PNGE 711- Advance Well Completion

Packers Types and properties

Presenter by:
Ali Zankawi SPRING 2021
OUTLINE
• Definition of packer.

• Uses of packers.

• Packer components

• Packer Classification.

• Packer Bores

• Setting Mechanisms

• Types of packer

• Straddles and packoff equipment

• Packer Properties

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Definition of Packer
• Packer is subsurface tool used to provide seal between tubing and casing.

• The packer is a key piece of downhole equipment in many completions.

• The packer is essential to the basic functioning of most wells, injectors or

producers.

• The Packer is the most important equipment in completion

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Uses of Packer
• Protect casing from bursting

• Protect casing from corrosion.

• Provide better well control.

• Prevent fluid movement between pay zones.

• Isolate zones of bad cement.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Packer Components
• Slips

- Tooth-like parts of the packer

- Forced outward by sitting action

- Top Slips to prevent up-motion and bottom for down-motion.

• Packing elements

- Normally nitrile-rubber for moderate temperature and normal pressure.

- Elastomers for HTHP type

- Provide seal between casing and tubing.

• .Cone

- Part of the packer forced the slips to move outward.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Packer classification
• Permanent Packer

- Cannot be retrieved other than by milling (ONE USE ONLY)

• Retrievable Packer.

- Released by manipulation of tubing – generally over pull or rotation.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Packer bores
• There are 3 type of bores:

- No bore known as bridge plug - Single Bore

 Used to isolate casing or tubing  Used for single completions

 Used as cement retainers - Dual Bore

 Used when other plugs fail to set  Used for dual completions

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Permanent Packer
• Run or set on wireline or tubing

• Selection depends on rig cost, service company and wellbore conditions

• Set hydraulically by tubing pressure or drill pipe set.

• The only Way to retrieve the permanent packer by milling it.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Permanent Packer – Advantages and
disadvantages
- Advantages:

• Permanently set.

• Less costly; very cheap components.

• Highest pressure rating up to 15,000 psi.

• High temperature rating up to 500 F.

• Most frequently used in the industry.

- Disadvantages:

• The only way to remove it by milling the packer. (NOT REUSEABLE)

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Retrievable Packer
• Run or set on wireline or tubing

• Bi-directional slips prevent debris from setting

on bottom.

• Set hydraulically by tubing pressure or drill

pipe set.

• Easily retrieving it without mailing it.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Retrievable Packer – Advantages
and Disadvantages.
• Advantages:

- It can be very basic for low pressure/low temperature application or very

complex in high pressure/high temperature.

- Removeable without milling it

- Can be resettable

- Reusable.

• Disadvantages:

- Packer normally retrieved on production tubing.

- Generally smaller I.D

- Generally low-pressure ratings.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Setting Mechanisms
• Mechanical: • Hydraulic: • Electrical:

- Rotation - Pressure applied to tubing or - Mechanical type using

annulus. wireline setting tool.
- Compression
- Differential pressure acts on
- Tension
setting toll.

- Preferred method for deep

wells.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Types of Packer
• Mechanical: • Hydraulic: • Electrical:
- Retrievable tension
- Retrievable hydraulic set - Wireline set tubing
packer
single string packer. retrievable packer.
- Retrievable compression
packer with bypass - Dual string packers

- Retrievable
Tension/Compression set
packer

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Retrievable tension packer
• The tension packer is typically used in medium to
shallow depth production.

• The tension packer has a single set of unidirectional

slips that grip only the casing when the tubing is
pulled in tension.

• Does not have an equalizing valve to aid the

pressure equalization between the tubing and the
annulus. Figure-1

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Retrievable tension packer
• The tension packer is suited for application which pressure below the packer is
always greater than the annulus pressure at the tool.

• Pressure from below the tool boosts the packing elements into the slip assembly.

• When using tension packer consideration should be given to the type of wellhead
and Christmas tree.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Retrievable compression packer
with bypass.
• This type of packer is recommended in low to
medium pressure/temperature, oil or gas
production.

• The retrievable compression packer is prevented

from setting by means of a mechanical interlock
while it is being run in the hole.

