Well packers and control line management

Abstract

An example of a wellbore tool assembly includes a mandrel having an outer surface and a longitudinal bore; a tubular, swellable seal member having opposing ends and an inner surface defining a bore between the opposing ends, the seal member encircling a portion of the mandrel; an operable downhole element carried with the mandrel; and a control line connected to the operable downhole element, the control line extending from the downhole element between the outer surface of the mandrel and the inner surface of the seal member to the other side of the seal member from the downhole element.

1 . A packer for providing an annular seal when set in a wellbore or tubular, the packer comprising:
 a tubular mandrel having an outer surface;   a seal member having an inner surface defining a bore, the seal member encircling a portion of the mandrel; and   a control line positioned between the inner surface of the seal member and the outer surface of the mandrel and extending across the length of the seal member.   
   
   
       2 . The packer of  claim 1 , wherein the control line is not positioned in a slot cut into the inner surface of the seal member. 
   
   
       3 . The packer of  claim 1 , wherein the packer includes an anchor mechanism positioned at each end of the seal member to position the seal member on the mandrel. 
   
   
       4 . The packer of  claim 3 , wherein the anchor mechanism includes a radially swellable material. 
   
   
       5 . The packer of  claim 2 , wherein the packer includes an anchor mechanism positioned at each end of the seal member to position the seal member on the mandrel. 
   
   
       6 . The packer of  claim 5 , wherein the anchor mechanism includes a radially swellable material. 
   
   
       7 . The packer of  claim 1 , wherein the seal member is constructed of a swellable material that expands radially from the mandrel upon contact with an activating agent. 
   
   
       8 . The packer of  claim 7 , wherein the seal member is a unitary member. 
   
   
       9 . The packer of  claim 8 , wherein the control line is not positioned in a slot cut into the inner surface of the seal member. 
   
   
       10 . The packer of  claim 9 , further including an anchor mechanism positioned at each of the seal member, the anchor mechanism constructed of a radially swellable member. 
   
   
       11 . The packer of  claim 10 , wherein the anchor mechanism has as a modulus of elasticity greater than that of the seal member. 
   
   
       12 . The packer of  claim 7 , wherein the control line is not positioned in a slot cut into the inner surface of the seal member. 
   
   
       13 . The packer of  claim 12 , wherein the seal member is a unitary member. 
   
   
       14 . A wellbore tool assembly, the assembly comprising:
 a mandrel having an outer surface and a longitudinal bore;   a tubular, swellable seal member having opposing ends and an inner surface defining a bore between the opposing ends, the seal member encircling a portion of the mandrel;   an operable downhole element carried with the mandrel; and   a control line connected to the operable downhole element, the control line extending from the downhole element between the outer surface of the mandrel and the inner surface of the seal member to the other side of the seal member from the downhole element.   
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the control line is not positioned in a slot cut into the inner surface of the seal member. 
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the downhole element is connected to a tubular that is connected to the mandrel carrying the seal member. 
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the control line is not positioned in a slot cut into the inner surface of the seal member. 
   
   
       18 . A method for extending a control line across a packer set in a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning a control line along an outer surface of a tubular mandrel;   encircling a portion of the tubular mandrel and the control line with a seal member, the control line passing between the outer surface of the tubular mandrel and an inner surface of the seal member; and   activating the seal member in a wellbore to form a seal between the outer surface of the tubular mandrel and a sidewall of the wellbore.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the control line is not positioned in a slot cut into the inner surface of the seal member. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of activating includes contacting the seal member with an activating agent causing the seal member to expand radially between the sidewall and the outer surface of the mandrel and substantially sealing about the control line.