Packer assembly having sequentially operated hydrostatic pistons for interventionless setting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9863210-B2
Application number	US-201214409141-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2012
Priority date	Jul 2, 2012
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

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. An activation assembly initially prevents movement of the first piston. A release assembly initially prevents movement of the second piston. First and second seal assemblies are disposed about the packer mandrel such that actuation of the 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 first seal assembly to radially expand the first seal assembly and to actuate the release assembly and, actuation of the release assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the second chamber to shift the second piston in the first direction toward the second seal assembly to radially expand the second 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;
an activation assembly disposed about the packer mandrel initially preventing movement of the first piston;
a first seal assembly disposed about the packer mandrel and operably associated with the first piston;
a second piston slidably disposed about the packer mandrel defining a second chamber therewith;
a release assembly disposed about the packer mandrel initially preventing movement of the second piston; and
a second seal assembly disposed about the packer mandrel and operably associated with the second piston;
wherein, actuation of the 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 first seal assembly to radially expand the first seal assembly and to actuate the release assembly; and
wherein, actuation of the release assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the second chamber to shift the second piston in the first direction toward the second seal assembly to radially expand the second seal assembly.

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

3. The packer assembly as recited in claim 2 further comprising a frangible member initially coupling the first piston to the housing section.

4. The packer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the release assembly further comprises:
a release sleeve disposed about the packer mandrel and operably associated with the first seal assembly; and
a collet assembly disposed about the packer mandrel initially preventing movement of the second piston.

5. The packer assembly as recited in claim 4 further comprising a frangible member initially coupling the release sleeve to the packer mandrel.

6. The packer assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein actuation of the release assembly further comprises breaking the frangible member responsive to the first piston shifting in the first direction toward the first seal assembly and shifting the release sleeve in the first direction relative to the collet assembly.

7. The packer assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a first body lock ring disposed about the packer mandrel operable to prevent release of the first seal assembly after radial expansion of the first seal assembly.

8. The packer assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one second body lock ring disposed about the packer mandrel operable to prevent release of the second seal assembly after radial expansion of the second seal assembly.

9. A method for setting a packer assembly in a wellbore, the method comprising:
providing a packer assembly having a packer mandrel with first and second seal assemblies disposed thereabout;
running the packer assembly into the wellbore;
preventing movement of a first piston toward the first seal assembly with an activation assembly disposed about the packer mandrel;
preventing movement of a second piston toward the second seal assembly with a release assembly disposed about the packer mandrel;
actuating the 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 first seal assembly to radially expand the first seal assembly; and
actuating the release assembly responsive to the shifting of the first piston 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 the first direction toward the second seal assembly to radially expand the second seal assembly.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein actuating the activation assembly further comprises bursting a pressure actuated element responsive to an increase in wellbore pressure to a predetermined actuation pressure.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein actuating the activation assembly further comprises pressurizing an activation chamber disposed between a housing section, the packer mandrel and the first piston.

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

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein actuating the activation assembly further comprises breaking a frangible member coupling the first piston to the housing section.

14. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein actuating the releases assembly further comprises breaking a frangible member coupling a release sleeve to the packer mandrel.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein actuating the releases assembly further comprises radially inwardly compressing a collet assembly with the release sleeve.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein actuating the releases assembly further comprises unlatching the second piston from the collet assembly.

17. 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;
an activation assembly disposed about the packer mandrel initially preventing movement of the first piston;
a seal assembly disposed about the packer mandrel and operably associated with the first piston;
a second piston slidably disposed about the packer mandrel defining a second chamber therewith; and
a release assembly disposed about the packer mandrel initially preventing movement of the second piston;
wherein, actuation of the 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 to actuate the release assembly; and
wherein, actuation of the release assembly allows a force generated by a pressure difference between the wellbore and the second chamber to shift the second piston in the first direction.

18. The packer assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein the activation assembly further comprises:
a housing section at least partially disposed about the packer mandrel defining an activation chamber with the packer mandrel and the first piston; and
a pressure actuated element positioned in a fluid flow path between the wellbore and the activation chamber initially preventing fluid flow therethrough until wellbore pressure exceeds a predetermined actuation pressure.

19. The packer assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein the release assembly further comprises:
a release sleeve disposed about the packer mandrel and operably associated with the first seal assembly; and
a collet assembly disposed about the packer mandrel initially preventing movement of the second piston.

20. The packer assembly as recited in claim 17 further comprising a body lock ring disposed about the packer mandrel

Assignees

• Ezell Michael Dale
• Mallory Beauford Sean
• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Ezell Michael Dale
• Mallory Beauford Sean

Classifications

• E21B33/124

  Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space · CPC title

• E21B33/1285 Primary

  by fluid pressure · CPC title

• E21B33/128

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

• E21B23/06

  for setting packers · CPC title

• E21B23/0421

  using multiple hydraulically interconnected pistons · CPC title