Flexible graphite packer

Abstract

A packer includes a structure having a first part and a second part, and a plurality of flexible carbon composite particles arranged between the first and second parts.

1 . A packer comprising:
 a structure including a first part and a second part; and   a plurality of flexible carbon composite particles arranged between the first and second parts.   
     
     
         2 . The packer according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a flexible membrane extending between the first and second parts. 
     
     
         3 . The packer according to  claim 2 , wherein the flexible membrane is formed from a woven material. 
     
     
         4 . The packer according to  claim 3 , wherein the woven material includes one or more of a carbon fiber; a metal wire; an asbestos material; a metal fiber; or a flexible graphite fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The packer according to  claim 2 , wherein the flexible membrane is formed from a degradable material. 
     
     
         6 . The packer according to  claim 5 , wherein the degradable material comprises a polymer fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The packer according to  claim 2 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises a tube, the plurality of carbon composite particles being encased in the tube. 
     
     
         8 . A subsurface exploration system comprising:
 an uphole system;   a downhole system operatively connected to the uphole system, the downhole system including a downhole string having at least one mandrel; and   a packer supported on the at least one mandrel, the packer comprising:
 a structure including a first part and a second part; and 
 a plurality of flexible carbon composite particles arranged between the first and second parts. 
   
     
     
         9 . The resource exploration system according to  claim 8 , further comprising: a flexible membrane extending between the first and second parts. 
     
     
         10 . The subsurface exploration system according to  claim 9 , wherein the flexible membrane is formed from a woven material. 
     
     
         11 . The subsurface exploration system according to  claim 10 , wherein the woven material includes one or more of a carbon fiber; a metal wire; an asbestos material; a metal fiber; or a flexible graphite fiber. 
     
     
         12 . The subsurface exploration system according to  claim 9 , wherein the flexible membrane is formed from a degradable material. 
     
     
         13 . The subsurface exploration system according to  claim 12 , wherein the degradable material comprises a polymer fiber. 
     
     
         14 . The subsurface exploration system according to  claim 9 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises a tube arranged in a coil extending about the at least one tubular, the plurality of flexible carbon composite particles being encased in the tube. 
     
     
         15 . A method of setting a packer comprising:
 positioning a packer including a metal structure including first and second parts onto a mandrel;   shifting at least one of the first and second parts towards another of the first and second parts to compress a plurality of flexible carbon composite particles;   urging the plurality of flexible carbon composite particles outwardly of the first and second parts; and   guiding the plurality of flexible carbon composite particles towards a wellbore casing.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: constraining the plurality of flexible carbon composite particles between the first and second parts with a flexible membrane. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein urging the plurality of flexible carbon composite particles outwardly of the first and second parts includes expanding the flexible membrane. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein constraining the plurality of flexible carbon composite particles between the first and second parts with the flexible membrane includes positioning a flexible membrane formed from one of a woven material and a degradable material between the first and second parts. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein guiding the plurality of flexible carbon composite particles toward the wellbore casing includes shifting the first and second parts along an angled surface section of the mandrel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein guiding the plurality of flexible carbon composite particles toward the wellbore casing includes compressing the plurality of flexible carbon composite particles encased in a hollow tube formed by the flexible membrane coiled about the mandrel.