Selective zonal isolation within a slotted liner

Details Selective zonal isolation within a slotted liner Selective zonal isolation within a slotted liner

2000-02-23

2001-07-03

Suchfield, George (Department: 3672)

Wells

Processes

Repairing object in well

C166S207000, C166S212000, C166S387000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06253850

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method to provide isolation within a zone of a wellbore lined with a slotted liner by placing an expandable liner within the zone to be isolated.
2. The Prior Art
There is a great deal of prior art relating to isolating portions of a wellbore for various reason. For example, a zone may be producing water or gas and needs to be shut off for more effective production of the petroleum being recovered. Also, a zone may be producing sand or collapsing and creating debris and needs to be isolated to maintain and efficient operation. However, different problems arise when the wellbore has been completed with the insertion of a known slotted liner.
One example of the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,012 which describes a method of completing uncased sections of a wellbore by placing, at a predetermined position in the wellbore, a liner which is provided with a plurality of overlapping slots. The upper end of the liner is fixed in place and an upwardly tapering expansion mandrel is drawn upwardly through the slotted liner expanding it outwardly to engage the walls of the wellbore. This circumferentially outward movement is facilitated by the opening of the slots, together with a slight shortening of the overall length of the liner. Slotted liner completions of this type leave an annular area around the slotted liner which makes zonal selectivity nearly impossible.
Another suitable method for sealing between a lining and wellbore, casing or pipeline is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,106. This patent describes a deformable annular seal which is lowered into the wellbore in a deformed or contracted state, which does not impede insertion. Once in place the seal is expanded. During expansion of the seal it is hardened to form a substantially permanent repair.
Another method for lining a casing is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,419 in which a tubular polymeric material is lowered into the wellbore in a stretched condition, due to a series of weights attached to the leading or bottom end. When properly positioned, the weights are released and the tubular material returns to its normal condition in which it presses against the walls to the wellbore.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The selective zonal isolation system of the present invention can be utilized within a slotted liner completion to selectively isolate, either permanently or temporarily, sections of the wellbore for such applications as fluid shutoff or stimulation purposes. The subject selective zonal isolation system works by first expanding an existing slotted liner in the wellbore to the full inner diameter of the hole. Then one or more solid tubular members are run into the expanded area and are expanded at least in that section of the wellbore to be isolated. It is also possible to use expandable packers to selectively isolate the section. Additionally, if excessive splits or rips should occur in the existing slotted liner, after expansion, a custom second expandable slotted liner can be run into the wellbore and expanded within the original expanded slotted liner. Epoxies, rubber, or other sealing materials can also be utilized to better effect a seal. The same methodology could also be utilized in solid uncemented pipe sections to increase the effective wellbore radius. Benefits are sealing or zonal isolation of existing slotted liner, perforated pipe, sand control device or open hole or other completion system.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 3326293 (1967-06-01), Skipper
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patent: 5366012 (1994-11-01), Lohbeck
patent: 5454419 (1995-10-01), Vloedman
patent: 5494106 (1996-02-01), Gueguen et al.
patent: 5613557 (1997-03-01), Blount et al.
patent: 5667011 (1997-09-01), Gill et al.
patent: 5964288 (1999-10-01), Leighton et al.

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