Well completion method and system

Abstract

A well completion method is provided wherein an inflatable packer is positioned in an open borehole of a well opposite a formation from which or into which a fluid is to flow. Cement is then forced into the packer to expand its packing element into contact with the wall of the borehole at the formation. The cement is allowed to set and then at least one perforation is made from the interior of the packer through the cement and packing element to the formation. A well system is also provided in which the well is equipped with such a packer so installed and having such a perforation.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of completing a well having a formation penetrated by an open borehole comprising positioning a packer in the borehole opposite said formation, said packer having an elongated resilient packing element expansible radially by forcing a fluid into the packer, then flowing a fluid into the packer to cause the packing element to expand radially into contact with the wall of the borehole at said formation while causing the packer to confine said fluid to be within said packing element, said fluid being capable of setting as a solid mass, permitting said fluid to set to a solid mass while so confined by said packer, and then forming at least one perforation extending from the interior of the packer through the confined solid mass and the packing element to the formation. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid comprises portland cement. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 including the further step of flowing a fluid through the perforation into or out of said formation. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein the packer extends vertically in the borehole from a point above to a point below said formation. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 wherein the well has a second formation vertically adjacent the first mentioned formation and wherein the packer is caused to extend across both of such formations to assure that a fluid cannot flow from one formation to another. 
     
     
       6. In a well system wherein a formation is penetrated by an open borehole, a packer assembly positioned in the open borehole opposite said formation, said packer assembly having a radially expansible .Iadd.sleeve type .Iaddend.packing element .[.mounted on.]. .Iadd.surrounding a portion of a mandrel .Iaddend.and having .[.a.]. .Iadd.the extremities of said packing element in .Iaddend.fluid tight mechanical connection with the exterior of .[.a.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.mandrel, a time setting solid mass between the mandrel and packing element in sufficient quantity that the packing element is radially expanded into .Iadd.continuous supporting .Iaddend.engagement with said formation, and at least one continuously open perforation extending from the interior of the packer assembly through the mandrel, the solid mass and the packing element to said formation. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 6 wherein the packing element is of a length to extend vertically in the borehole from a point above to a point below said formation. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 7 wherein a second formation vertically adjacent the first mentioned formation is also penetrated by the borehole and wherein the packing element is of a length to extend across both of said formations to assure that a fluid cannot flow along the wall of the borehole from one formation to another.