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A well (10) comprising a packer apparatus, the packer apparatus comprising: a packer (16) and an activation mechanism; wherein the activation mechanism comprises an expansion mechanism for expanding the packer (16) and a wireless receiver (360) optionally a transceiver. For certain embodiments the w

A well (10) comprising a packer apparatus, the packer apparatus comprising: a packer (16) and an activation mechanism; wherein the activation mechanism comprises an expansion mechanism for expanding the packer (16) and a wireless receiver (360) optionally a transceiver. For certain embodiments the wireless receiver may be acoustic and/or electromagnetic. The receiver is adapted to receive a wireless control signal and control the activation mechanism and wherein the packer apparatus is provided downhole in any one of the following locations, (i) on a production tubing; (ii) in a casing annulus between two different casing strings; (iii) between the casing and formation; (iv) on a sub-assembly within an uncased section of the well and (v) on a drill string.

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1. A well comprising: a packer apparatus and a sensor to detect a parameter in the well, the packer apparatus comprising: a packer and an activation mechanism; wherein the activation mechanism comprises an expansion mechanism for expanding the packer between a first position where fluid flow is perm

1. A well comprising: a packer apparatus and a sensor to detect a parameter in the well, the packer apparatus comprising: a packer and an activation mechanism; wherein the activation mechanism comprises an expansion mechanism for expanding the packer between a first position where fluid flow is permitted and a second position wherein fluid flow is restricted and a wireless receiver adapted to receive a wireless control signal sent in response to the parameter detected by the sensor and the wireless receiver is adapted to control the activation mechanism to at least one of expand and retract the packer on receipt of the wireless control signal;and wherein the packer apparatus is provided downhole in either one of the following locations:(i) in a casing annulus between two different casing strings, wherein the packer is configured to restrict flow of fluid through the casing annulus; and(ii) in an annulus, between a casing and formation, wherein the packer is configured to restrict flow of fluid through the annulus between the casing and the formation. 2. A well as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver is a transceiver. 3. A well as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver is an acoustic receiver and the signal is an acoustic signal. 4. A well as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver is an electromagnetic receiver and the signal is an electromagnetic signal. 5. A well as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information provided by the sensor is retrieved wirelessly. 6. A well as claimed in claim 1, wherein the well is a subsea well. 7. A well as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packer apparatus comprises a battery. 8. A well as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packer apparatus is adapted to activate automatically in response to a level of the parameter detected by the sensor. 9. A well as claimed in claim 8, wherein the level of the parameter at which the packer apparatus is adapted to activate is variable by an operator. 10. A well as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is adapted to receive an operator-controlled wireless control signal sent in response to the parameter detected by the sensor. 11. A well as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is adapted to receive the wireless control signal sent automatically in response to the parameter detected by the sensor. 12. A well as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is adapted to receive the wireless control signal sent in response to the parameter reaching a trip point. 13. A well apparatus comprising: a well as claimed in claim 1; anda plurality of casing strings, such as comprising the two different casing strings of claim 1 wherein the packer apparatus is provided downhole in either of the locations of claim 1 on at least one of the plurality of casing strings in order to restrict flow of fluid through an annulus between the at least one of the plurality of casing strings and an adjacent elongate member. 14. A well apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein sensors and/or receivers are provided in at least one casing annulus defined between two of the casing strings. 15. A well apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the packer is provided on the casing string adjacent to a cemented-in portion of the casing. 16. A well apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the packer is provided in use in an expanded configuration and acts as a permanent barrier to resist fluid flow. 17. A well apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the packer is provided in use in an unexpanded configuration and adapted to activate as required. 18. A well apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein in use the packer is activated as required in response to an emergency situation. 19. A well apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the packer is provided within 100 m of a wellhead. 20. A well as claimed in claim 16, wherein the packer is adapted to move from the expanded configuration where fluid flow is restricted and retract to a position where fluid flow is permitted. 21. A well as claimed in claim 18, wherein the packer is normally in an unactivated state during production of the well. 22. A well comprising a plurality of casing strings, and a safety mechanism, the safety mechanism comprising: an obstructing member moveable between a first position where fluid flow is permitted, and a second position where fluid flow is restricted; the obstructing member being a packer;a movement mechanism;a wireless receiver, adapted to receive a wireless signal,an expansion mechanism, wherein the movement mechanism is adapted to cause the expansion mechanism to activate which expands the packer and so moves the packer between the first position and the second position in response to a change in the signal being received by the wireless receiver;wherein the packer is on at least one of the plurality of casing strings in order to restrict flow of fluid through an annulus between the at least one of the plurality of casing strings and an adjacent elongate member; and wherein the packer is adapted to expand in an inward direction. 23. A well as claimed in claim 22, wherein the elongate member is one of a drill string and production tubing. 24. A well as claimed in claim 22, wherein the packer is adapted to expand, in use, by compression. 25. A well as claimed in claim 22, wherein the packer is adapted to expand, in use, by inflation. 26. A well as claimed in claim 22, wherein the well is a subsea well. 27. A well as claimed in claim 22, wherein the safety mechanism comprises a battery. 28. A well apparatus comprising: a plurality of casing strings;a well comprising a packer apparatus, the packer apparatus comprising: a packer and an activation mechanism; wherein the activation mechanism comprises an expansion mechanism for expanding the packer and a wireless receiver adapted to receive a wireless control signal and control the activation mechanism;the well further comprises a sensor to detect a parameter in the well; and wherein the packer apparatus is provided downhole in either of the following locations,(i) in a casing annulus between two different casing strings of the plurality of casing strings, wherein the packer apparatus is on at least one of the plurality of casing strings in order to restrict flow of fluid through an annulus between the at least one of the plurality of casing strings and an adjacent elongate member; and(ii) in an annulus, between a casing of the plurality of casing strings and formation; andwherein the packer is adapted to expand in an inward direction. 29. A well apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the receiver is a transceiver. 30. A well apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the receiver is selected from one of: (i) the receiver is an acoustic receiver and the signal is an acoustic signal; and(ii) the receiver is an electromagnetic receiver and the signal is an electromagnetic signal. 31. A well apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the information provided by the sensor is retrieved wirelessly. 32. A well apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the packer is provided in use in an unexpanded configuration and adapted to activate as required in response to an emergency situation.