Protection apparatus on swellable packers to prevent fluid reaction

Abstract

A packer protection system is disclosed. The packer protection system includes a swellable packer disposed along a tubular and a packer protection apparatus disposed around the swellable packer. The packer protection apparatus includes a shell body, a first connection mechanism provided on the shell body, and a second connection mechanism provided on the shell body, where the first connection mechanism and the second connection mechanism interlock. The packer protection apparatus also includes a shear pin removably fitted through the first connection mechanism and the second connection mechanism and at least one fluid port provided in the shell body. The shell body extends entirely around the swellable packer to create a sealed chamber between an inner surface of the shell body and an outer surface of the swellable packer.

1 . A packer protection system, comprising:
 a swellable packer disposed along a tubular; and   a packer protection apparatus disposed around the swellable packer, wherein the packer protection apparatus comprises:
 a shell body; 
 a first connection mechanism provided on the shell body; 
 a second connection mechanism provided on the shell body, 
 wherein the first connection mechanism and the second connection mechanism interlock; 
 a shear pin removably fitted through the first connection mechanism and the second connection mechanism; and 
 at least one fluid port provided in the shell body, wherein each of the at least one fluid port comprises:
 an opening communicating an interior of the shell body to an exterior of the shell body; and 
 a pressure relief device sealing the opening; 
 
   wherein the shell body extends entirely around the swellable packer to create a sealed chamber between an inner surface of the shell body and an outer surface of the swellable packer.   
     
     
         2 . The packer protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the first connection mechanism is integrally formed with the shell body. 
     
     
         3 . The packer protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the shell body comprises a plurality of shell sections that are connected together to form the sealed chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The packer protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the shell body comprises a continuously formed shell section with break lines formed around the shell section, wherein break lines are lines of reduced shell body thickness. 
     
     
         5 . The packer protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed chamber comprises a gap between the inner surface of the shell body and the outer surface of the swellable packer that is less than 5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The packer protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the shell body is composed of fiber glass. 
     
     
         8 . The packer protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular is threadably connected to a plurality of other tubulars to create a toolstring disposed within a wellbore. 
     
     
         9 . A packer protection apparatus, comprising:
 a shell body, comprising:
 a plurality of shell sections; 
 a first connection mechanism provided on a first section of the plurality of shell sections; and 
 a second connection mechanism provided on a second section of the plurality of shell sections, 
 wherein the first connection mechanism and the second connection mechanism interlock, 
 wherein the shell sections are circumferentially arranged and connected together to define an interior sealed chamber, 
   a fluid port formed through the shell body, wherein the fluid port comprises:
 an opening communicating the interior sealed chamber to an exterior of the shell body; and 
 a pressure relief device sealing the opening. 
   
     
     
         10 . The packer protection apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a shear pin inserted through both the first connection mechanism and the second connection mechanism interlock the first connection mechanism and the second connection mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The packer protection apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first connection mechanism is integrally formed with the first section and the second connection mechanism is integrally formed with the second section. 
     
     
         12 . The packer protection apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the shell body comprises:
 a maximum outer diameter;   a first axial end; and   a second axial end opposite the first axial end, wherein the second axial end has an outer diameter less than the maximum outer diameter,   wherein the fluid port is provided within a region between the maximum outer diameter and the second axial end.   
     
     
         13 . The packer protection apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid port is provided along a portion of the shell body having an outer diameter less than a maximum outer diameter of the shell body. 
     
     
         14 . The packer protection apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of shell sections is composed of fiber glass. 
     
     
         15 . A method for protecting a swellable packer, comprising:
 surrounding the swellable packer with a packer protection apparatus,   wherein the swellable packer is disposed along a tubular, and   wherein the packer protection apparatus comprises a shell body and a fluid port formed through the shell body;   running the tubular to a setting depth within a wellbore;   circulating a fluid within the wellbore;   transitioning the fluid port from a closed configuration to an open configuration;   flowing the fluid through the fluid port to contact the swellable packer;   expanding the swellable packer with the fluid to an expanded configuration; and   using the expanding swellable packer to break apart the shell body.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid port is transitioned to an open configuration using pressure from increasing the circulation of the fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein surrounding the swellable packer with the packer protection apparatus further comprises sealing the packer protection apparatus around the tubular around opposite axial ends of the swellable packer to prevent wellbore fluids from contacting the swellable packer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein expanding the swellable packer comprises a reaction of the swellable packer with the fluid, wherein the fluid comprises wellbore fluids with a viscosity in a range of 25 and 35 sec and oil concentration of at least 90%. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein transitioning the fluid port from the closed configuration to the open configuration comprises activating a pressure relief device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid port and additional fluid ports are positioned circumferentially around the shell body along an upstream interfacing surface of the shell body when the tubular is at the setting depth in the wellbore