Methods and Systems Using an Expandable Sleeve in a Casing for Forming a Zonal Hydraulic Isolation

Abstract

An expandable sleeve is used for providing support to an obturation member. The expandable sleeve and the obturation member form a hydraulic isolation in a casing. The expandable sleeve has preferably a small thickness or cross-section, which can allow for a large flow-through inner diameter after expansion. Also, the expandable sleeve is preferably short. Thus, mill-up operations that are performed when the expandable sleeve is no longer in use can be expedited or even eliminated in some cases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 providing a sleeve, the sleeve including:
 a tubular body, the tubular body being essentially made of a plastically deformable material, the tubular body having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end axially opposite the first end, an inner radial surface, and an outer radial surface, wherein the inner radial surface includes a conical seat surface; and a tubular seal, the tubular seal comprising an elastomeric material, the tubular seal having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end axially opposite the first end, the tubular seal being secured around the outer radial surface of the tubular body, 
 wherein a distance from the first end of the tubular seal to the first end of the tubular body is less than or equal to a length of the tubular seal; 
   expanding the sleeve against a casing located in a wellbore drilled through an Earth formation;   forming an annular seal between the tubular body and the casing with the tubular seal; and   landing an obturation member on the conical seat surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the conical seat surface extends axially between a base level and the first end of the tubular body, and wherein the first end of the tubular seal extends axially at least to the base level. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein expanding the sleeve against the casing is performed by translating an expansion cone through an entirety of the sleeve in a direction from the second end of the tubular body to the first end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising dissolving or milling the obturation member. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising flowing fluids through the sleeve after dissolving or milling the obturation member. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising passing a downhole tool through the sleeve after dissolving or milling the obturation member. 
     
     
         7 . A system, comprising:
 a sleeve, the sleeve including:
 a tubular body, the tubular body being essentially made of a plastically deformable material, the tubular body having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end axially opposite the first end, an inner radial surface, and an outer radial surface, wherein the inner radial surface includes a conical seat surface; and a tubular seal, the tubular seal comprising an elastomeric material, the tubular seal having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end axially opposite the first end, the tubular seal being secured around the outer radial surface of the tubular body, 
 wherein an axial distance from the first end of the tubular seal to the first end of the tubular body is less than or equal to an axial length of the tubular seal; and 
   a setting tool, the setting tool including a tool body having a chamber, a piston slidable within the chamber, and a mandrel joining the piston and to an expansion cone,   wherein the tool body is configured to abut the first end of the tubular body, the second end of the tubular body is configured to abut the expansion cone, and the mandrel is configured to pass through the tubular body.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the conical seat surface extends axially between a base level and the first end of the tubular body, and wherein the first end of the tubular seal extends axially at least to the base level. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the tubular seal comprises means for increasing friction between the tubular body and a casing, the means for increasing friction being bonded to or embedded into the elastomeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the tubular body has a substantially uniform thickness. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the second end of the tubular body is enlarged such that an outer diameter of the second end of the tubular body is larger than an outer diameter of the tubular seal. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the first end of the tubular body is enlarged such that an outer diameter of the first end of the tubular body is larger than a minimum outer diameter of the tubular body below the tubular seal.