Downhole seal

Abstract

A downhole seal comprises a seal body having a swellable material configured to swell upon exposure to a swelling activator to establish a seal within a wellbore, and at least one protection element configured to protect at least a portion of the seal body when the downhole seal is translated within a wellbore. The protection element defines a reaming element configured to ream a portion of the wellbore while the downhole seal is translated therethrough.

1 . A downhole seal comprising:
 a seal body comprising a swellable material configured to swell upon exposure to a swelling activator to establish a seal within a wellbore; and   at least one reaming element configured to ream an internal surface of a wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element is configured to ream an internal surface of a wellbore while the downhole seal is being translated therein. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element is configured to ream a wall surface of at least one of a drilled bore and an internal wall surface of a tubing string. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element defines an outer dimension which is greater than an outer dimension of the seal body when in an unswollen configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element defines an outer dimension which is equal to or less than an outer dimension of the seal body when in a swollen configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , configured to be mounted on a base member. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element is mounted on a sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element is mounted on a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is configured to be located on a base member independently from the seal body. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , comprising a common sleeve configured to support both the seal body and at least one reaming element. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element is provided separately of the seal body. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element is located adjacent an axial end of the seal body. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element is located intermediate axial ends of the seal body. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element is located on or within the seal body. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element is at least partially embedded within the seal body. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element at least partially extends through the seal body. 
     
     
         16 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , configured to be located within a wellbore defined by at least one of an a open drilled bore and a wellbore defined by a tubing string. 
     
     
         17 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of reaming elements. 
     
     
         18 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element is defined by a rib structure. 
     
     
         19 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element is rigid. 
     
     
         20 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element is generally spiral shaped. 
     
     
         21 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element is generally annular. 
     
     
         22 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the downhole seal is configured for rotation. 
     
     
         23 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one reaming element defines a centraliser element configured to centralise the seal body within a wellbore. 
     
     
         24 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , wherein the reaming element is configured to protect at least a portion of the seal body when the downhole seal is translated within a wellbore. 
     
     
         25 . The downhole seal according to  claim 1 , comprising a protection element configured to protect at least a portion of the seal body when the downhole seal is translated within a wellbore. 
     
     
         26 . The downhole seal according to  claim 25 , wherein the protection element defines at least one reaming element. 
     
     
         27 . A method of establishing a seal within a wellbore, comprising:
 providing a downhole seal having a seal body and a reaming element;   translating the downhole seal through a wellbore and reaming a portion of the wellbore with the reaming element; and   exposing the swellable material to an activator to cause the seal body to swell to establish a seal.   
     
     
         28 . A method of reaming a wellbore, comprising:
 providing a downhole tool comprising:
 a seal body comprising a swellable material configured to swell upon exposure to a swelling activator to establish a seal within a wellbore; and 
 at least one reaming element; and 
   translating the downhole tool through a wellbore to ream the wellbore with the at least one reaming element.   
     
     
         29 . A downhole seal comprising:
 a seal body comprising a swellable material configured to swell upon exposure to a swelling activator to establish a seal within a wellbore; and   at least one protection element configured to protect at least a portion of the seal body when the downhole seal is translated within a wellbore, wherein the protection element defines a reaming element configured to ream an internal surface of a wellbore.   
     
     
         30 . A method of establishing a seal within a wellbore, comprising:
 providing a downhole seal having a seal body and a protecting element, wherein the seal body comprises a swellable material;   translating the downhole seal through a wellbore, wherein the protection element protects the seal body;   reaming a portion of the wellbore with the protection element; and   exposing the swellable material to an activator to cause the seal body to swell to establish a seal.