US2012073834A1PendingUtilityA1

Friction Bite with Swellable Elastomer Elements

39
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 28, 2010Filed: Sep 28, 2010Published: Mar 29, 2012
Est. expirySep 28, 2030(~4.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Jeffrey J. Lembcke
E21B 33/129E21B 33/1208E21B 33/1216
39
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A friction-enhancing material is applied to an outer surface of a swellable element of a downhole tool. The friction-enhancing material helps prevent axial extrusion of the elastomer of the swellable element. The friction-enhancing material may include particles, a mesh, and wickers, among other kinds of friction-enhancing material, and may be disposed on or embedded in all or a portion of an outer surface of the swellable element.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A downhole apparatus, comprising:
 a swellable element comprising a swellable elastomeric material selected to increase in volume on exposure to at least one predetermined fluid; and   a first area, disposed with the swellable element and operable to increase friction between the swellable element and a surrounding surface upon swelling of the swellable element.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole apparatus is a swellable packer. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first area comprises a plurality of particles disposed on a surface of the first area, the particles selected for friction enhancement. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of particles are dispersed randomly on the surface of the first area. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of particles are patterned onto the surface of the first area. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first area comprises a mesh disposed about an outer diameter of the first area, the mesh selected for friction enhancement. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the mesh is composed of stainless steel wire. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first area comprises
 a plurality of wickers, formed of material selected for friction enhancement.   
     
     
         9 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first area comprises
 a plurality of wickers, formed of material selected to be harder than the surrounding surface.   
     
     
         10 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first area comprises:
 a roughened radially outward surface of a portion of the swellable element.   
     
     
         11 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first area comprises the entire outer surface of the swellable element. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a backup member, configured to resist axial extrusion of the swellable element, disposed at an end of the swellable element.   
     
     
         13 . The downhole apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first area is proximal to the backup member. 
     
     
         14 . A swellable element for a downhole tool, comprising:
 a swellable elastomeric material selected to increase in volume on exposure to at least one predetermined fluid; and   a friction-enhancing material, disposed on a first annular area of an outer surface of the swellable elastomeric material.   
     
     
         15 . The swellable element of  claim 14 , wherein the friction-enhancing material comprises a plurality of particles disposed on the outer surface of the first annular area. 
     
     
         16 . The swellable element of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of particles are formed from a material selected to have a hardness sufficient to bite into a surrounding surface when deployed in a casing or wellbore. 
     
     
         17 . The swellable element of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of particles are randomly dispersed in the first annular area. 
     
     
         18 . The swellable element of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of particles are patterned on the first annular area. 
     
     
         19 . The swellable element of  claim 14 , wherein the friction-enhancing material comprises a mesh, disposed about an outer diameter of the first annular area. 
     
     
         20 . The swellable element of  claim 14 , wherein the friction-enhancing material comprises a plurality of wickers, disposed about an outer diameter of the first annular area. 
     
     
         21 . The swellable element of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined fluid is an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         22 . A method of reducing axial extrusion of a swellable element of a downhole tool, comprising:
 disposing a friction-enhancing material on a portion of an outer surface of the swellable element.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the act of disposing a friction-enhancing material comprises:
 disposing particles of a substance harder than the swellable element on the portion of the outer surface of the swellable element.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the act of disposing a friction-enhancing material comprises:
 disposing a plurality of wickers about the portion of the outer surface of the swellable element.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the act of disposing a friction-enhancing material comprises:
 disposing a mesh formed of a substance harder than the swellable element about the portion of the outer surface of the swellable element.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the act of disposing a friction-enhancing material comprises:
 embedding the friction-enhancing material into the portion of the outer surface of the swellable element.

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