Swell-based inflation packer

Abstract

An isolation packer. The packer is both an inflation packer and swell-based. That is, an outer shell or bladder may be utilized in conjunction with internal swell material. In advance of inflation, a void or cavity may be disposed between the inner surface of the shell and an outer surface of the swell material. Thus, fluid inflation of this void may result in an inflation that becomes swell-material filled until the void is eliminated leaving behind a more unitary and swollen packer of enhanced reliability.

1 . A downhole isolation device for placement in a well, the device comprising:
 a shell for disposing about a downhole mandrel; and   a swellable material disposed within a cavity of said shell, the device having an inner fluid void between an inner surface of said shell and an outer surface of said material.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said shell is of a non-swell polymeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said shell material is a non-reactive rubber. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said shell is configured to protect said swellable material from exposure to downhole exposure. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said swellable material is of one of bead, pellet and powder form. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said swellable material includes at least one solid band thereof about the mandrel. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said shell is of a swellable polymer to reduce a swell period of the device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the swellable polymer is swellable upon exposure to a wellbore type fluid. 
     
     
         9 . A downhole isolation packer comprising:
 a shell for disposing about a downhole tubular; and   a swellable material disposed within a cavity of said shell, the packer having an inner fluid void between an inner surface of said shell and an outer surface of said material.   
     
     
         10 . The packer of  claim 9  wherein said tubular is production tubing. 
     
     
         11 . A method of providing fluid isolation at a target location of a conduit, the method comprising:
 delivering a swell-based inflation device to the target location;   inflating a fluid void of the device with an inflation fluid;   swelling an interior swell material of the device with the fluid to achieve the isolation.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the fluid isolation is employed in one of a downhole wellbore application, a marine application, water line repair and sewage line repair. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the downhole wellbore application comprises utilizing one of a water-based fluid, an oil-based fluid, a diesel fluid, and a wellbore type fluid as the inflation fluid for said inflating. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the downhole wellbore application is configured to provide a substantially effective seal in a wellbore for a period exceeding about 7 years. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said inflating comprises supplying a predetermined amount of the inflation fluid to the void in a one-way manner. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the predetermined amount of the inflation fluid is pressure determined. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said swelling takes place over the course of a swell period as the swell material takes up the inflation fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein a duration of the swell period is tailored based on the types of swell material and inflation fluid employed. 
     
     
         19 . A method of providing fluid isolation at a target location in a wellbore of a well, the method comprising:
 delivering a swell-based inflation packer to the target location;   inflating a fluid void of the packer with an inflation fluid;   swelling an interior swell material of the device with the fluid; and   swelling a shell of the packer exterior the swell material with the fluid to reduce a swell period of the packer.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the fluid is a wellbore type fluid and the shell is swellable upon exposure thereto at a surface within the packer and at an opposite surface exposed to the wellbore.