Wellbore Isolation Tool Using Sealing Element Having Shape Memory Polymer

摘要

Anti-extrusion devices, packer elements, and inflatable packers include shape memory polymer (SMP) materials to enhance the operation of a packer, a bridge plug, or other downhole isolation tool. Seal system use seals of various material including SMP materials as booster for the seal produced. Tool for flow shut-off and sliding sleeve applications use SMP materials to open or close off flow through a tool.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a mandrel having a bore and defining a port communicating with the bore; a seal disposed on the mandrel and movable thereon relative to the port; an element composed of a shape memory polymer and disposed on the mandrel adjacent to the seal, one end of the element fixed relative to the mandrel, the element activating from a first state to a second state in response to a predetermined stimulus, the element in one of the first or second states having the seal dispose away from the port, the element in the other of the first or second states having the seal close off the port; and an activator positioning relative to the element and being operable to deliver the predetermined stimulus, the activator activating the element from the first state to the second state with the delivered predetermined stimulus.