EXPANDABLE SEALING APPARATUS FOR WELLBORES

摘要

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for sealing a wellbore. The sealing apparatus includes an expandable tubular body having o ne or more sealing elements disposed thereon. In one aspect, the sealing elements include swelling and non-swelling sealing elements. Preferably, the swelling sealing elements are made of a swelling elastomer capable of swelling upon activatio n by an activating agent. The swelling elements may be covered with a protective lay er during the run-in. When the tubular body is expanded, the protective layer breaks, thereby exposing the swelling elements to the activating agent. In turn, the swelling elements swell and contact the wellbore to form a fluid tight seal.