Packer assembly having dual hydrostatic pistons for redundant interventionless setting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9790764-B2
Application number	US-201214412153-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2012
Priority date	Jul 2, 2012
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A packer for use in a wellbore includes a packer mandrel. First and second pistons are slidably disposed about the packer mandrel defining first and second chambers therewith. A first activation assembly initially prevents movement of the first piston. A second activation assembly initially prevents movement of the second piston. A seal assembly is disposed about the packer mandrel between the first and second pistons such that actuation of the first activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the first chamber to shift the first piston in a first direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly and actuation of the second activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the second chamber to shift the second piston in a second direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A packer assembly for use in a wellbore comprising:
a packer mandrel;
a first piston slidably disposed about the packer mandrel defining a first chamber therewith;
a first activation assembly disposed about the packer mandrel initially preventing movement of the first piston;
a piston assembly including an intermediate piston section spaced away from a second piston, the piston assembly being slidably disposed about the packer mandrel and the second piston defining a second chamber therewith;
a second activation assembly disposed about the packer mandrel initially preventing movement of the second piston; and
a seal assembly disposed about the packer mandrel and positioned between the first and second pistons;
wherein, actuation of the first activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the first chamber to shift the first piston in a first direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly; and
wherein, actuation of the second activation assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the second chamber to shift the second piston in a second direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly.

2. The packer assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a slip assembly disposed about the packer mandrel and positioned between the first and second pistons.

3. The packer assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein the slip assembly further comprises first and second slip elements, the first slip element positioned between the seal assembly and the first piston, the second slip element positioned between the seal assembly and the second piston.

4. The packer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the first activation assembly further comprises:
a first housing section at least partially disposed about the packer mandrel defining a first activation chamber with the packer mandrel and the first piston; and
a first pressure actuated element positioned in a first fluid flow path between the wellbore and the first activation chamber initially preventing fluid flow therethrough until wellbore pressure exceeds a first predetermined actuation pressure.

5. The packer assembly as recited in claim 4 further comprising a first frangible member initially coupling the first piston to the first housing section.

6. The packer assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the second activation assembly further comprises:
a second housing section at least partially disposed about the packer mandrel defining a second activation chamber with the packer mandrel and the second piston; and
a second pressure actuated element positioned in a second fluid flow path between the wellbore and the second activation chamber initially preventing fluid flow therethrough until wellbore pressure exceeds a second predetermined actuation pressure.

7. The packer assembly as recited in claim 6 further comprising a second frangible member initially coupling the second piston to the second housing section.

8. The packer assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein the first and second predetermined actuation pressures are substantially the same.

9. The packer assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein the first and second predetermined actuation pressures are different.

10. The packer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the first piston defines a contingency chamber with the packer mandrel and wherein increasing pressure in the contingency chamber shifts the first piston in the first direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly.

11. A method for setting a packer assembly in a wellbore, the method comprising:
providing a packer assembly having a packer mandrel with a seal assembly disposed thereabout;
running the packer assembly into the wellbore;
preventing movement of a first piston toward the seal assembly with a first activation assembly disposed about the packer mandrel;
preventing movement of a second piston toward the seal assembly with a second activation assembly disposed about the packer mandrel;
actuating the first activation assembly to allow a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and a first chamber defined between the first piston and the packer mandrel to shift the first piston in a first direction toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly; and
actuating the second activation assembly to allow a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and a second chamber defined between the second piston and the packer mandrel to shift the second piston in a second direction toward an intermediate piston section spaced away from the second piston and toward the seal assembly to radially expand the seal assembly.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein actuating the first and second activation assemblies further comprises radially expanding a slip assembly disposed about the packer mandrel and positioned between the first and second pistons.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein actuating the first activation assembly further comprises breaking a first frangible member coupling the first piston to a first housing section.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein actuating the first activation assembly further comprises bursting a first pressure actuated element responsive to an increase in wellbore pressure to a first predetermined actuation pressure.

15. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein actuating the first activation assembly further comprises pressurizing a first activation chamber disposed between a first housing section, the packer mandrel and the first piston.

16. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein actuating the first activation assembly further comprises exposing a first piston area of the first piston to wellbore pressure.

17. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein actuating the second activation assembly further comprises breaking a second frangible member coupling the second piston to a second housing section.

18. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein actuating the second activation assembly further comprises bursting a second pressure actuated element responsive to an increase in wellbore pressure to a second predetermined actuation pressure.

19. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein actuating the second activation assembly further comprises pressurizing a second activation chamber disposed between a second housing section, the packer mandrel and the second piston.

20. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein actuating the second activation assembly further comprises exposing a second piston area of the second piston to wellbore pressure.

21. A method for setting a packer assembly in a wellbore, the method comprising:
providing a packer assembly having a packer mandrel with a seal assembly disposed thereabout;
running the packer assembly into the wellbore;
preventing movement of a first piston toward the seal assembly with a first activation assembly disposed about the packer mandrel;
preventing movement of a second piston toward the seal assembly with a second activation assembly disposed about the packer mandrel;
increasing wellbore pressure to a first predetermined actuation pressure;
actuating the first activation assembly to allow a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and a first chamber defined between the first piston and the packer mandrel to shift the first piston in a first direction towar

Assignees

• Ezell Michael Dale
• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Ezell Michael Dale

Classifications

• E21B23/06

  for setting packers · CPC title

• E21B33/128 Primary

  with a member expanded radially by axial pressure (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/1285 Primary

  by fluid pressure · CPC title

• E21B33/1295

  actuated by fluid pressure · CPC title