer sleeve from sealing relation with said well bore.

2. The inflatable packer defined in claim 1 wherein said outer elastomeric sleeve covers only the axial medial portion of said annular array of slats, whereby the expanded portions of said slats adjacent each end of said outer elastomeric sleeve prevent axial extrusion of said outer elastomeric sleeve.

3. The inflatable packer defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein each of said slats is coated with an elastomeric material to enhance the fluid sealing properties of the expanded portions of the slats.

4. An extrusion resistant inflatable seal for a conduit disposed in a subterranean well bore to provide a seal between a conduit carrying the device and an interior surface within the well bore, comprising:

an elongated, rigid sleeve connectable in said conduit;

an axially elongated, annular, inflatable body surrounding said sleeve;

an annular collar rigidly secured to each end of said inflatable body;

means for mounting said collars on said sleeve, said mounting means permitting relative axial movement of said collars toward each other;

said inflatable body comprising an annular array of elongated slats disposed in laterally overlapping relation, said slats comprising a relatively rigid, deformable material;

an inner sleeve of elastomeric material abutting the inner wall defined by said array of slats and surrounding said rigid sleeve; and

an outer sleeve of elastomeric material surrounding only a portion of the length of the external wall of said annular array of slats, whereby the application of fluid pressure to the inner face of said inner elastomeric sleeve produces a radially outward displacement of said slats to force said outer elastomeric sleeve into sealing relation with the well bore and the outer surfaces of the uncovered portions of said slats into frictional relation with the well bore to thereby resist extrusion of said outer sleeve from sealing relation with said well bore.

5. The inflatable seal defined in claim 4 wherein said outer elastomeric sleeve covers only the axial medial portions of said annular array of slats, whereby the expanded portions of said slats adjacent each end of said outer elastomeric sleeve prevent axial extrusion of said outer elastomeric sleeve.

6. The inflatable seal defined in claim 4 or 5 wherein each of said slats comprises metal and is coated with an elastomeric material to enchance the fluid sealing properties of the expanded portions of the metallic slats.