Swelling layer inflatable

Abstract

An inflatable that features a swelling layer is disclosed. The swelling layer can be made integral or attached to the element or it can be bonded or otherwise secured to the mandrel. Upon inflation with fluid, the element expands into sealing contact with a surrounding tubular or wellbore. The fluid is absorbed or otherwise interacts with the swelling layer so that, in a preferred embodiment, the total occupied volume of the swelling layer and fluid individually is retained after mixing with the swelling of the layer acting to hold the seal of the inflatable element even if a problem develops in the sealing element

1 . A packer, comprising: 
 a mandrel;    a sealing element mounted over said mandrel defining an annular space therebetween;    a material in said annular space, said material capturing at least some of a medium delivered to said annular space.    
   
   
       2 . The packer of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said material has an initial volume V 1  and the delivered medium to said annular space has an initial volume V 2;      whereupon delivery of volume V 2  to said annular space, the total volume of the delivered fluid and said material is at least about the sum of volumes V 1  and V 2.      
   
   
       3 . The packer of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said material retains at least a portion of the medium in the event of malfunction of said sealing element.    
   
   
       4 . The packer of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said material swells when contacted by the medium.    
   
   
       5 . The packer of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said material swells in the presence of at least one of water and a hydrocarbon.    
   
   
       6 . The packer of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said material retains the seal of said sealing element, after inflation, despite a malfunction of said sealing element.    
   
   
       7 . The packer of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said material swells in the presence of both water and a hydrocarbon.    
   
   
       8 . The packer of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said material is secured to said element.    
   
   
       9 . The packer of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said material is secured to said mandrel.    
   
   
       10 . The packer of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said material is secured to neither said mandrel or said element.    
   
   
       11 . The packer of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said material comprises a sleeve.    
   
   
       12 . The packer of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said sleeve is seamless.    
   
   
       13 . The packer of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said material comprises a swelling clay.    
   
   
       14 . The packer of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said material comprises at least one of EPDM, natural rubber and brombutyl rubber.    
   
   
       15 . The packer of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said material has an initial volume V 1  and the delivered medium to said annular space has an initial volume V 2;      whereupon delivery of volume V 2  to said annular space, the total volume of the delivered fluid and said material is at least about the sum of volumes V 1  and V 2.      
   
   
       16 . The packer of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said material swells when contacted by the medium.    
   
   
       17 . The packer of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said material swells in the presence of at least one of water and a hydrocarbon.    
   
   
       18 . The packer of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said material retains the seal of said sealing element despite a malfunction of said sealing element.    
   
   
       19 . The packer of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said material comprises a sleeve.    
   
   
       20 . The packer of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said material comprises at least one of a swelling clay, EPDM, natural rubber and brombutyl rubber.    
   
   
       21 . An inflatable packer, comprising: 
 a mandrel;    a sealing element mounted over said mandrel defining an annular space therebetween;    a material in said annular space, said material capturing at least some of an inflation medium delivered to said annular space.    
   
   
       22 . The packer of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said material has an initial volume V 1  and the delivered inflation medium to said annular space has an initial volume V 2;      whereupon delivery of volume V 2  to said annular space, the total volume of the delivered fluid and said material is at least about the sum of volumes V 1  and V 2.      
   
   
       23 . The packer of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said material retains at least a portion of the inflation medium in the event of malfunction of said sealing element.    
   
   
       24 . The packer of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said material swells when contacted by the inflation medium.    
   
   
       25 . The packer of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said material swells in the presence of at least one of water and a hydrocarbon.    
   
   
       26 . The packer of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said material retains the seal of said sealing element, after inflation, despite a malfunction of said sealing element.    
   
   
       27 . The packer of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 said material swells in the presence of both water and a hydrocarbon.    
   
   
       28 . The packer of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said material comprises a sleeve.    
   
   
       29 . The packer of  claim 28 , wherein: 
 said sleeve is seamless.    
   
   
       30 . The packer of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said material comprises a swelling clay.    
   
   
       31 . The packer of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said material comprises at least one of EPDM, natural rubber and brombutyl rubber.