Swellable packer with internal backup ring
View Patent ↗A swellable packer includes a base pipe; a swellable sealing element disposed around the outer diameter of the base pipe; and at least one internal backup ring disposed within the swellable sealing element. It may be manufactured by disposing the internal backup ring on the base pipe; applying an elastomeric material over a section of the base pipe and the internal backup ring; and applying a bonding agent over the section of the base pipe and the at least one internal backup ring. It may be used to isolate a section of a well by disposing a swellable packer in the well, and exposing the swellable packer to a fluid, wherein the fluid exposure causes the elastomeric material to radially expand into contact with a well wall.
1. A swellable packer, comprising:
a base pipe;
a swellable sealing element disposed around the outer diameter of the base pipe; and
at least one internal backup ring extending radially outward from the base pipe, wherein at least a portion of the at least one internal backup ring is disposed within the swellable sealing element, and wherein the swellable sealing element is bonded to a section of the at least one internal backup ring and a section of the base pipe.
2. The swellable packer of claim 1 , further comprising a first end ring disposed proximate a first end of the swellable sealing element.
3. The swellable packer of claim 2 , further comprising a second end ring disposed proximate a second end of the swellable sealing element.
4. The swellable packer of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of internal backup rings.
5. The swellable packer of claim 1 , wherein the swellable sealing element is configured to increase in volume when contacted by a water-based fluid.
6. The swellable packer of claim 1 , wherein the swellable sealing element is configured to increase in volume when contacted by a hydrocarbon-based fluid.
7. The swellable packer of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal backup ring is disposed at an angle with respect to the base pipe.
8. The swellable packer of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal backup ring comprises a composite material.
9. The swellable packer of claim 1 , wherein a bonding agent is applied to the section of the at least one internal backup ring and the section of the base pipe.
10. A swellable packer, comprising
a base pipe;
a swellable sealing element disposed around the outer diameter of the base pipe; and
at least one internal backup ring disposed within the swellable sealing element, wherein
the at least one internal backup ring extends radially from the base pipe, and wherein a bonding agent is applied to a section of the at least one internal backup ring and a section of the base pipe.
11. The swellable packer of claim 10 , wherein the at least one internal backup ring comprises a circular disk.
12. A method of manufacturing a swellable packer, the method comprising:
disposing at least one internal backup ring on a base pipe, wherein the at least one internal backup ring extends radially outward from the base pipe;
applying an elastomeric material over a section of the base pipe and at least a portion of the at least one internal backup ring; and
applying a bonding agent over the section of the base pipe and the at least one internal backup ring.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising securing a first end of the elastomeric material in place on the base pipe.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising securing a second end of the elastomeric material in place on the base pipe.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one internal backup ring extends radially outward from the base pipe through at least 50 percent of the elastomeric material.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one internal backup ring extends radially outward from the base pipe through at least 75 percent of the elastomeric material.
17. The method of claim 12 , comprising disposing a plurality of internal backup rings on the base pipe.
18. A method of isolating a section of a well, the method comprising:
disposing a swellable packer in the well, the swellable packer comprising a base pipe, at least one internal backup ring extending radially outward from the base pipe, and an elastomeric material disposed over at least a section of the base pipe and at least a portion of the at least one internal backup ring, wherein the elastomeric material is bonded to a section of the base pipe and a section of the at least one internal backup ring; and
exposing the swellable packer to a fluid, wherein the fluid exposure causes the elastomeric material to radially expand into contact with a well wall.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one internal backup ring is configured to reduce crack propagation in the elastomeric material.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein exposing the swellable packer to a fluid includes exposing the swellable packer to a reservoir fluid.