Abstract:
A clean version of the revised Abstract is shown below for the Examiner&#39;s convenience. 
     A method of and apparatus for treating a zone in a well is disclosed. A tube that is permeable to a material is inserted into a wellbore, creating an annulus inside the wellbore. Two zones—the annular region and the formation surrounding the wellbore—may be treated. The method comprises the following steps. (1) A setting section surrounded by a sleeve is placed inside the tube near the zone to treat, the sleeve being expandable and impermeable to the material. (2) The sleeve is inflated inside the tube near the zone to treat, ensuring that a first zone of the tube is impermeable to the material, but leaving a second zone permeable to the material. (3) A treatment fluid is pumped to the zone to treat, the treatment fluid passing into the annulus via the second zone. (4) The zone to treat is treated with the treatment fluid.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention broadly relates to well cementing. More particularly the invention relates to servicing apparatus for completing downhole wells from a subterranean reservoir, such as for instance an oil and gas reservoir or a water reservoir. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0002]    After a well has been drilled, the conventional practice in the oil industry consists in lining the well with a metal casing. The casing is lowered down the hole and cement is pumped inside the casing and returns through the annulus where it is allowed to set. The lining serves a dual purpose: preventing the borehole walls from collapsing and isolating the various geological strata and thus, avoiding exchange of fluids between them. Furthermore, it can be useful, for different reasons, to fill the well with a permeable screen (meaning not impermeable like a metal casing) such as a perforated tubular, a tubular with other openings, a slotted liner or an expandable screen. Use of such permeable screens allows for example oil to pass the borehole walls from production zones into the centre of the hole whilst retaining debris. But sometimes, for various reasons, the permeable screen and annular space between the screen and wellbore wall have finally to be closed and made “impermeable”. For example, a production zone may be producing water or gas and needs to be shut off for more effective production of the oil being recovered. Also, a zone may be producing sand or collapsing and creating too much debris and needs to be isolated to maintain an efficient operation. 
         [0003]    Whenever a permeable screen is present downhole, there is no simple way to cement the annulus. Effectively, conventional technique where cement is pumped inside the permeable screen to be returned through the annulus will not work, because the cement will pass through the first openings of the permeable screen and no cement will be pumped to the other extremity. Further cement would fill the inside of the permeable screen and extra drilling, which is costly and time consuming, will be required after the cement is set. This conventional technique does not apply to other types of fluids and there is no simple way to make a treatment to a zone of the borehole behind a permeable screen. 
         [0004]    Some prior arts have intended to solve those limitations but only partially or unsuccessfully. Patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,557 discloses an apparatus and related method to seal perforation of a casing to substantially prevent fluid communication between the adjoining earth formation and the inside of the casing. In this example, there is no cement behind the perforations of the casing. A sleeve like member is deployed in the casing by a high energy explosive charge to engage with the inner wall of the casing. The sleeve like member plastically deforms and because of its adhesive and thermosetting properties, ensures a forcible engagement with the casing and minimizes fluid leakage around or through the sleeve member. The sleeve is secured permanently and remains in place. No further communication with the annulus is possible. 
         [0005]    Further patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,850 also discloses a method to seal or isolate a selective zone containing this time a slotted liner. In this example, there is no cement behind the slotted liner. An additional expandable liner is deployed within a slotted liner and expands until sealing contact with the original slotted liner. The expandable liner is formed with use of a mechanical device such as a mandrel or an inflatable member, or by a hydropneumatic force, including explosive charge. The expandable liner is also secured permanently and remains in place. No further communication with the annulus is possible. 
         [0006]    Hence, it remains the need for a method of treatment of the earth formation behind a perforated casing, a slotted liner or an expandable and permeable screen, which does not change the structure of the perforated casing, the slotted liner or the expandable and permeable screen. More precisely, the aim of the invention is to fill the annular space behind the perforated casing not just making the perforated casing permanently impermeable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]    According to one aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method of treatment of a near zone of a well, or a method of treatment of a far zone of a well, or a method of treatment of a near zone and a far zone of a well, wherein inside the well, a wellbore in a formation is filled with a tube which is permeable to a material, the tube forming an annulus with the wellbore, and the zone being localized beyond the tube in the annulus and/or in the formation, and wherein the method comprises the steps: (i) placing inside the tube a setting section surrounded by a sleeve near the zone to treat, the sleeve being expandable and impermeable to the material; (ii) inflating the sleeve so that the sleeve is in contact with the tube near the zone to treat, ensuring for a first zone of the tube impermeability to the material, but leaving a second zone permeable to the material; (iii) pumping a treatment fluid to the zone to treat, the treatment fluid passing into the annulus via the second zone still permeable to the material; and (iv) treating the zone to treat with the treatment fluid. 
