Isolation Barrier

Abstract

An apparatus and method for securing a tubular within another tubular or borehole, creating a seal across an annulus in a well bore, and centralising or anchoring tubing within a wellbore. A sleeve is arranged on a tubular body to create a chamber therebetween. A port provides fluid access through the body to the chamber. Each end of the sleeve is covered by a cylindrical portion of a connector. When fluid is introduced into the chamber the sleeve is morphed to secure it to a well bore wall and the ends of the sleeve are morphed to each cylindrical portion. The connection between the sleeve and body does not require a weld. The cylindrical portions may also be shrink fitted to the ends of the sleeves.

1 . An assembly, comprising:
 a tubular body arranged to be run in and secured within a larger diameter generally cylindrical structure;   a sleeve member positioned around the exterior of the tubular body;   first and second connectors at each end of the sleeve member to seal the sleeve member to the exterior of the tubular body and create a chamber therebetween;   the tubular body including a port having a valve to permit the flow of fluid into the chamber to increase pressure within the chamber to cause the sleeve to move outwardly and morph against an inner surface of the larger diameter structure;   characterised in that:   each connector includes a cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion locating over an end of the sleeve member, respectively; an inner surface of the cylindrical portion abutting an outer surface of the end of the sleeve member; an inner surface of the end of the sleeve member being spaced apart from an outer surface of the tubular body; and wherein fluid flow into the chamber acts on the inner surfaces of the ends of the sleeve members causing the sleeve ends to move outwardly and morph against the inner surfaces of the cylindrical portions.   
     
     
         2 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein, there is an interference fit between the cylindrical portion and the end of the sleeve member. 
     
     
         3 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein, the inner surface of the cylindrical portion is profiled. 
     
     
         4 . An assembly according to  claim 3  wherein, the profiled inner surface has one or more circumferentially arranged grooves. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly according to  claim 4  wherein, a recess of the groove has a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly according to  claim 3  wherein, the profiled inner surface is formed by locating a plurality of rings against the inner surface to provide a groove between adjacent rings. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly according to  claim 4  wherein, the connector includes a fluid exclusion member located in the one or more grooves. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly according to  claim 7  wherein, the fluid exclusion member comprises a crushable medium. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein, the first and the second connectors are affixed and sealed to the tubular body. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein, the first connector is affixed to the tubular body and the second connector includes movement means to allow the second connector to move towards the first connector along the outer surface of the tubular body. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly according to  claim 10  wherein, the movement means comprises a sliding seal, the seal making contact with and sealing against the outer surface. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly according to  claim 10  wherein, the movement means comprises a ratchet. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein, the large diameter structure is selected from a group comprising: an open hole borehole, a borehole lined with a casing or liner string, a borehole lined with a casing or liner string which is cemented in place downhole; a pipeline within which another smaller diameter tubular section requires to be secured or a pipeline within which another smaller diameter tubular section requires to be centralised. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein, the port includes a valve. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly according to  claim 14  wherein, the valve is a one-way check valve. 
     
     
         16 . A method of setting a morphed sleeve in a well bore, comprising the steps:
 a) locating a sleeve member in spaced apart relation around the exterior of a tubular body;   b) locating first and second connectors at each end of the sleeve member to seal the sleeve member to the exterior of the tubular body and create a chamber therebetween;   c) running the tubular body on a tubular member into a wellbore and positioning the sleeve member at a desired location within a larger diameter structure;   d) pumping fluid through the tubular member and through a port in the tubular body to access the chamber;   e) causing the sleeve member to move radially outwardly and morph against an inner surface of the larger diameter structure; and   f) causing each end of the sleeve member to move radially outwardly and morph against an inner surface of the first and second connectors, respectively.   
     
     
         17 . A method of setting a morphed sleeve in a well bore according to  claim 16  wherein, step (b) includes shrink fitting a portion of the connectors onto the ends of the sleeve member, respectively. 
     
     
         18 . A method of setting a morphed sleeve in a well bore according to  claim 16  wherein, step (e) includes morphing each end of the sleeve member against at least one recess on an inner surface of the first and second connectors, respectively. 
     
     
         19 . A method of setting a morphed sleeve in a well bore according to  claim 18  wherein, step (e) includes the step of excluding fluid from the at least one recess. 
     
     
         20 . A method of setting a morphed sleeve in a well bore according to  claim 16  wherein the method includes the steps of running in an activation fluid delivery tool, creating a temporary seal above and below the port and injecting fluid from the tool into the chamber via the port.