Internally mounted and actuated packer system

Abstract

A packer system for a wellbore. The system includes a base packing element mounted to an inner surface of a first tubular and an actuator which actuates the base packing element in a radially inward direction. The system further includes a first trigger element disposed at the inner surface of the first tubular and operatively connected with the actuator, and a second trigger element disposed at an outer surface of a second tubular. The second tubular is displaceable in an axial direction with respect to the first tubular, wherein, upon displacing the second tubular at a predetermined position within the first tubular: the second trigger element engages with the first trigger element; and the first trigger element causes the actuator to actuate the base packing element in a radially inward direction, to bridge a space between the first tubular and second tubulars. Also disclosed and described is a related method.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A packer system for a wellbore, comprising:
 a base packing element mounted to an inner surface of a first tubular;   an actuator which actuates the base packing element in a radially inward direction from a retracted position to an extended position;   a first trigger element disposed at the inner surface of the first tubular, wherein the first trigger element is operatively connected with the actuator; and   a second trigger element disposed at an outer surface of a second tubular;   the second tubular being displaceable in an axial direction within and with respect to the first tubular;   wherein, upon displacing the second tubular at a predetermined position within the first tubular:
 the second trigger element engages with the first trigger element; and 
 the first trigger element causes the actuator to actuate the base packing element in the radially inward direction from the retracted position to the extended position, wherein the base packing element bridges a space between the first tubular and the second tubular. 
   
     
     
         2 . The packer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a mechanical actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The packer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The packer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the base packing element, when in the retracted position, is disposed to be flush or recessed with respect to the inner surface of the first tubular. 
     
     
         5 . The packer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the base packing element, when in the retracted position, is disposed in a recess in the inner surface of the first tubular. 
     
     
         6 . The packer system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first trigger element comprises at least one receptacle; and   the second trigger element comprises at least one key element which engages with the at least one receptacle to cause the actuator to actuate the base packing element in the radially inward direction from the retracted position to the extended position.   
     
     
         7 . The packer system according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one key element comprises at least one structural element which is physically compatible with the at least one receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The packer system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second packing element mounted to the inner surface of the first tubular, at a different axial position than the base packing element;   a second actuator which actuates the second packing element in a radially inward direction from a retracted position to an extended position;   a third trigger element disposed at the inner surface of the first tubular, wherein the third trigger element is operatively connected with the second actuator; and   a fourth trigger element disposed at an outer surface of the second tubular;   wherein, upon displacing the second tubular at a predetermined position within the first tubular:
 the fourth trigger element engages the third trigger element; and 
 the third trigger element causes the second actuator to actuate the second packing element in the radially inward direction from the retracted position to the extended position, wherein the second packing element bridges a space between the first tubular and the second tubular. 
   
     
     
         9 . The packer system according to  claim 8 , wherein the fourth trigger element does not engage the first trigger element when moving axially past the first trigger element. 
     
     
         10 . The packer system according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the third trigger element comprises at least one receptacle; and   the fourth trigger element comprises at least one key element which engages with the at least one receptacle of the third trigger element to cause the second actuator to actuate the second packing element in the radially inward direction from the retracted position to the extended position.   
     
     
         11 . The packer system according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one key element of the fourth trigger element comprises at least one structural element which is physically compatible with the at least one receptacle of the third trigger element. 
     
     
         12 . The packer system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first trigger element comprises at least one receptacle which is physically incompatible with the at least one key element of the fourth trigger element. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 mounting a base packing element at an inner surface of a first tubular;   disposing a first trigger element at the inner surface of the first tubular, the first trigger element being operatively connected with an actuator configured to actuate the base packing element in a radially inward direction from a retracted position to an extended position;   disposing a second trigger element at an outer surface of a second tubular, the second tubular being displaceable in an axial direction within and with respect to the first tubular;   while displacing the second tubular at a predetermined position within the first tubular, determining whether the second trigger element is matched to engage with the first trigger element of the first tubular; and   when the second trigger element is matched to the first trigger element:
 the second trigger element engages the first trigger element; and 
 the first trigger element causes the actuator to actuate the base packing element in the radially inward direction from the retracted position to the extended position, 
 wherein the base packing element bridges a space between the first tubular and the second tubular. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the base packing element, when in the retracted position, is disposed to be flush or recessed with respect to the inner surface of the first tubular. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first trigger element comprises at least one receptacle; and   the second trigger element comprises at least one key element which engages with the at least one receptacle to cause the actuator to actuate the base packing element in the radially inward direction from the retracted position to the extended position.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 mounting an additional packing element at the inner surface of the first tubular, at a different axial position from the base packing element;   disposing a third trigger element at the inner surface of the first tubular, the third trigger element being operatively connected with an additional actuator which actuates the additional packing element in a radially inward direction from a retracted position to an extended position;   disposing a fourth trigger element at an outer surface of the second tubular;   while displacing the second tubular at an additional predetermined position within the first tubular, determining whether the fourth trigger element is matched to engage with the third trigger element of the first tubular; and   when the fourth trigger element is matched to the third trigger element:
 the fourth trigger element engages the third trigger element; and 
 the third trigger element causes the additional actuator to actuate the additional packing element in the radially inward direction from the retracted position to the extended position; 
 wherein the additional packing element bridges the space between the first tubular and the second tubular. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the fourth trigger element does not engage the first trigger element when displaced past the first trigger element. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the third trigger element comprises at least one receptacle; and   the fourth trigger element comprises at least one key element which engages with the at least one receptacle of the third trigger element to cause the additional actuator to actuate the additional packing element in the radially inward direction from the retracted position to the extended position.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the at least one key element of the fourth trigger element comprises at least one structural element which is physically compatible with the at least one receptacle of the third trigger element; and   the first trigger element comprises at least one receptacle which is physically incompatible with the at least one key element of the fourth trigger element.   
     
     
         20 . A packer system for a wellbore, comprising:
 a base packing element mounted at an inner surface of a first tubular and which, when in a retracted position, is disposed to be flush or recessed with respect to the inner surface of the first tubular;   a mechanical actuator which actuates the base packing element in a radially inward direction from a retracted position to an extended position;   at least one receptacle which is placed at the inner surface of the first tubular and is operatively connected with the mechanical actuator; and   at least one key element placed at an outer surface of a second tubular and which is physically compatible with the at least one receptacle;   the second tubular being displaceable in an axial direction within and with respect to the first tubular;   wherein, upon displacing the second tubular at a predetermined position within the first tubular:
 the at least one key element engages with the at least one receptacle and causes the mechanical actuator to actuate the base packing element in the radially inward direction from the retracted position to the extended position; 
 wherein the base packing element bridges a space between the first tubular and the second tubular.