Case Study Expandable Steel Packers Navigate Wellbore Restrictions to Isolate Openhole Sections for Acidizing
Robust packers maintain integrity and rapid expansion expedites targeted acid stimulation.
Annular zonal isolation packer 0-0
Using expandable steel technology for zonal isolation, even in oval boreholes
Overview
Applications
- Annular zonal isolation in openhole or cased hole vertical, deviated, or horizontal wells
- Long-term cement backup or replacement
- Primary cementing improvement
Benefits
Set the packer immediately with on-demand expansion
- Seals effectively, even in oval, out-of-gauge, and irregular boreholes
- Provides a cost-effective solution for the life of the well
- Seals reliably through thermal cycling and temperature fluctuations
- Minimizes cost with no special well fluid requirements for expansion
- Saves time with on-demand expansion and immediate sealing
- Minimizes NPT with robust construction that withstands reciprocation and rotation to pass through doglegs and tight spots
Features
- Proprietary expandable steel technology
- Simplified setting process
- Compatibility with all standard casings
- No reduction in casing ID
- Built-in safety feature if expanded in front of a washout
Case Studies
FAQs
How is the packer set?
The packer is made up to a casing string that is run into the open or cased hole. Once in position, pressure is applied by pumping from surface to expand the packer. The lower end of the casing can be sealed with a plug and then the full string above is pressurized. Alternatively, the expansion port can be isolated using a cup tool or polished bore receptacle with an inner string.
Pressure is transmitted through the expansion port to the packer’s integral sleeve. The sleeve expands into the annulus between the casing and borehole or outer casing string, conforming to the shape of the wellbore or casing and isolating the annulus below the packer from the annulus above. Expansion of the sleeve also centralizes the casing string.
A schematic of the setting process for an AZIP 0-0 is shown (bottom-left image). Use cases for the AZIP 0-0 include isolating sand screens (top image) or isolating a zone for injection (bottom-right image).