Method and apparatus for multiple packer pressure relief
US6065544A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B33/1243
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A system for relieving pressurized fluid entrapped in a annular space between a casing (12) and the surrounding wall (11) of a well bore hole (10) during deployment of a packer exterior (14) of the casing (12) for sealing engagement with the wall (11). When packer (14) is inflated in a zone (17) where fluid is entrapped, such as an intermediate packer between two previously inflated packers (13, 14), the squeeze pressure developed by the inflating packer (14) has been found to be sufficient to prevent effective and lasting sealing of the intermediate packer (14). The present system includes a valve mechanism (35) which is activated by the pressurized fluid providing for inflating the packer (14) to open a passageway (90, 94, 91) to bleed the entrapped fluid into the casing (12) and to then close the passageway (90, 94, 91) as inflation of the intermediate packer (14) is completed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.