Longitudinally split swellable packer and method

Abstract

A swellable packer ( 10 ) includes upper and lower end rings ( 20, 22 ) and elastomeric bodies ( 12, 14 ) spaced between the upper and lower end rings to expand and thereby close off an annulus about the downhole tubular. The elastomeric body may be positioned such that a slot ( 26 ) in the body receives a control line ( 28 ).

1 . A swellable packer for use in a well, comprising:
 a lower split end ring including two or more lower end ring sections for circumferentially surrounding a downhole tubular;   an upper split end ring including two or more upper end ring sections for circumferentially surrounding the downhole tubular;   an elastomeric body spaced longitudinally between the upper split end ring and the lower split end ring to expand and close off an annulus about the downhole tubular;   the two or more lower split end ring sections being fixedly connected to the downhole tubular;   the two or more upper split end ring sections being fixedly connected to the downhole tubular; and   the elastomeric body split such that a side face of a C-shaped elastomeric body section substantially abuts a side face of another C-shaped elastomeric body section.   
     
     
         2 . A swellable packer as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric body is manufactured as a unitary sleeve-shaped member, and is longitudinally split. 
     
     
         3 . A swellable packer as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the split between the elastomeric sections of the body forms a castellated slot defining a tooth pattern. 
     
     
         4 . A swellable packer as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more control lines extending axially through the elastomeric body.   
     
     
         5 . A swellable packer as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 each of the one or more control lines pass through one or more of lower split end ring and the upper split end ring.   
     
     
         6 . A swellable packer as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the two or more C-shaped elastomeric bodies has a side face adjacent a side face of another C-shaped elastomeric body. 
     
     
         7 . A swellable packer for use in a well, comprising:
 a lower split end ring including two or more lower end ring sections for circumferentially surrounding a downhole tubular;   an upper split end ring including two or more upper end ring sections for circumferentially surrounding the downhole tubular;   an elastomeric body spaced longitudinally between the upper split end ring and the lower split end ring to expand and close off an annulus about the downhole tubular;   the two or more lower split end ring sections being fixedly connected to the downhole tubular, and an inner surface of the lower split end ring configured for secured engagement with the downhole tubular;   the two or more upper split end ring sections being fixedly connected to the downhole tubular, and an inner surface of the upper split end ring configured for secured engagement with the downhole tubular; and   the elastomeric body split such that a side face of a C-shaped elastomeric body section substantially abuts a side face of another C-shaped elastomeric body section.   
     
     
         8 . A swellable packer as defined in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 one or more control lines extending axially through the elastomeric body.   
     
     
         9 . A swellable packer as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 each of the one or more control lines pass through one or more of lower split end ring and the upper split end ring.   
     
     
         10 . A swellable packer as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the tubular has an elastomeric wrapping adhered to an outside of the tubular, and the C-shaped elastomeric body sections cover the elastomeric wrapping. 
     
     
         11 . A method of positioning a swellable packer on a tubular for use in a well, comprising:
 providing a lower split end ring including two or more lower end ring sections for circumferentially surrounding a downhole tubular;   providing an upper split end ring including two or more upper end ring sections for circumferentially surrounding the downhole tubular;   providing two or more c-shaped elastomeric bodies each spaced longitudinally between the upper split end ring and the lower split end ring to expand and close off an annulus about the downhole tubular;   fixedly connecting the two or more lower split end ring sections to the downhole tubular, and an inner surface of the lower split end ring configured for secured engagement with the downhole tubular;   fixedly connecting the two or more upper split end ring sections to the downhole tubular, and an inner surface of the upper split end ring configured for secured engagement with the downhole tubular; and   providing a side face of one elastomeric body adjacent a side face of another elastomeric body.   
     
     
         12 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric body is manufactured as a unitary sleeve-shaped member, and is longitudinally split. 
     
     
         13 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the split between the elastomeric sections of the body forms a castellated slot defining a tooth pattern. 
     
     
         14 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 extending one or more control lines through the elastomeric body.   
     
     
         15 . A method as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 each of the control lines pass through one or more of lower split end ring and the upper split end ring.   
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 positioning each of the two or more elastomeric bodies about the tubular such that a control line passes through a slot in an elastomeric body for receiving the control line.   
     
     
         17 . A method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein an elastomeric wrapping covers the tubular and the elastomeric bodies cover the wrapping. 
     
     
         18 . A method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the slot is provided in a radially internal portion of the elastomeric body. 
     
     
         19 . A method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein each of the upper split end ring and lower split end ring includes radially internal teeth for gripping engagement with the tubular.