Cable duct device in a swelling packer

Abstract

A cable duct device in a swellable packer ( 1 ) of the kind in which the packer ( 1 ) is adapted to be able of sealing an annulus ( 3 ), and in which the swellable packer ( 1 ) is provided with at least one opening ( 6 ) therethrough adapted to constitute a duct for a cable ( 12 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A cable duct device, comprising:
 a packer adapted for sealing an annulus;   at least one through-going opening positioned between an inner surface and an outer surface of the packer and adapted to constitute a duct for a cable or a pipe; and   a slit extending between the through-going opening and the outer surface of the packer prior to actuation of the packer, wherein the inner surface of the packer is circumferentially continuous prior to actuation of the packer.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the packer seals about a cable positioned in the through-going opening when the packer is actuated. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the packer extends lengthwise in a longitudinal direction, wherein the through-going opening extends longitudinally through the packer, and wherein a cable extends longitudinally through the through-going opening. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein a cable is inserted through the slit and positioned in the through-going opening. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the packer comprises a swellable packer including a seal material which swells and thereby increases in volume in response to contact with a swell-activating material. 
     
     
         11 . A cable duct device, comprising:
 a swellable packer, the packer including a seal material which swells and thereby increases in volume in response to contact with a swell-activating material, wherein the packer is not radially expanded by mechanical compression of the seal material;   a single through-going opening extending generally longitudinally through the seal material, wherein the through-going opening is positioned between an inner surface of the packer and an outer surface of the packer, and wherein a length of the through-going opening is substantially greater than a width of the through-going opening; and   a slit extending between the through-going opening and only one of the outer surface of the packer and the inner surface of the packer, wherein the slit comprises first and second opposing surfaces which are radially separated during insertion of a cable into the through-going opening via the slit, wherein seals are formed between the first and second opposing surfaces of the slit, between the cable and an interior surface of the through-going opening, and between the outer surface of the packer and a surrounding well surface in response to swelling of the seal material.   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the through-going opening encloses the cable both prior to and after swelling has occurred in the swellable packer. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the through-going opening has a variable cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the swell-activating material comprises water. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the swell-activating material comprises hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         16 . A method of extending a cable longitudinally through a packer, the method comprising:
 providing a swellable packer including a seal material having a single through-going opening extending generally longitudinally through the seal material and positioned between an inner surface and an outer surface of the packer, wherein a length of the through-going opening is substantially greater than a width of the through-going opening, and the packer further including a slit extending between the through-going opening and only one of the outer surface of the packer and the inner surface of the packer, wherein the slit comprises first and second opposing surfaces;   radially separating the first and second opposing surfaces of the slit;   inserting the cable into the through-going opening via the slit; and   then swelling the seal material by contacting the seal material with a swell-activating material, thereby forming seals between the first and second opposing surfaces of the slit, between the cable and an interior surface of the through-going opening, and between the outer surface of the packer and a surrounding well surface, wherein the packer is not radially expanded by mechanical compression of the seal material.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the swell-activating material comprises water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the swell-activating material comprises hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         19 . A cable duct device, comprising:
 a swellable packer, the packer including a seal material which swells and thereby increases in volume in response to contact with a swell-activating material, wherein the packer is not radially expanded by mechanical compression of the seal material;   at least one through-going opening extending helically through the seal material, wherein the through-going opening is positioned between an inner surface of the packer and an outer surface of the packer, and wherein a length of the through-going opening is substantially greater than a width of the through-going opening; and   a slit extending between the through-going opening and only one of the outer surface of the packer and the inner surface of the packer, wherein the slit comprises first and second opposing surfaces which are radially separated during insertion of a cable into the through-going opening via the slit, wherein seals are formed between the first and second opposing surfaces of the slit, between the cable and an interior surface of the through-going opening, and between the outer surface of the packer and a surrounding well surface in response to swelling of the seal material.   
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the through-going opening encloses the cable both prior to and after swelling has occurred in the swellable packer. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the through-going opening has a variable cross-section. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the swell-activating material comprises water. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the swell-activating material comprises hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         24 . A method of extending a cable longitudinally through a packer, the method comprising:
 providing a swellable packer including a seal material having a through-going opening extending helically through the seal material and positioned between an inner surface and an outer surface of the packer, wherein a length of the through-going opening is substantially greater than a width of the through-going opening, and the packer further including a slit extending between the through-going opening and only one of the outer surface of the packer and the inner surface of the packer, wherein the slit comprises first and second opposing surfaces;   radially separating the first and second opposing surfaces of the slit;   inserting the cable into the through-going opening via the slit; and   then swelling the seal material by contacting the seal material with a swell-activating material, thereby forming seals between the first and second opposing surfaces of the slit, between the cable and an interior surface of the through-going opening, and between the outer surface of the packer and a surrounding well surface, wherein the packer is not radially expanded by mechanical compression of the seal material.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the swell-activating material comprises water. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the swell-activating material comprises hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         27 . A system comprising:
 a production tubing having at least two packers disposed about an outer surface of the production tubing and arranged along a longitudinal extension of the production tubing;   each packer being formed of a swellable material and including a generally longitudinal through-going opening through the packer with a slit extending between the through-going opening and an inner surface of the packer prior to actuation of the packer; and   a cable extending along the longitudinal extension of the production tubing and through the through-going openings of the two packers, wherein a first length of the cable extending within the through-going openings is greater than a longitudinal length of the two packers.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein a second length of the cable between the two packers does not include ends connected with a connector. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein a portion of a second length of the cable between the two packers is protected. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein a portion of a second length of the cable between the two packers is arranged along the production tubing. 
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 providing a production tubing having at least two packers disposed about an outer surface of the production tubing and arranged along a longitudinal extension of the production tubing;   each packer being formed of a swellable material and including a generally longitudinal through-going opening through the packer with a slit extending between the through-going opening and either an outer surface or an inner surface of the packer prior to actuation of the packer;   extending a cable along the longitudinal extension of the production tubing;   placing a first length of the cable into the through-going openings of the two packers via the slits, wherein the first length of the cable is greater than a longitudinal length of the two packers;   arranging a second length of the cable between the two packers along the production tubing therebetween;   inserting the production tubing with the two packers into a well; and   contacting the packers with a swell-activating material, thereby expanding the packers against ( 1 ) a casing or a formation of the well and ( 2 ) the first length of the cable disposed in the through-going openings.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the second length of the cable between the two packers does not include ends connected with a connector. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the packer is not mechanically actuated. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the second length of the cable between the two packers is protected.