초록 ▼

An inflatable packer is provided for setting downhole in an oil or gas well to prevent fluid flow past the packer. The packer is of the type which includes an upper and lower packer head, an inflatable elastomer bladder, a radially outward tubular packer cover, and a plurality of overlapping metal r

An inflatable packer is provided for setting downhole in an oil or gas well to prevent fluid flow past the packer. The packer is of the type which includes an upper and lower packer head, an inflatable elastomer bladder, a radially outward tubular packer cover, and a plurality of overlapping metal reinforcing members positioned in the annulus between the bladder sleeve and the tubular packer cover. Each reinforcing member is slidably movable relative to another reinforcing member during setting of the packer, and includes a stop member between the packer heads for limiting to a preselected amount the relative sliding movement, such that gaps between reinforcing members are minimized or eliminated. These stop members on the reinforcing members may be formed by a stamping operation, wherein a recess stamped in one reinforcing member is adapted to receive a lip stamped in an adjacent reinforcing member. When the lip drops within the recess, further sliding movement between those reinforcing members is prohibited. Each of the reinforcing members preferably includes an interior surface substantially parallel to the outer surface of the bladder sleeve when the packer is inflated. The concepts of the present invention substantially reduce the likelihood of rupture of the bladder, thereby enhancing the reliability of an inflatable packer.

대표청구항 ▼

An inflatable packer for setting downhole in an oil or gas well in response to fluid pressure to prevent fluid flow past the packer, the packer comprising: an upper packer head and a lower packer head; an inflatable elastomeric bladder sleeve having upper and lower ends secured to the upper and lowe

An inflatable packer for setting downhole in an oil or gas well in response to fluid pressure to prevent fluid flow past the packer, the packer comprising: an upper packer head and a lower packer head; an inflatable elastomeric bladder sleeve having upper and lower ends secured to the upper and lower packer heads, respectively; an inflatable tubular packer cover radially outward of the bladder sleeve and extending axially between and interconnecting the packer heads; and a plurality of radially overlapping metal reinforcing members extending axially between the packer heads and each positioned in an annulus between the bladder sleeve and the tubular packer cover, each reinforcing member have a first leading portion for engaging and reinforcing the inflatable elastomeric bladder sleeve and a second circumferentially spaced trailing portion positioned radially between the first portion of an adjacent reinforcing member and the tubular packer cover, each of the reinforcing members being slidably movable in a substantially tangential direction relative to its adjacent reinforcing member to vary the circumferential spacing between the reinforcing member and the adjacent reinforcing member, each reinforcing member further including a stop member axially positioned between the upper and lower packer heads for limiting to a preselected amount the movement of each reinforcing member in the substantially tangential direction relative to its adjacent reinforcing member during expansion of the packer, such that gaps between reinforcing members and rupture of the bladder are minimized.