Fixed head inflatable packer with fully reinforced inflatable element and method of fabrication

摘要

An inflatable packer includes a packer mandrel and an inflatable element reinforced across its entire length and attached at each end to the packer mandrel. The inflatable element is formed of multiple layers of elastomeric material including reinforcing plies of an elastomeric base material reinforced with helically wound strands of a reinforcing material. The reinforcing strands are evenly spaced and parallel to one another and are oriented at a predetermined helical angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the packer. The helical angle and modulus of elasticity of the reinforcing strands can be selected to allow the inflatable element to expand by a predetermined amount even though its ends are fixed.