Patent ID: 6834725
Filing Date: 2004-12-28
Classification: E21B,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for sealing a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:a tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the tubular body including one or more apertures in a wall thereof to allow selective fluid communication between the inner surface and the outer surface; and a swelling elastomer disposed around the outer surface of the tubular body, the swelling elastomer isolated from wellbore fluid in an annulus; whereby upon the application of an outwardly directed force to the inner surface of the tubular body, the tubular body expands radially outward causing the swelling elastomer to contact the wellbore while exposing the swelling elastomer to an activating agent via the one or more apertures, thereby causing the swelling elastomer to create a pressure energized seal with one or more adjacent surfaces in the wellbore.