On-site assemblable packer element for downwell packing system

Abstract

A packer system for a wellbore includes: a tubular member; a packer element mounted on the tubular member and formed of a swellable polymeric material; and a securing unit that is configured to enable the position of the packer element to be adjusted relative to the tubular member when the securing unit is in an unsecured condition, but secures the packer element in place when the securing unit is in a secured condition.

1 . A packer element unit for a packer system for a wellbore, comprising:
 a generally annular packer element having an external surface, the packer element being formed of a swellable polymeric material; and   a tightening band circumscribing the external surface of the packer element, the tightening band being configured to apply radially inward compression to the packer element to secure the packer element on a tubular member.   
     
     
         2 . The packer element unit defined in  claim 1 , wherein the swellable polymeric material is a hydrocarbon-swellable material. 
     
     
         3 . The packer element unit defined in  claim 2 , wherein the hydrocarbon-swellable polymer is selected from the group consisting of: ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber, butadiene rubber, brominated butadiene rubber, chlorinated butadiene rubber, chlorinated polyethylene, neoprene rubber, styrene butadiene copolymer rubber, sulphonated polyethylene, ethylene acrylate rubber, epichlorohydrin ethylene oxide copolymer, silicone rubbers and fluorsilicone rubber. 
     
     
         4 . The packer element unit defined in  claim 1 , wherein the swellable polymer is a water-swellable polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The packer element unit defined in  claim 4 , wherein the water-swellable polymer is selected from the group consisting of: starch-polyacrylate acid graft copolymers; polyvinyl alcohol cyclic acid anhydride graft copolymers; isobutylene maleic anhydride; acrylic acid type polymers, vinylacetate-acrylate copolymers; polyethylene oxide polymers; carboxymethyl cellulose type polymers; and starch-polyacrylonitrile graft copolymers. 
     
     
         6 . A packer system for a wellbore, comprising:
 a tubular member; and   a packer element mounted on the tubular member and formed of a swellable polymeric material; and   a securing unit that is configured to enable the position of the packer element to be adjusted relative to the tubular member when the securing unit is in an unsecured condition, but secures the packer element in place when the securing unit is in a secured condition.   
     
     
         7 . The packer system defined in  claim 6 , wherein the securing unit comprises a tightening band that circumscribes the packer element. 
     
     
         8 . The packer system defined in  claim 6 , wherein the swellable polymeric material is a hydrocarbon-swellable material. 
     
     
         9 . The packer system defined in  claim 8 , wherein the hydrocarbon-swellable polymer is selected from the group consisting of: ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber, butadiene rubber, brominated butadiene rubber, chlorinated butadiene rubber, chlorinated polyethylene, neoprene rubber, styrene butadiene copolymer rubber, sulphonated polyethylene, ethylene acrylate rubber, epichlorohydrin ethylene oxide copolymer, silicone rubbers and fluorsilicone rubber. 
     
     
         10 . The packer system defined in  claim 6 , wherein the swellable polymer is a water-swellable polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The packer system defined in  claim 10 , wherein the water-swellable polymer is selected from the group consisting of: starch-polyacrylate acid graft copolymers; polyvinyl alcohol cyclic acid anhydride graft copolymers; isobutylene maleic anhydride; acrylic acid type polymers, vinylacetate-acrylate copolymers; polyethylene oxide polymers; carboxymethyl cellulose type polymers; and starch-polyacrylonitrile graft copolymers. 
     
     
         12 . A packer system for a wellbore, comprising:
 a tubular member; and   a packer element mounted on the tubular member and formed of a swellable polymeric material; and   a securing end cap configured such that its position relative to the tubular member can be adjusted and secured.   
     
     
         13 . A method of deploying a packer system in a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
 determining a desired level for a packer element within a wellbore based on conditions in the wellbore;   positioning the packer element on a tubular member based on the determining step;   securing the packer element on the tubular member to form a packer system; and   positioning the packer system into the wellbore such that the packer element is located at the desired level determined in the determining step.   
     
     
         14 . The method defined in  claim 13 , wherein the securing step comprises tightening a tightening band that circumscribes the packer element to compress the packer element onto the tubular member. 
     
     
         15 . The method defined in  claim 13 , wherein the securing step comprises securing an end cap to the tubular member. 
     
     
         16 . The method defined in  claim 13 , wherein the packer element comprises a swellable polymer. 
     
     
         17 . The method defined in  claim 16 , wherein the conditions in the wellbore determined in the determining step include the level of a liquid in the wellbore, and wherein the positioning step comprises positioning the packer element so that it will contact the liquid in the wellbore when the lowering step is performed. 
     
     
         18 . The method defined in  claim 17 , wherein the swellable polymer is a water-swellable polymer. 
     
     
         19 . The method defined in  claim 17 , wherein the swellable polymer is a hydrocarbon-swellable polymer.