Hydraulically activated selective circulating/reverse circulating packer assembly

• Main Authors: GUILLORY BRETT, CUFFE CHRIS, WHANGER KEN, DION MIKE, BETIK MIKE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.08.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

The present invention relates to packers adapted to seal an annular space within a wellbore. The packers, for example, may be utilized to circulate or reverse circulate a fluid. In one embodiment, the present apparatus comprises a first tubular subunit and a second tubular subunit moveably coupled together, a flexible packing element disposed between the first tubular subunit and the second tubular subunit, and a temporary mechanical connection adapted to restrain the first tubular subunit and the second tubular subunit from compressing the flexible packing element, in which the temporary mechanical connection is adapted to be hydraulically disengaged. In another embodiment, the present apparatus further comprises a valve. In one aspect, the present apparatus further comprises a cement inflation tool. In still another embodiment, the present method comprises locating an apparatus, comprising a packer and a valve positioned above the packer, at a predetermined location within the wellbore; setting the packer, the method of setting the packer comprising, applying a first hydraulic pressure within a central bore of the apparatus and applying down weight on the apparatus; and opening the valve. In one embodiment, the present method comprises actuating a displacement device to displace a fluid below a packer; setting the packer by utilizing a predetermined fluid pressure to disengage a temporary mechanical connection between a first surface and a second surface of the packer and by compressing a packing element between the first surface and second surface; and opening a valve above the packer.