Isolation Barrier

Abstract

Apparatus and method for creating a barrier across an annulus in a well bore. First and second morphable sleeves are arranged side by side on a tubular body and sealed thereto to. Adjacent ends of each sleeve meet at a valve housing having a valve arrangement with a first position in which fluid flows from the throughbore of the tubular body to the first and second sleeves and a second position which prevents the flow of fluid between the throughbore, the first chamber and the second chamber. At opposing ends of the sleeves rupturable barrier devices are positioned. The sleeves can be morphed together and by rupturing the barriers, each side of the barrier is active to pressure and collapse is prevented regardless of the pressure differential across the barrier.

1 . An isolation barrier, comprising:
 a tubular body having a throughbore, the tubular body arranged to be run in and secured within a larger diameter generally cylindrical structure;   a valve housing located on the exterior of the tubular body;   a first sleeve member positioned on the exterior of the tubular body with a first end being sealed thereto and a second end being sealed to the valve housing to create a first chamber within the first sleeve;   a second sleeve member positioned on the exterior of the tubular body with a first end being sealed thereto and a second end being sealed to the valve housing to create a second chamber within the second sleeve;   first and second rupturable barrier devices located at the first ends of the first and second sleeves, respectively; and   a valve arrangement located in the valve housing, the valve arrangement having a first position in which fluid flows from the throughbore to the first and second chambers and a second position which prevents the flow of fluid between the throughbore, the first chamber and the second chamber.   
     
     
         2 . An isolation barrier 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, a borehole lined with a liner string, or a pipeline within which another smaller diameter tubular section requires to be secured or centralised. 
     
     
         3 . An isolation barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular body is located coaxially within the first and second sleeves. 
     
     
         4 . An isolation barrier according to  claim 3  wherein the tubular body is part of a tubular string. 
     
     
         5 . An isolation barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the valve arrangement has three branches, a first branch being open to the throughbore, a second branch connecting to the first sleeve member and a third branch connecting to the second sleeve member. 
     
     
         6 . An isolation barrier according to  claim 5  wherein there is a one-way check valve in the second branch and a one-way valve in the third branch. 
     
     
         7 . An isolation barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the ruptureable barrier devices are rupture disks. 
     
     
         8 . An isolation barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the ruptureable barrier devices are set to rupture at pressures around the morphed pressure value so that the sleeves are morphed prior to rupture of the barrier devices. 
     
     
         9 . An isolation barrier according to  claim 5  wherein the first branch of the valve arrangement includes a ruptureable barrier device. 
     
     
         10 . A method of setting an isolation barrier in a well bore, comprising the steps:
 (a) locating first and second sleeve members side-by-side on the exterior of a tubular body and sealing them thereto to create first and second chambers therebetween;   (b) running the tubular body on a tubular member into a wellbore and positioning the sleeve members at a desired location within a larger diameter structure;   (c) pumping fluid through the tubular member and increasing the fluid pressure to provide fluid at a morphed pressure value at the sleeve members;   (d) simultaneously pumping fluid at the morphed pressure value into the chambers causing the sleeves to move radially outwardly and morph against an inner surface of the larger diameter structure;   (f) once morphed, preventing fluid from passing between the tubular member and the chambers, and between the chambers; and   (g) creating an opening at a first end of the first sleeve member and at a second end of the second sleeve member.   
     
     
         11 . A method of setting an isolation barrier in a well bore according to  claim 10  wherein the large diameter structure is selected from a group comprising: an open hole borehole, a borehole lined with a casing, a borehole lined with a liner string, or a pipeline within which another smaller diameter tubular section requires to be secured or centralised. 
     
     
         12 . A method of setting an isolation barrier in a well bore according to  claim 10  wherein step (d) includes the step of pumping fluid through a valve arrangement between the sleeves. 
     
     
         13 . A method of setting an isolation barrier in a well bore according to  claim 12  wherein the step (d) includes pumping fluid through two one way check valves, each arranged at an input to each sleeve, respectively. 
     
     
         14 . A method of setting an isolation barrier in a well bore according to  claim 10  wherein the method includes the step of rupturing a disc at the valve arrangement to allow fluid to enter the chambers when the pressure reaches a desired value. 
     
     
         15 . A method of setting an isolation barrier in a well bore according to  claim 10  wherein method includes the steps of running in a hydraulic fluid delivery tool, creating a temporary seal above and below the valve arrangement and injecting fluid from the tool into the chambers via the valve arrangement.