The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 24, 2006
Filed:
May. 22, 2003
James K. Whanger, Houston, TX (US);
James Oliver, Sugar Land, TX (US);
James K. Whanger, Houston, TX (US);
James Oliver, Sugar Land, TX (US);
Weatherford/Lamb, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to a sealing apparatus for isolating a wellbore. In one aspect, the present invention provides an expandable sealing apparatus having an expandable tubular and a sealing element disposed around the tubular. A chamber for maintaining a fluid is defined between the sealing element and the tubular. The sealing apparatus also includes a self-isolating layer disposed in the chamber, wherein the self-isolating layer is adapted and arranged to regulate fluid flow through the chamber. Fluid supplied to the chamber may inflate the sealing element, thereby urging the sealing element into contact with the wellbore. When the pressure in the tubular is released, the pressure in the chamber causes the self-isolating layer to close off, thereby retaining the pressure in the chamber.