Apparatus and method of zonal isolation
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatus include an expandable packer having a tubing expanded to create a seal in an annulus surrounding the tubing. The tubing includes a non-uniform outer surface configured to cause formation of undulations in a diameter of the tubing upon expansion of the tubing. A plurality of expandable packers may be connected to a tubular string to isolate multiple zones in a wellbore. A production tubular equipped with multiple expandable packers may be installed in the tubular string. The expandable packers may also include non-uniform outer surfaces configured to form undulations upon expansion. The combination of tubular string and production tubular may be used in an enhanced oil recovery application such as injecting steam into a formation to enhance production.
1. An expandable apparatus, comprising:
a tubular having a first outer diameter; and
an expandable packer attached to the tubular, wherein the expandable packer comprises an outer tubular having an inner diameter larger than the first outer diameter, a packer outer diameter, and a non-uniform outer profile, the non-uniform outer profile has a reduced packer outer diameter section between packer outer diameter sections, whereby upon expansion of the expandable packer, undulations are created on the outer tubular based on the non-uniform outer profile.
2. The expandable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tubular extends through the expandable packer and the expandable packer is attached to an outer surface of the tubular.
3. The expandable apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tubular includes a port for fluid communication between a bore of the tubular and an annular area formed between the tubular and the expanable packer.
4. The expandable apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cross-over tubular for connecting the expandable packer to the tubular.
5. The expandable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of expandable packers are attached to the tubular.
6. The expandable apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing element disposed on one of the packer outer diameter sections.
7. The expandable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the non-uniform outer profile includes a first sealing element at a first height and a second sealing element at a second height.
8. The expandable apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second tubular disposed around the first tubular, wherein the second tubular includes a second non-uniform outer profile, whereby upon expansion of the second tubular, undulations are created based on the second non-uniform outer profile.
9. A method of isolating multiple zones in a tubular, comprising:
providing an inner tubular having a plurality of expandable packers, wherein the expandable packers have an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the inner tubular, a packer outer diameter, and a non-uniform outer profile, the non-uniform outer profile has a reduced packer outer diameter section between packer outer diameter sections;
positioning the plurality of expandable packers inside the tubular adjacent the zones for isolation; and
expanding the plurality of expandable packers into engagement with the tubular; thereby creating undulations in the plurality of expandable packers based on the non-uniform outer profile.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the inner tubular extends through at least one of the plurality of expandable packers and the at least one expandable packer is attached to an outer surface of the inner tubular.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the inner tubular includes a port for fluid communication between a bore of the inner tubular and an annular area formed between the inner tubular and the at least one expanable packer.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising a cross-over tubular for connecting the expandable packer to the inner tubular.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein expanding the plurality of expandable packers comprises applying a radial force to the plurality of expandable packers.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising expanding a portion of the inner tubular.
15. A method of isolating multiple zones in a wellbore, comprising:
providing a tubular string having a plurality of expandable packers, wherein each of the plurality of expandable packers include a tubing portion having a non-uniform outer surface;
positioning the plurality of expandable packers adjacent the zones for isolation;
expanding the tubing portion into engagement with the wellbore; thereby creating undulations in the tubing portion based on the non-uniform outer surface of the tubing portion;
positioning a production tubular in the tubular string, the production tubular having a plurality of expandable production packers; and
expanding the plurality of expandable production packers of the production tubular against the tubular string.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the non-uniform outer surface includes a reduced outer diameter section and an unchanged outer diameter section.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising disposing a sealing element on the unchanged outer diameter section of the tubing portion.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the reduced outer diameter section is formed by machining.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the expandable production packers of the production tubular are expanded against a non-expanded, solid section of the tubular string.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the production packers comprises an outer tubular attached to the production tubular, and expanding the plurality of expandable production packers comprises expanding a portion of the production tubular.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tubular string includes a slotted tubular.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tubing portion is attached to an outer diameter of the tubular string, and expanding the plurality of expandable packers comprises further comprising expanding a portion of the tubular string.