PACKERS

INTRODUCTION
A downhole device used in almost every completion to isolate the annulus from the
production conduit, enabling controlled production, injection or treatment. A typical
packer assembly incorporates a means of securing the packer against the casing or
liner wall, such as a slip arrangement, and a means of creating a reliable hydraulic
seal to isolate the annulus, typically by means of an expandable elastomeric
element. Packers are classified by application, setting method and possible
retrievability.

There are many types and designs of packer in common use in oil and gas
operations. In each case, the principal function is to isolate the annulus from the
tubing conduit to enable controlled production, injection or treatment. The mechanical
packer shown here is used to isolate zones during stimulation treatments.

A production packer is used to provide a seal between outside of tubing and the
inside of the casing to prevent the movement of fluids due to pressure differential
above and below the sealing element. The packers have following requirements:

1) It should be connected to the tubing

2) Its size should be sufficiently less than the drift internal diameter of the casing to
provide clearance for running in the hole.
3) It must be designed so that when it is in the proper position, some surface control
can be used to cause it to seal off the annulus between the tubing and the casing.

Production Packers have a smaller ID through the packer bore making them an
excellent choice for use as a lower packer in multiple packer installations. These
wireline set millable packers are available for 5" through 11 3/4" casing.

Sets securely in any hardness casing, including premium grades

Ratchet lock rings secure dynamic setting force
Three piece packing element and rocker action metal back up rings combine for a superior seal
Threaded pin down connection for easy installation of accessories, such as Screw-Out or Nok-Out Plug
kits
Can be set with GO, Baker or Gearhart wireline Setting Tools

COMPONENTS OF PACKER
SEALING ELEMENT:
In conventional packers seal is provided by a hollow rubber-cylinder
that is compressed tangentially. This causes the rubber to expand laterally to come in
contact with the casing. The application of sufficient force will seat the rubber tightly
to prevent movement of liquid or fluids around it.

Multi packing elements permits the use of rubber of different degree

of hardness under certain conditions. This provides a more effective packing with
less pressure than a single element. In a three element packer, for example the
uppermost and lowermost elements are usually harder than the middle element.
These outside elements will bear most of the abrasion while the tool is being run in
the hole.

PACKER FLUID
A liquid, usually salt water or oil, but sometimes mud, is used in a
well when a packer is between the tubing and the casing.  Packer fluid must be
heavy enough to shut off the pressure of the formation being produced, must not
stiffen or settle out of suspension over long periods of time, and must be
noncorrosive.

PACKER-BORE RECEPTACLE
A retrievable receptacle anchored into the top of a production packer
to land a tubing seal assembly
SLIPS:
The slips are used to support the packer against the casing, while the
force is applied to expand the rubber elements. These are similar to slips used to
support drill pipes while making up or breaking out the drill pipe joints. These are
usually three or more segments having serrated surfaces that are pressed against
the casing by a slip and cone arrangement.
As the weight of the tubing or drill pipe is applied, the slips move outward on
a cone shaped device and dig into the casing and downward movement is
prevented. The pipe weight is then picked up by the packer assembly and the sealing
element expands. Some working in the opposite direction so that the packer will not
move up or down regardless of the direction of applied pressure differential.

CIRCULATING VALVE:
Once the sealing element is expanded the hole below the packer is isolated
from the casing annulus. Most packers are equipped with a circulating valve located
above the sealing element. This valve can be opened by drill pipe or tubing
manipulation. While the valve is opened, communication is established between
inside the tubing and the casing annulus.

PACKING GLAND
The metal part that compresses and holds packing in place in a stuffing box is
called packing gland.

 
FRICTION SPRINGS:
These are similar to the springs used on casing centralizer. They serve
a different purpose however on packers the slips are held in a closed position until
the packer has been lowered to the proper position in the well. The slips are then
released usually by rotation of the tubing in the right hand direction. Normally the
packer body would rotate at the same time, but the frictional spring provides sufficient
drag in the casing so that the packer does not turn as the tubing is rotated.

FRICTIONAL BLOCKS:
These perform the same function as casing spring. But they are thin
blocks having cylindrical surfaces, which apply drag force inside the casing and
prevents rotation of the packer during the slip releases operation.