         [0008]    According to a second aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method to consolidate a near zone of a well, or a method to consolidate a far zone of a well, or a method to consolidate a near zone and a far zone of a well, wherein inside the well, a wellbore in a formation is filled with a tube which is permeable to a material, the tube forming an annulus with the wellbore, and the zone being localized beyond the tube in the annulus and/or in the formation, and wherein the method comprises the steps: (i) placing inside the tube a setting section surrounded by a sleeve near the zone to consolidate, the sleeve being expandable and impermeable to the material; (ii) inflating the sleeve so that the sleeve is in contact with the tube near the zone to consolidate, ensuring for a first zone of the tube impermeability to the material, but leaving a second zone permeable to the material; (iii) pumping a treatment fluid to the zone to consolidate, the treatment fluid passing into the annulus via the second zone still permeable to the material; and (iv) consolidating the zone to treat with the treatment fluid. Preferably, the method to consolidate comprises the steps: (i) placing inside the tube a setting section surrounded by a sleeve near the zone to consolidate, the sleeve being expandable and impermeable to the material; (ii) inflating the sleeve so that the sleeve is in contact with the tube near the zone to consolidate, ensuring for a first zone of the tube impermeability to the material, but leaving a second zone permeable to the material; (iii) pumping a settable fluid to the zone to consolidate, the settable fluid passing into the annulus via the second zone still permeable to the material; (iv) allowing the settable fluid to set; (v) deflating the sleeve so that the sleeve is no more in contact with the tube near the zone to consolidate; and (vi) removing the setting section with the sleeve from the zone to consolidate by putting it out. 
         [0009]    According to a third aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method to isolate a near zone of a well, or a method to isolate a far zone of a well, or a method to isolate a near zone and a far zone of a well, wherein inside the well, a wellbore in a formation is filled with a tube which is permeable to a material, the tube forming an annulus with the wellbore, and the zone being localized beyond the tube in the annulus and/or in the formation, and wherein the method comprises the steps: (i) placing inside the tube a setting section surrounded by a sleeve near the zone to isolate, the sleeve being expandable and impermeable to the material; (ii) inflating the sleeve so that the sleeve is in contact with the tube near the zone to isolate, ensuring for a first zone of the tube impermeability to the material, but leaving a second zone permeable to the material; (iii) pumping a treatment fluid to the zone to isolate, the treatment fluid passing into the annulus via the second zone still permeable to the material; and (iv) isolating the zone to treat with the treatment fluid. Preferably, the method to isolate comprises the steps: (i) placing inside the tube a setting section surrounded by a sleeve near the zone to isolate, the sleeve being expandable and impermeable to the material; (ii) inflating the sleeve so that the sleeve is in contact with the tube near the zone to isolate, ensuring for a first zone of the tube impermeability to the material, but leaving a second zone permeable to the material; (iii) pumping a settable fluid to the zone to isolate, the settable fluid passing into the annulus via the second zone still permeable to the material; (iv) allowing the settable fluid to set; (v) deflating the sleeve so that the sleeve is no more in contact with the tube near the zone to isolate; and (vi) removing the setting section with the sleeve from the zone to isolate by putting it out. 
         [0010]    There are possible uses of the methods, in one case, the second zone is a void making communication with the zones: this configuration can appear when the zones is at the bottom of the well and when the tube ends leaving direct communication between the inside of the well and the earth formation; this configuration can also appear in the well when an unconsolidated zone is in direct communication with the earth formation. In a second case, the second zone is an element permeable to the material, for example the permeable element can be the tube: this configuration can appear when a part the tube is made impermeable and another part of the same tube is used to ensure flow of the treatment fluid from the inside of the well to the annulus and to the zones. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the method according to the invention further comprises the step of deflating the sleeve so that the sleeve is no more in contact with the tube near the zones; also preferably, the invention further comprises the step of removing the setting section surrounded by the sleeve from the zones. The inside of the tube is left unchanged after the zones have been treated or consolidated or isolated. 
