System and method for protecting downhole components during deployment and wellbore conditioning

1. A method of deploying a component downhole into a wellbore, comprising:

protecting a sealing element of a wellbore component with a dissolvable material able to protect the sealing element during movement downhole;

moving the wellbore component into the wellbore;

dissolving the dissolvable material within the wellbore to expose the sealing element; and

forming a plurality of penetrations through the dissolvable material to enable pressure equalization during movement downhole.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein protecting comprises placing a sleeve of the dissolvable material around the sealing element.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein protecting comprises placing a durable sleeve over the sealing element and temporarily holding the durable sleeve in place with the dissolvable material.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein dissolving comprises maintaining the wellbore component in a wellbore fluid until dissolved.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein protecting comprises covering a plurality of the sealing elements during movement downhole.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein protecting comprises covering a packer element during movement downhole.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein protecting comprises covering a cup-type packer element during movement downhole.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein protecting comprises covering the dissolvable material with a coating that is degradable upon a specific input.

9. A method of protecting a component to be moved downhole, comprising:

selecting a material able to dissolve within a wellbore environment after a desired length of time;

covering a wellbore component with the material to protect the wellbore component when it is moved downhole;

covering the material with a coating that is degradable upon a specific input;

providing the combination of the material and the coating with a sufficient thickness to prevent contact between the wellbore component and a surrounding wellbore wall; and

locating at least one hole through the material to enable pressure equalization between a plurality of sides of the material during movement downhole.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising transporting the wellbore component to a well site in a covered state; moving the wellbore component into a wellbore; providing the specific input to degrade the coating; waiting for the material to dissolve; and operating the wellbore component.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the is degradable under sufficient temperature.

12. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the coating is degradable under sufficient pressure.

13. A method, comprising:

constructing a well equipment string with a well component having a plurality of parts that are movable with respect to each other during an actuation of the well component;

temporarily blocking relative movement of the plurality of parts with a dissolvable element;

dissolving the dissolvable element; and

selectively actuating the well component by initiating relative movement of the plurality of parts after dissolving the dissolvable element.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising running the well equipment string into a wellbore.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , further comprising dissolving the dissolvable element in the wellbore.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising actuating the well component after the dissolvable element is dissolved.