Packer setting during high flow rate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10364640-B2
Application number	US-201615276094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2016
Priority date	Sep 26, 2016
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

A packer is used for setting downhole in tubing subject to downhole flow at a high flow rate. The packer includes a setting element, a slip element, and a packing element. The setting element is disposed on the packer toward an uphole end and is activated hydraulically to move in a downhole direction toward a downhole end of the packer. The slip element is disposed toward the downhole end and is moveable outward toward the tubing in a first stage in response to the movement of the setting element. The packing element is disposed on the other elements and is at least partially carried by the setting element. The packing element is compressible outward toward the tubing in a second stage, after the first stage, in response to the movement of the setting element. Additionally, a choke ring or other element disposed on the packer at least downhole of the packing element can move outward toward the tubing in response to the setting movement to restrict the downhole flow in the annulus to a lower flow rate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A packer for setting downhole in tubing subject to downhole flow at a first flow rate in an annulus between the packer and the tubing, the packer comprising:
a setting element disposed on the packer toward an uphole end and being activated hydraulically to move in a downhole direction toward a downhole end of the packer;
a slip element disposed on the packer toward the downhole end and being moveable outward toward the tubing in a first stage in response to the movement of the setting element in the downhole direction;
a packing element disposed on the packer between the setting element and the slip element and being at least partially carried by the setting element, the packing element being compressible outward toward the tubing in a second stage, after the first stage, in response to the movement of the setting element in the downhole direction; and
a choke element disposed on the packer at least downhole of the packing element, the choke element being movable outward toward the tubing in response to the movement of the setting element, the choke element being configured to restrict the downhole flow in the annulus between the packer and the tubing to a second flow rate less than the first flow rate.

2. The packer of claim 1 , comprising a mandrel having at least one bore defined therethrough and having the setting element, the slip element, and the packing element disposed thereon.

3. The packer of claim 1 , wherein the setting element comprises a piston disposed in a chamber in communication with hydraulic pressure, the piston movable in the downhole direction in response to the hydraulic pressure in the chamber.

4. The packer of claim 3 , wherein the chamber communicates with the hydraulic pressure from a control line, and wherein the piston comprises T-seals engaging the chamber.

5. The packer of claim 1 , wherein the setting element comprises a sleeve carrying the packing element disposed thereon, the sleeve movable in the downhole direction and transferring the movement to the slip element.

6. The packer of claim 5 , wherein the sleeve comprises a first temporary connection affixing the sleeve to a first portion of the packing element, the first temporary connection preventing compression of the packing element up to a first threshold of force against the first temporary connection.

7. The packer of claim 6 , wherein the setting element comprises a second temporary connection affixing the setting element to the packer, the second temporary connection preventing the movement of the setting element up to a second threshold of force against the second temporary connection lower than the first threshold.

8. The packer of claim 6 , wherein the first portion of the packing element is configured to transfer the movement to a second portion of the slip element.

9. The packer of claim 1 , wherein the choke element is disposed on the slip element and is movable outward toward the tubing in the first stage, the choke element moved outward restricting passage of the downhole flow in the downhole direction between the packer and the tubing.

10. The packer of claim 9 , wherein the choke element comprises a dissolvable material.

11. The packer of claim 9 , wherein the slip element comprises a plurality of slips disposed circumferentially about the packer; and wherein the choke element comprises a ring disposed circumferentially about the slips and at least partially covering spaces between the slips.

12. The packer of claim 9 , wherein the slip element comprises a plurality of slips disposed circumferentially about the packer; and wherein the choke element comprises a plurality of segments disposed in spaces between the slips.

13. The packer of claim 1 , wherein the choke element is disposed on the packer toward the downhole end and is movable outward toward the tubing in an initial stage, before the first stage, in response to the movement of the setting element in the downhole direction, the choke element moved outward restricting passage of the downhole flow in the downhole direction between the packer and the tubing.

14. The packer of claim 13 , wherein the slip element is at least partially carried by a portion of the packing element, the portion of the packing element transferring the movement in the downhole direction to the choke element up to an initial threshold of force in the initial stage, after which the movement moves the slip element outward towards the tubing in the first stage.

15. The packer of claim 1 , wherein the slip element comprises:
upper and lower cones disposed on the packer and being at least moveable toward one another; and
one or more slips disposed between the upper and lower cones and being moveable outward from the packer toward the tubing in response to movement of the upper and lower cones toward one another.

16. The packer of claim 15 , wherein the upper cone is part of or is fixed to a first portion of the packing element, and wherein a temporary connection affixes a second portion of the slip element to the first portion of the packing element.

17. The packer of claim 15 , wherein the lower cone is fixed to the packer.

18. The packer of claim 1 , wherein the packing element comprises:
upper and lower rings disposed on a portion of the setting element and being at least moveable toward one another; and
a compressible sleeve disposed on the portion of the setting element and being compressible between the upper and lower rings in response to movement of the upper and lower rings toward one another.

19. The packer of claim 18 , wherein the upper ring is part of or fixed to the portion of the setting element.

20. The packer of claim 18 , wherein the lower ring comprises a temporary connection affixing the lower ring to the portion of the setting element and preventing movement of the lower ring thereon up to a threshold of force against the temporary connection.

21. The packer of claim 1 , further comprising at least one lock disposed on the packer and preventing movement of at least one of the setting element, the slip element, and the packing element in an uphole direction.

22. A method of setting a packer downhole in tubing subject to downhole flow at a first flow rate in an annulus between the packer and the tubing, the method comprising:
hydraulically activating a setting element disposed on the packer toward an uphole end to move in a downhole direction toward a downhole end of the packer;
moving a slip element disposed on the packer toward the downhole end outward toward the tubing in a first stage in response to the movement of the setting element in the downhole direction;
at least partially carrying a packing element, disposed on the packer uphole of the slip element, on portion of the setting element;
compressing the packing element outward toward the tubing in a second stage, after the first stage, in response to the movement of the setting element in the downhole direction; and
restricting the downhole flow in the annulus between the packer and the tubing to a second flow rate less than the first flow rate by moving a choke element disposed on the packer at least downhole of the packing element outward toward the tubing in response to the movement of the setting element.

23. The packer of claim 1 , wherein the choke element comprises a ring being ductile and disposed circumferentially about the slip element.

24. The packer of claim 1 , wherein the choke element compris

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Rochen James A
• Treadaway Shawn J
• Martin Tracy M
• Hall Christopher A

Classifications

• E21B33/1265

  with mechanical slips · CPC title

• E21B23/06

  for setting packers · CPC title

• E21B33/129 Primary

  with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/1293

  with means for anchoring against downward and upward movement (E21B33/1291, E21B33/1295 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/1285 Primary

  by fluid pressure · CPC title