         [0012]    In a first embodiment, the step of placing the setting section surrounded by a sleeve is done by placing first the sleeve inside the tube and after the setting section inside the sleeve. The sleeve can be lowered in the well first, positioned near the zones; and after the setting section can be positioned inside the sleeve so the step of inflating can begin. In a second embodiment, the step of placing the setting section surrounded by a sleeve is done by placing into the tube the setting section already surrounded by the sleeve. The sleeve can be positioned on the setting section before to be positioned near the zones. Preferably, in a configuration where the well has a longitudinal axis (A), the step of placing the setting section surrounded by a sleeve further comprises the step of deploying the sleeve longitudinally to the axis (A). The sleeve is arranged like a fan on the setting section and can be deployed on its length to cover the part of the tube or all the tube to be impermeabilized. 
         [0013]    In one example of realization, the setting section has an upper part and a lower part, the setting section being connected to a delivery section going on surface at the upper part, and being in communication with the inside of the well at the lower part through a delivery opening, and the step of pumping a treatment fluid to the zones is done by: (i) delivering the treatment fluid inside of the well through the delivery section, through the setting section and through the delivery opening; (ii) filling the inside of the well located downhole from the lower part with the treatment fluid, until the treatment fluid passes into the annulus via the second zone still permeable to the material; and (iii) rising said treatment fluid into the zones. 
         [0014]    In a second example of realization, the setting section has an upper part and a lower part, the setting section being connected to a delivery section going on surface at the upper part, and being in communication with the inside of the well at the lower part through a delivery opening, and wherein the step of pumping a treatment fluid to the zones is done by: (i) delivering a first fluid inside of the well through the delivery section, through the setting section and through the delivery opening; (ii) filling the inside of the well located downhole from the lower part with the first fluid, until the first fluid realized a plug inside of the well; (iii) delivering the treatment fluid inside of the well through the delivery section, through the setting section and through the delivery opening; (iv) filling the inside of the well located downhole from the lower part and uphole from the plug, with the treatment fluid, until the treatment fluid passes into the annulus via the second zone still permeable to the material; and (v) rising the treatment fluid into the zones. The first fluid can be a viscous bentonite fluid, a delayed-gel fluid, or a reactive fluids system. 
         [0015]    In a third example of realization, the setting section has an upper part and a lower part, the setting section being connected to a delivery section going on surface at the upper part, and being in communication with the inside of the well at the lower part through a delivery opening, and wherein the step of pumping a treatment fluid to the zones is done by: (i) deploying a plug inside of the well; (ii) plugging the inside of the well located downhole from the lower part with the plug; (iii) delivering the treatment fluid inside of the well through the delivery section, through the setting section and through the delivery opening; (iv) filling the inside of the well located downhole from the lower part and uphole from the plug, with the treatment fluid, until the treatment fluid passes into the annulus via the second zone still permeable to the material; and rising the treatment fluid into the zones. The plug is a device with an expandable sleeve which acts as a plug when the expandable sleeve is inflated. The plug can be deployed inside the well with the apparatus of the invention or with another apparatus. 
         [0016]    In various possible examples of realization, the methods of the invention work when the tube is taken in the list constituted by: perforated casing, perforated tubing, perforated pipe, perforated conduit, slotted liner, screen, expandable casing, expandable screen, tube comprising opening, tube comprising permeable component, and permeable component; when the material is taken in the list constituted by: oil, water, cement, sand, gravel, gas; when the setting section is taken in the list constituted by: coiled tubing, drill pipe; when the delivery section is taken in the list constituted by: coiled tubing, drill pipe; when the sleeve is made of rubber; when the treatment fluid is a settable fluid or a non settable fluid; when the settable fluid is taken in the list constituted by: conventional cement, remedial cement, permeable cement, phosphate cement, special cement, inorganic and organic sealants, remedial resin, permeable resin, geopolymer materials; when the non settable fluid is taken in the list constituted by: acid, washer. 
         [0017]    In the case where the treatment fluid is a settable fluid, the method further comprises the steps of: (v) allowing the treatment fluid to set; (vi) deflating the sleeve so that the sleeve is no more in contact with the tube near the zones; and (vii) removing the setting section with the sleeve from the zones by putting it out. In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: (viii) drilling the well with a drilling tool. 
         [0018]    According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the invention provides an apparatus for treatment of a near and/or a far zone of a well or to consolidate a near and/or a far zone or to isolate a near and/or a far zone, the zone being localized beyond a tube placed inside the well and forming an annulus with a wellbore, the tube being permeable to a material, and the apparatus comprising: (i) a setting section surrounded by a sleeve, the sleeve being expandable and impermeable to the material; (ii) an inflating means for inflating the sleeve, the inflating means ensuring that the sleeve is in contact with a first zone of the tube so that the first zone of the tube becomes impermeable to the material; and (iii) a delivery opening for delivering a treatment fluid to the zone to treat, the delivery opening ensuring that the treatment fluid passes into the annulus via a second zone still permeable to said material. 
