Downhole apparatus and method
A downhole apparatus, such as a wellbore packer, is provided with a swellable member and a fluid supply assembly. The fluid supply assembly is to receive fluid and expose the swellable member to the fluid to cause expansion of the swellable member, and comprises a support structure for supporting the swellable member on the body. In a preferred embodiment, the support structure defines a chamber and is configured to allow fluid to flow and access the swellable member. A method of use and method of sealing a wellbore is described.
1. A downhole apparatus comprising:
a body comprising a mandrel;
a swellable member located around the mandrel that expands upon contact with a predetermined fluid; and
a fluid supply assembly configured to receive the predetermined fluid and expose the swellable member to the predetermined fluid, comprising:
a chamber disposed between the mandrel and the swellable member, the chamber defining a volume between the mandrel and the swellable member.
2. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the volume is an annular volume.
3. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises a fluidly connected network of pores, holes or apertures.
4. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a support structure that defines the chamber.
5. The downhole apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of discrete support members, the support members being interchangeable.
6. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the chamber is at least partially formed in the body.
7. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply assembly comprises a supply line configured for supplying the predetermined fluid to the fluid supply assembly from surface.
8. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply assembly comprises a supply line configured for supplying the predetermined fluid to the fluid supply assembly from a reservoir of fluid located downhole and longitudinally displaced from the apparatus.
9. A wellbore packer comprising the downhole apparatus of claim 1 .
10. The wellbore packer of claim 9 , wherein the volume defined by the chamber is selected to provide an excess of fluid required for normal operation of the packer.
11. A downhole assembly comprising:
the downhole apparatus of claim 1 ; and
a downhole fluid reservoir in fluid communication with a supply line of the apparatus.
12. The downhole assembly of claim 11 , wherein the downhole fluid reservoir is longitudinally displaced from the apparatus.
13. A method of operating a swellable downhole apparatus, the method comprising:
providing an apparatus according to claim 1 ;
supplying a predetermined fluid to the chamber of the fluid supply assembly; and
expanding the swellable member by exposing the swellable member to the predetermined fluid from the chamber of the fluid supply assembly.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
running the apparatus to a downhole location after supplying the predetermined fluid to the chamber of the fluid supply assembly.
15. The method of claim 13 , comprising the step of supplying the predetermined fluid from a reservoir of fluid located downhole.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein expanding the swellable member by exposing the swellable member to the predetermined fluid from the chamber of the fluid supply assembly comprises:
exposing the swellable member to a supplied volume of the predetermined fluid to expand the swellable member from a first run-in condition to a sealing condition to create a seal in a wellbore of approximately known dimensions,
wherein the supplied volume comprises an excess of fluid over a required volume for expanding the swellable member from the run-in condition to the sealing condition.
17. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the chamber is disposed on the body.
18. A downhole apparatus comprising:
a body comprising a mandrel;
a swellable member located around the mandrel that expands upon contact with a predetermined fluid; and
a fluid supply assembly configured to receive the predetermined fluid and expose the swellable member to the predetermined fluid, comprising:
a chamber defining a volume between the mandrel and the swellable member,
wherein the apparatus comprises a support structure that defines the chamber,
and wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of discrete and interchangeable support members.
19. A wellbore packer comprising the downhole apparatus of claim 18 .
20. The wellbore packer of claim 19 , wherein the volume defined by the chamber is selected to provide an excess of fluid required for normal operation of the packer.
21. A method of operating a swellable downhole apparatus, the method comprising:
providing an apparatus according to claim 18 ;
supplying a predetermined fluid to the chamber of the fluid supply assembly; and
expanding the swellable member by exposing the swellable member to the predetermined fluid from the chamber of the fluid supply assembly.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein expanding the swellable member by exposing the swellable member to the predetermined fluid from the chamber of the fluid supply assembly comprises:
exposing the swellable member to a supplied volume of the predetermined fluid to expand the swellable member from a first run-in condition to a sealing condition to create a seal in a wellbore of approximately known dimensions,
wherein the supplied volume comprises an excess of fluid over a required volume for expanding the swellable member from the run-in condition to the sealing condition.
23. A downhole apparatus comprising:
a body comprising a mandrel;
a swellable member located around the mandrel that expands upon contact with a predetermined fluid; and
a fluid supply assembly configured to receive the predetermined fluid and expose the swellable member to the predetermined fluid, comprising:
a chamber defining a volume between the mandrel and the swellable member,
wherein the fluid supply assembly comprises a supply line configured for supplying the predetermined fluid to the fluid supply assembly from a reservoir of fluid located downhole and longitudinally displaced from the apparatus.
24. A wellbore packer comprising the downhole apparatus of claim 23 .
25. The wellbore packer of claim 24 , wherein the volume defined by the chamber is selected to provide an excess of fluid required for normal operation of the packer.
26. A method of operating a swellable downhole apparatus, the method comprising:
providing an apparatus according to claim 23 ;
supplying a predetermined fluid to the chamber of the fluid supply assembly; and
expanding the swellable member by exposing the swellable member to the predetermined fluid from the chamber of the fluid supply assembly.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein expanding the swellable member by exposing the swellable member to the predetermined fluid from the chamber of the fluid supply assembly comprises:
exposing the swellable member to a supplied volume of the predetermined fluid to expand the swellable member from a first run-in condition to a sealing condition to create a seal in a wellbore of approximately known dimensions,
wherein the supplied volume comprises an excess of fluid over a required volume for expanding the swellable member from the run-in condition to the sealing condition.