Downhole setting tool

Abstract

The present invention relates to a downhole setting tool for setting an annular sealing structure in an openhole part of a well, comprising: a tool body ( 5 ) having a tool axis, a shaft ( 7 ) having a first end and a second end, connected to the tool body at the second end, an expandable pipe ( 10 ) having a transport position in which the expandable pipe has an unexpanded diameter, and an expanded position in which the expandable pipe has an expanded diameter, an annular sealing element ( 11 ), and a pipe expansion element ( 12 ) arranged at the first end of the shaft for expanding at least the pipe, wherein the expandable pipe and the annular sealing element are arranged in succession along the tool axis in a non-overlapping manner. The tool further comprises a second expansion ( 14 ) with an inclined surface on which annular seal slides when being pushed by expansion element ( 12 ) onto the outside of the expandable pipe ( 10 ).

1 . A downhole setting tool for setting an annular base structure in an openhole part of a well comprising:
 a tool body having a tool axis,   a shaft having a first end and a second end, connected to the tool body at the second end,   an expandable pipe having a transport position in which the expandable pipe has an unexpanded diameter (d u ), and an expanded position in which the expandable pipe has an expanded diameter (d e ),   an annular sealing element, and   a pipe expansion element arranged at the first end of the shaft for expanding at least the pipe,   wherein the expandable pipe and the annular sealing element are arranged in succession along the tool axis in a non-overlapping manner.   
     
     
         2 . A downhole setting tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular sealing element is arranged between the pipe expansion element and the expandable pipe. 
     
     
         3 . A downhole setting tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second expansion element having an inclining outer face on which the annular sealing element slides for providing the annular sealing element with an inner diameter (d i ) which is larger than the unexpanded outer diameter of the expandable pipe. 
     
     
         4 . A downhole setting tool according to  claim 3 , wherein the second expansion element is hollow and extends around the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . A downhole setting tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pushing element wherein the annular sealing element has a first end and a second end, the pushing element being arranged at the second end of the annular sealing element, and the second expansion element being arranged at the first end of the annular sealing element. 
     
     
         6 . A downhole setting tool according to  claim 5 , wherein the pushing element is the expandable pipe element. 
     
     
         7 . A downhole setting tool, further comprising a hydraulic cylinder for pulling the shaft into the tool body. 
     
     
         8 . A downhole setting tool according to  claim 7 , wherein the hydraulic cylinder comprises a cylinder housing and a piston, and the shaft comprises the piston or the cylinder housing. 
     
     
         9 . A downhole setting tool according to  claim 1 , wherein expandable rings are arranged at the first end and the second end of the annular sealing element. 
     
     
         10 . A downhole setting tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising an expandable tubular arranged around the shaft between the tool body and the expandable pipe. 
     
     
         11 . A downhole setting tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the pipe expansion element comprises several cone segments movable in a radial direction. 
     
     
         12 . A downhole setting tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular sealing element has an inclining surface facing the inclining outer face of the second expansion element. 
     
     
         13 . An annular base structure according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 the annular sealing element made of an elastomeric material or natural or synthetic rubber, and   the expandable pipe of metal arranged inside the annular sealing element, pressing the annular sealing element radially outwards when in an expanded position.   
     
     
         14 . A downhole sealing system for sealing off a production zone in an openhole part of a well, comprising:
 a first and a second annular base structure set by the downhole setting tool according to  claim 1 ,   a tubular having a first tubular end and a second tubular end and being arranged between the two annular base structures so that the first tubular end overlaps the first annular base structure and the second tubular end overlaps the second annular base structure, and   two packers arranged between the annular base structure and the tubular.   
     
     
         15 . A method of expanding an annular base structure in an openhole part of a well, comprising the steps of:
 inserting a downhole tool according to  claim 1  into the openhole part of a well,   moving the second expansion element for expanding and sliding the annular sealing element on an outside of the expandable pipe,   expanding the expandable pipe and the annular sealing element by means of the pipe expansion element, and   retracting the tool from the expandable pipe.