         [0019]    There are possible configurations of the delivery opening, in a first configuration they ensure that the treatment fluid passes into the annulus via a void making communication with the zones to treat; in a second configuration, they ensure that the treatment fluid passes into the annulus via an element permeable to the material, preferably the permeable element is a part of the tube. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the apparatus comprises: a deflector for forcing delivery of the treatment fluid uphole of the delivery opening and/or directed on the second zone. Preferably also, the apparatus comprises: a deflating means for deflating the sleeve, the deflating means ensuring that the sleeve is no more in contact with the tube. 
         [0021]    Preferably, the sleeve is attached to the setting section with connecting means at the upper part and/or with connecting means at the lower part. In one embodiment, the connecting means are connected permanently to the setting section; in a second embodiment the connecting means are removable connecting means; in a third embodiment the connecting means are floating means. 
         [0022]    The apparatus preferably comprises a longitudinal axis (A′) and the sleeve can be extended longitudinally along the axis (A′) on the setting section. Also the sleeve is arranged like a fan on the setting section and can be deployed on its length to cover the part of the tube or all the tube to be impermeabilized. The sleeve has a length (D) along the axis (A′) varying between 1 meter and 200 meters, preferably, between 2 meters and 100 meters, and more preferably between 5 meters and 50 meters. 
         [0023]    In another configuration, the setting section has an upper part and a lower part and the apparatus further comprises a delivery section going on the surface connected to the upper part. 
         [0024]    In various possible examples of realization, the apparatus of the invention works when the tube is taken in the list constituted by: perforated casing, perforated tubing, perforated pipe, perforated conduit, slotted liner, screen, expandable casing, expandable screen, tube comprising opening, tube comprising permeable component, and permeable component; when the material is taken in the list constituted by: oil, water, cement, sand, gravel, gas; when the setting section is taken in the list constituted by: coiled tubing, drill pipe; when the delivery section is taken in the list constituted by: coiled tubing, drill pipe; when the sleeve is made of rubber; when the treatment fluid is a settable fluid or a non settable fluid; when the settable fluid is taken in the list constituted by: conventional cement, remedial cement, permeable cement, phosphate cement, special cement, inorganic and organic sealants, remedial resin, permeable resin, geopolymer materials; when the non settable fluid is taken in the list constituted by: acid, washer. 
         [0025]    In examples of realization, the inflating means is a device delivering a gas and/or a liquid inside the sleeve; is a check valve delivering mud into the inside of the sleeve; is a pump delivering mud into the inside of the sleeve. 
         [0026]    In other examples of realization, the apparatus further comprises a deflating means for deflating the sleeve, the deflating means ensuring that the sleeve is no more in contact with the tube and wherein the deflating means is a device releasing the gas and/or the liquid from the sleeve. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises an additional section sliding on the setting section and wherein: the inflating means is an opening through the setting section and the additional section, the inflating means having an open and a close position depending on position of the setting section versus the additional section, the position being controlled by translation and/or rotation. 
         [0028]    In a second embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a deflating means for deflating the sleeve, the deflating means ensuring that the sleeve is no more in contact with the tube and further comprising an additional section sliding on the setting section and wherein: the deflating means is an opening through the setting section and the additional section, the deflating means having an open and a close position depending on position of the setting section versus the additional section, the position being controlled by translation and/or rotation. 
         [0029]    In third embodiment, the apparatus further comprises an additional section sliding on the setting section and wherein: the delivery opening is an opening through the setting section and the additional section, the delivery opening having an open and a close position depending on position of the setting section versus the additional section, theposition being controlled by translation and/or rotation. 
         [0030]    Preferably, the additional section further comprises a weighting element. 
         [0031]    In a fourth embodiment, the setting section has an upper part and a lower part and the apparatus further comprises a delivery section going on surface connected to said upper part and a disconnect mechanism to allow the delivery section to be disconnected from the setting section. Preferably, the disconnect mechanism disconnects the delivery section from the setting section when the treatment of the zone to treat is finished. More preferably, the disconnect mechanism comprises a pin end or box end located on the setting section, and respectively a box end or pin end on the delivery section and a sliding sleeve retaining the pin end and box end in connected position. More preferably, the disconnect mechanism is only actuated by the differential pressure existing between the inside of the setting section and the inside of the well. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0032]    Further embodiments of the present invention can be understood with the appended drawings: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1G  show a schematic diagram illustrating the method according to the invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 2A  shows a first embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 2B  shows a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. 