Figure-2

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Retrievable compression packer
with bypass.
• The retrievable compression packer element system is enhanced over the
tension packer which make it more suitable for moderately high
pressure/temperature.

• By adding the bypass valve for this type of packer it will assist equalize the
pressure in the tubing and annuals.

• This packer design constrain, compression packer generally is not suitable

for injection wells, or low volume pressure treating operation.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Retrievable tension/compression set
packer.
• Retrievable tension/compression set packer that
allow the tubing to be landed in tension,
compression or neutral.

• This group od mechanical set retrievable packer

will vary greatly in design and performance.

• This kind of packer is perfect for all conditions

which make it suitable for many applications. Figure-3

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Retrievable tension/compression set
packer.
• The one common feature found in this style of packer is that, once the element is
sealed off and the packoff force is mechanically locked in place, the tubing string
may be landed in compression, tension, or neutral.

• The Retrievable tension/compression set packer does not rely on constant tubing
forces to maintain its packoff, this tool is much more versatile in application.

• It can be used in production or injection applications, as well as in completions

for which well stimulation is planned, and it is almost universal in application.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Retrievable hydraulic set single
string packer.
• The hydraulic set packer has a bidirectional slip system
that is actuated by a predetermined amount of hydraulic
pressure applied to the tubing string.

• The hydraulics packer is depending on the hydraulic

pressure that applied after a temporary plugging device
below the packer, then apply the hydraulic pressure.

• This kind of packer promotes safely and allows better

control of the well while displacing tubing and annulus
fluids. Figure-4

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Retrievable hydraulic set single
string packer.
• The hydraulic set single string packer is ideal for highly deviated wells in which conditions are not
suitable for mechanical set packers.

• Special consideration includes the following:

- Well stimulation must be planned carefully to avoid premature shear release value of the packer.

- Maximum tensile capabilities of the tubing string when selecting the shear release value of the
packer are required.

- A temporary plugging device must always be incorporated below the lowermost hydraulic set
packer facilities hydraulic setting on the packer.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Retrievable hydraulic set dual string
packer
• The dual string hydraulic packer is set much the
same as the hydraulic single string packer, just it
has two bores for multiple tubing.

• This is basically an isolation packer that is designed

to seal off approximately two strings of tubing.

• The dual packer allows the simultaneous production

of two zones while keeping them isolated.
Figure-5

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Wireline set tubing retrieval packer
• There are several retrievable packers designed to
be installed in the wellbore on electric wireline, the
most common kind is the nipple packer.
Figure-6
• The nipple has a polished seal surface on its OD
and has j-lugs that are used to anchor a seal
housing or washover shoe in place.

• This packer is first run and set on electric wireline.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Wireline set tubing retrieval packer
• The electric wireline setting tool provides the force necessary to anchor the slips in the
casing wall and energize the pack element.

• Once the packer is installed and the wireline is retrieved, a seal housing is run in the
hole on the bottom of the production tubing.

• The housing has internal seals that, when landed on the polished nipple create a seal
between the tubing and the annulus.

• The tubing can be retrieved from the wellbore at any time without disturbing the packer
by unlaying the seal housing from the polished nipples.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Straddles and packoff equipment.
• Straddles and packoff equipment
provide the following:

- Used for remediation of wellbore

deficiencies.

- The straddle is for use in any well in

which pressure communication
between the tubing annulus must be
sealed off.
Figure-7

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Packer properties
• Retrievable packer suitable for
15,000 psi at 400 F.

Figure-8

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Packer properties
• Permanents Packers rated
up to 20,000 psi at 475 F.

Figure-9

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Sources
1. Packer Calculations Handbook. 1992. Baker Oil Tools

2. Hopmann, M. and Walker, T. Predicting Permanent Packer Performance. Petroleum

Engineering Intl. Hart Publications Inc.

3. Packers. 2017. Petrowiki.spe.org

4. Halliburton, Completion tools. 2014

 Figure1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 From  Packers. 2017. Petrowiki.spe.org

 Figure 7,8 and 9 From  Halliburton, Completion tools. 2014

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources