| 摘要 |
A downhole tool, such as a packer or bridge plug, employing an inflatable element, is disclosed. A pressure-compensation system is in fluid communication with the annular space between the body of the packer or plug and the inflatable element. The compensation system responds to thermally induced pressure load changes within the wellbore by allowing fluid to escape from beneath the inflated element when increases in fluid temperature in the wellbore increase the pressure under the element. The system additionally supplies fluid behind the element should the wellbore fluids decrease in temperature, thus lowering the pressure under the inflatable element. The compensation system counteracts what would otherwise be a tendency for a pressure increase, which could subject the inflatable element to failure from overpressure and, conversely, supplies fluid to under the inflated element so that it can prevent unwanted loss of sealing or anchoring integrity of the packer or plug due to what would have otherwise been a pressure decrease behind the inflatable element.
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