Compressible Packing Element for Continuous Feed-Through Line

Abstract

A downhole tool accommodates a feed-through line running along a tubing string. The tool has a mandrel and a sleeve disposed on the mandrel. The feed-through line runs adjacent the mandrel and can be accommodated in a groove defined in an inner dimension of the sleeve. When deployed and compressed, the sleeve is compressible from an uncompressed state to a compressed state in which the sleeve expands radially outward to seal in casing or borehole. The sleeve defines a radial spiral slit along a length of the sleeve and wraps around the mandrel and the feed-through line. External spacing of the radial slit on an exterior of the sleeve can vary along the length of the sleeve, and a cross-sectional angle of the radial slit from an interior to an exterior of the sleeve can vary along the length of the sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole tool accommodating a feed-through line running along tubing, the downhole tool comprising:
 a mandrel coupling to the tubing and accommodating adjacent passage of the feed-through line; and   a sleeve disposed on the mandrel and defining a slit around a circumference and along a length of the sleeve, the sleeve wrapping along the slit around the mandrel and the feed-through line and being compressible from an uncompressed state to a compressed state, the sleeve in the compressed state packing against a surface surrounding the mandrel.   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein external spacing of the slit on an exterior of the sleeve varies along the length of the sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 2 , wherein the external spacing of the slit varies from a wider spacing toward a first end of the sleeve to a narrower spacing toward a center of the sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 3 , wherein the external spacing varies from a second, opposite end of the sleeve toward the center in a manner complimentary to the first end toward the center. 
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 3 , wherein internal spacing of the slit on an interior of the sleeve varies along the length of the sleeve opposite to the external spacing. 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional angle of the slit from an interior to an exterior of the sleeve varies along the length of the sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 6 , wherein the cross-sectional angle varies from a less acute angle toward a first end of the sleeve to a more acute angle toward a center of the sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 7 , wherein the cross-sectional angle varies from a second, opposite end of the sleeve toward the center in a manner complimentary to the first end toward the center. 
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one ring disposed on the mandrel and being movable thereon to compress the sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve defines a channel on an inner dimension accommodating the feed-through line disposed against the mandrel. 
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises one or more components disposed end-to-end on the mandrel. 
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve comprises at least two of the component disposed end-to-end on the mandrel, and wherein the tool comprises a ring disposed on the mandrel between the ends of the at least two components. 
     
     
         14 . A method of assembling a downhole tool to accommodate a feed-through line running along tubing, the method comprising:
 forming a sleeve of compressible material;   forming a slit around a circumference and along a length of the sleeve; and   wrapping the slit sleeve of the compressible material around a mandrel of the downhole tool.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein forming the slit around the circumference and along the length of the sleeve comprises cutting the slit in the sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising securing the slit sleeve wrapped on the mandrel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising:
 unwrapping the slit sleeve of the compressible material from the mandrel of the downhole tool;   disposing the feed-through line adjacent the mandrel; and   rewrapping the slit sleeve of the compressible material around the mandrel and the feed-through line.   
     
     
         18 . A method of accommodating on a downhole tool a feed-through line running along tubing, the method comprising:
 unwrapping a radially slit sleeve of compressible material from a mandrel of the downhole tool;   disposing the feed-through line adjacent the mandrel; and   rewrapping the radially slit sleeve of the compressible material around the mandrel and the feed-through line.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein rewrapping the radially slit sleeve of the compressible material around the mandrel and the feed-through line comprises accommodating the feed-through line in a channel defined along an inner dimension of the sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising securing the radially slit sleeve rewrapped on the mandrel.