BRAVE Gas Hookwall Production Packer

Description

A permanent completion packer for cased holes filled with inert gas, with release and re-attach capability. The tubing above the packer can be retrieved, repaired and replaced. After the anchor seal is released, the two-way mechanical slips and inner lock mechanism keep the packer hanging steadily in the casing and holding the weight of the string below. Suitable for single-trip completions.

If there is pressure in the wellbore while running in, a rotating control head or rotating BOP must be added to the normal wellhead. From top to bottom the wellhead stack is then: rotating BOP, annular BOP, double-ram BOP, single-ram BOP, large cross, casing head and tubing head. While the tools are run in, the single-ram and double-ram BOPs are open, and the tools pass through the wellhead under control of the rotating and annular BOPs.

Features

• Double-cone, double-slip anchor mechanism anchors reliably and bears double the load
• Large two-stage piston allows the packer to set at low pressure
• Special sealing element: low setting load, high sealing pressure — seals up to 35 MPa [5,000 psi] gas pressure
• Inner lock ring locks the packer reliably in the set position after setting pressure is released
• Simple and reliable release and re-attachment

Operation

With the packer at setting depth, apply nitrogen pressure in the tubing to shear the pins. The two-stage piston pushes the upper and lower slips open into the casing while the elements are compressed, and the inner lock ring moves and locks the slips in the set position. Apply setting pressure in steps and hold each step for a while.

To release from the top of the packer, pick up and rotate the tubing 10–12 turns to the right; the anchor sealing assembly unscrews from the left-hand thread and the tubing above the packer can be pulled out. To re-attach, set weight on the tubing until the anchor nipple fully engages the packer, locking tubing and packer together.