摘要 |
The invention provides an apparatus to be lowered in a borehole, comprising: (i) a delivery section for delivering a plugging fluid; (ii) a setting section comprising a longitudinal element and a flexible and permeable sleeve into which the plugging fluid is delivered; and (iii) a disconnect mechanism to allow the delivery section to be disconnected from the setting section, characterized in that the flexible sleeve is connected by at least one floating means to the longitudinal element. Additionally, the invention provides a method of installing a plug in a borehole, comprising: positioning the apparatus as described above in the borehole at a position at which the plug is to be installed, pumping fluid into the flexible sleeve via the delivery section so as to inflate the flexible sleeve, disconnecting the setting section from the delivery section, pumping an excess of the fluid into the borehole above the plug and withdrawing the delivery section from the borehole leaving the setting section at the position, said setting section acting as the plug.
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