SAFETY JOINT:
Packers those are used for well testing or treating are called
retrievable packers. They are removed from the hole when the work is completed. If
the tool becomes stuck in the hole expensive fishing job is required. To facilitate
removal operation, the tubing or drill pipe can be removed from the packer by
breaking off at the safety joint.
HYDRAULIC HOLD DOWN:
One of the functions of a packer is to isolate well pressure inside the
tubing and relieve the casing of any internal strain. This imposes a large pressure
differential across the packer in most of the cases. This differential is large enough in
some wells so that the packer is forced upward in the casing. To prevent this a
hydraulic hold down or anchor is used below the packer.
The hydraulic anchor uses the pressure differential across the tubing
as a working force. As the pressure in the tubing increases, the holding action of the
packer increases. The anchor consists of a series of slips. These slips are free to
move in and out radially as the pressure varies. A pressure increase will cause the
slips to move out and bear against inside force of the casing. Further pressure
increase may cause the slips to be forced more tightly against the casing preventing
upward movement of the anchor and the packer. Opening the circulating valve on
the packer will equalize the pressure across the tubing and anchor and slips on the
anchor will retract permitting the packer to be moved.

TYPES OF PACKERS:
1) ANCHOR PACKER
This type of packer is expanded by the application of the drill pipe or
heavy tubing weight .It is supported at the bottom of the hole. It can be set on the
bottom or it can be set at any place in the hole by using a piece of pipe below the
packer that will reach the bottom. In it’s usual application, the anchor packer is run on
tubing to form a seal between the tubing and the casing. The packer is held in it’s
extended position by shear pins and weight of the anchor pipes when running in the
hole.

2) BOTTOM HOLE PACKER:

Because of application, the anchor packer is frequently called a
bottom hole packer. In open hole completion the anchor packer is used to shut off
bottom water. The packer is set in the same manner as if the tool were to be used to
provide a seal between tubing and casing except that the inside is blanked off to
prevent water from entering the well bore. Most packers used for this purpose are
shorter than conventional anchor packer and they are normally used without a tail
piece.

3) HOOK WALL PACKER

This type of packer is more versatile than anchor packer. After is set in
one position it can be moved easily to another position after above or below and then
reset the casing or tubing or both may get extended below the packer. The hook wall
packer is so constructed that the hook holds the slips in closed position. The hook
can be disengaged if required. Frictional springs are used in hook wall packer in
setting the slips. The packing element is located above the slips usually.
 a typical hook wall packer

4) DISC WALL PACKER

The disc wall packer has certain advantage over the hook wall type
because of the apparent ease and certainty with which it can be set. It cannot be
moved so easily as hook wall type after it is set.
The slips used in a disc wall packer are held into the closed position by
a disc. The disc must be broken after the packer is in setting position. This is usually
accomplished by:
a)dropping a piece of pipe 6 or 8 inch into the tubing hole.
b)lowering a heavy object on wire line
when the disc breaks a spring forces the slips upward. They then expand about a
tapered cone until they engage the casing. Lowering the pipe sets the slips and
expands the packing elements.

5) UPSTRAIN OR TENSION PACKER

These are modification of some other type of the packers. They differ only in that the
packer is set only by pulling up the pipe instead of allowing string to act downwards
to activate the packer. Packer of this type have one distinct advantage that they will
hold higher pressures from below because the pressure merely acts to set the
packer tighter. They are also used in shallow wells, where tubing weight may not be
sufficient.
6] HYDRAULIC PACKER OR INFLATABLE PACKER :

The packer described earlier are set by mechanical action. The packer element is
expanded by applying some type of mechanical force to the packer. Hydraulic or
inflated type packer is set by application of hydraulic pressure to the inside packing
elements. When the element is expanded check valves hold the fluid inside the
packer under pressure so that the production operations can be carried out in the
well without disturbing the inflated type packing elements. The packer is released by
rotating the tubing and pulling upward. This causes grooves in the mandrel to move
opposite the check valve position of the tool and the pressure in the element is
released. When the element collapses, the tool can be removed from the well.

7) Mechanical packer:

A broader classification of production packers which comprises of all the packers

which are set up by mechanical action.
 a typical example of mechanical set packer

8] PERMANENT COMPLETION PACKERS OR PERMANENT PACKERS:

Though the ordinary well packer may remain in place during the life of the well, it is
designed for removal and relocation. But in many situations large pressure
differential are encountered. These may be extended from below or above the
packer. Under such conditions, the usual retrievable packer may fail to perform
satisfactorily under all circumstances.

Thus the production type packer is becoming more important. It is designed for
installation in a well for the duration of wells productive life. A typical type of packer
has two sets of opposite slips with compressible sealing element to provide a leak
proof packer body is equipped at the bottom with a flicker type of check valve opened
by inserting the tubing or perforated tubing. The valve is automatically closed when
the tubing is automatically closed when the tubing is withdrawn , sealing off pressure
from below.

a typical permanent completion packer

uses of production packers

 Protection of casing from pressure both well and stimulation pressure an corrosive
fluids.

 Isolation of casing leaks, squeezed perforations, or multiple producing formations.

 Elimination of inefficient heading or surging.

 Some artificial lift installations.

 In conjunction with sub surface safety valves.

 To hold kill fluids or treating fluids in casing annulus.