Improved Isolation Barrier

Abstract

An apparatus ( 10 ) and method for securing a tubular ( 12 ) within another tubular or borehole ( 80 ), creating a seal across an annulus in a wellbore ( 80 ), and centralising or anchoring tubing within a wellbore. A sleeve ( 14 ) is arranged on a tubular body ( 12 ) to create a chamber ( 16 ) therebetween. A port ( 18 ) provides fluid access through the body to the chamber. The chamber is filled with a swellable material ( 20 ). Thus the sleeve can be morphed to secure it to a well bore wall by the use of fluid pressure and an activated swellable material, the swellable material being used to support the sleeve to maintain a seal between the sleeve and well bore wall to form an isolation barrier.

We claim: 
     
         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 on the exterior of the tubular body and sealed thereto to create a chamber therebetween;   the tubular body including a port to permit the flow of fluid into the chamber to cause the sleeve member to move outwardly and morph against an inner surface of the larger diameter structure; and   characterised in that:   a swellable material is located in at least a portion of the chamber;   the swellable material being activated to swell by fluid entering the chamber and the swelled material supporting the morphed sleeve member against the inner surface of the larger diameter structure.   
     
     
         2 . 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. 
     
     
         3 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular body is located coaxially within the sleeve and is part of a tubular string used within a wellbore. 
     
     
         4 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the swellable material is a swellable elastomer. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the swellable material is of a type which swells immediately on contact with the activating fluid. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the swellable material is of a type which swells following a predetermined time after contact with the activating fluid. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the swellable material is arranged as a sleeve around the body. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the swellable material is a plurality of swellable elements. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly according to  claim 8  wherein the swellable elements are shaped as balls, cubes, strips or granules'. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the swellable material is attached to the exterior of the tubular body. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the swellable material is free to move within the chamber. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein there is a plurality of ports arranged through the tubular body. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the ports are arranged circumferentially around the body. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the ports are arranged longitudinally along the body. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein one or more channels are machined on the exterior of the tubular body at the chamber. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the port includes a barrier. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly according to  claim 16  wherein the barrier is a rupture disc which allows fluid to flow through the port at a predetermined fluid pressure. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly according to  claim 16  wherein the barrier includes a valve. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly according to  claim 18  wherein the valve is a one-way check valve. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of setting a morphed sleeve in a well bore, comprising the steps:
 (a) locating a sleeve member on the exterior of a tubular body and sealing it thereto to create a chamber therebetween;   (b) locating a swellable material in the chamber;   (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) activating the swellable material with the fluid to create swelling of the material in the chamber;   (f) causing the sleeve to move radially outwardly and morph against an inner surface of the larger diameter structure; and   (g) supporting the morphed sleeve via the swelled material.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled)