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:
Jul. 04, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 21, 2005
Ken Whanger, Houston, TX (US);
John Vicic, Spring, TX (US);
Christopher Cuffe, The Woodlands, TX (US);
Clayton Plucheck, Tomball, TX (US);
Patrick G. Maguire, Cypress, TX (US);
Ken Whanger, Houston, TX (US);
John Vicic, Spring, TX (US);
Christopher Cuffe, The Woodlands, TX (US);
Clayton Plucheck, Tomball, TX (US);
Patrick G. Maguire, Cypress, TX (US);
Weatherford/Lamb, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for sealing a wellbore. The sealing apparatus includes an expandable tubular body having one or more sealing elements disposed thereon. In one aspect, the sealing elements include swelling and non-swelling sealing elements. Preferably, the swelling sealing elements are made of a swelling elastomer capable of swelling upon activation by an activating agent. The swelling elements may be covered with a protective layer during the run-in. When the tubular body is expanded, the protective layer breaks, thereby exposing the swelling elements to the activating agent. In turn, the swelling elements swell and contact the wellbore to form a fluid tight seal.