Apparatus and method for wellbore isolation

Abstract

An apparatus for isolating a selected leg of a wellbore from the remainder of the wellbore includes a packer positionable in the selected leg of the wellbore, a tube extending through the packer from an uphole side of the packer to a downhole side of the packer to permit a fluid flow communication to the selected leg of the wellbore past the packer and a valve positioned in the tube to control fluid flow through the tube. In a method for isolating a selected leg of a wellbore, the apparatus is positioned in the selected wellbore leg and the packer set to permit fluid flow communication past the apparatus only through the tube and the valve of the apparatus.

1 . An apparatus for isolating a selected leg of a wellbore from the remainder of the wellbore: comprising a packer positioned in the selected leg of the wellbore, a tube extending through the packer from an uphole side of the packer to a downhole side of the packer to permit a fluid flow communication to the selected leg of the wellbore past the packer and a valve positioned in the tube to control fluid flow through the tube. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tube is connected to a tubing string on the downhole side of the packer, the tubing string extending into the selected wellbore leg. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the tubing string is configured permit wellbore fluid treatment procedures therethrough. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tube includes a portion for accepting a structure from surface. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the valve is selected, when closed, to substantially seal against fluid flow therethrough. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the valve is selected to permit one-way fluid flow control. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the valve is selected to permit fluid flow from the uphole side of the packer to the downhole side of the packer. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the packer is a solid body packer. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a stabilizer for anchoring the packer in the wellbore. 
   
   
       10 . A method for isolating a selected wellbore leg from the remainder of the wellbore, the method comprising: providing an apparatus including a packer positioned in the selected leg of the wellbore, a tube extending through the packer from an uphole side of the packer to a downhole side of the packer to permit a fluid flow communication to the selected leg of the wellbore past the packer and a valve positioned in the tube to control fluid flow through the tube; positioning the apparatus in the selected wellbore leg such that the valve of the apparatus is positioned within the selected wellbore leg; and expanding the packer to seal between the tube and the wall of the selected wellbore. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising positioning the apparatus in the selected wellbore leg such that the tube is within the selected wellbore leg. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising anchoring the apparatus in the selected wellbore leg. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising opening the valve to permit fluid flow communication with the selected wellbore leg. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising introducing wellbore treatment fluids through the valve into the selected wellbore leg. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the valve of the apparatus is selected to permit one way fluid flow into the selected wellbore leg such that the wellbore treatment fluids are isolated in the selected wellbore leg. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising deploying a tubing string from surface, connecting the tubing string to the tube of the apparatus and pumping wellbore treatment fluids down the tubing string and through the tube of the apparatus into the selected wellbore leg. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising manipulating the tubing string to open the valve of the apparatus.