           [0036]      FIGS. 3A to 3C  show a third embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. 
           [0037]      FIGS. 4A to 4C  show a fourth embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 5A  shows a detailed part of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 5B  shows the functioning principle of the disconnecting mechanism (connected position). 
           [0040]      FIG. 5C  shows the functioning principle of the disconnecting mechanism (disconnected position). 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0041]    The present invention involves the use of an expanding sleeve that selectively isolates a portion of a permeable tube such as a perforated casing, or a slotted liner or an expandable and permeable screen, this isolation allowing the further treatment of the annulus zone between the permeable tube and the borehole. The typical applications for which the apparatus and method of the invention can be used include sand control and support of wellbore producing formations, in water, oil and/or gas wells. The apparatus and method of the invention can be used also in all type of geometry of wellbores, as highly deviated and horizontal wellbores. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 1A to 1G  are an illustration of the various steps of the method according to the invention. The method is intended for application in a well  1 . The well is made of a wellbore  10  which is in communication with an earth formation  11 , the earth formation comprising various strata of materials ( 110 ,  111  and  112 ). A casing  12  surrounded by an annular space filled with cement isolates the various producing zones from each other or from the well itself in order to stabilize the well or prevent fluid communication between the zones or shut off unwanted fluid production such as water. The inside of the well  1  is filled with a fluid  700  which is for example mud or drilling mud. The well further contains a permeable tube or screen  20  such as a perforated tubular, a tubular with other openings, a slotted liner or a screen (standalone, expandable or prepacked) located into the well and forming an annulus  2  between said tube  20  and the wellbore  10 . The tube  20  is at least permeable to one material—permeable, meaning allowing the flowing of said one material through said tube—. Further, the tube  20  can be impermeable or can play the rule of a barrier to another material—impermeable, meaning not allowing the flowing of said another material through said tube—. The tube  20  can also be for example a type of sieve, where the tube allows the crossing of a material or morphology of material, as water or fine sand; and blocks the crossing of another material or another morphology of material, as stone or medium sand. The method according to the invention can be deployed when the tube  20  is at the bottom of the well or anywhere in the well, or when the tube  20  is further associated downhole and/or uphole with a casing. When referring to uphole, it is meant going towards the surface and downhole, it is meant going away from the surface. 
         [0043]    The method of the invention is a method of treatment of a zone of the well which can be called a non-invasive method. Zone is defined as a part of the well or a region of the well which is delimited, but which can be quite small—from one cubic meter to ten cubic meters—and which can also be quite large—from hundred cubic meters to ten thousand cubic meters—.  FIG. 1A  shows, for example the flow  3  of water from stratum  112  into the well  1  through the annulus  2  and the tube  20 . One example of realization can be to use the method of the invention to shut off said flow of water without changing the structure of the tube  20 . Further, the isolation in the annulus is essential to prevent the flow of water. 
         [0044]      FIG. 1B  shows the deployment of the apparatus  40  according to the invention.  FIG. 2A  shows in more details the apparatus  40 . The apparatus  40  is lowered in the well from the surface, it comprises an upper section  41  made of a delivery pipe  17  and a lower section  42  made of a setting section  18 . Advantageously, the setting section and the delivery pipe can be made of the same element: a setting pipe  19 . The setting section is surrounded by an expandable sleeve or bladder  50 . The sleeve  50  is at least impermeable to the said one material that the tube  20  is permeable—impermeable, meaning not allowing the flowing of said one material through said sleeve—. Further, the sleeve  50  can be permeable to another material—permeable, meaning allowing the flowing of said another material through said sleeve—. Preferably, the sleeve  50  is cylindrical and connected to the setting section  18  by one connecting means  50 A at the upper level and with a second connecting means  50 B at the lower level. The connecting means ensure tightness of the system {sleeve and setting section}. The connecting means  50 A and  50 B are distant from some meters to several meters; preferably the connecting means  50 A and  50 B are distant from a length D varying from 1 meter to 200 meters; more preferably between 1 meter and 50 meters. So the lower section  42  of the apparatus will practically have the same length D. As it can be understood when the lower section of the apparatus  40  has a length D of some meters (for example up to 10 meters), the lower section can be mounted on the surface, and the apparatus  40  can be lowered and run in the well and finally, deployed when required near the zone to treat. However, when the lower section of the apparatus  40  has a length D of several meters (below 10 meters or 100 meters for example), it is becoming hard to mount the setting section directly with the sleeve fully deployed on the surface. In a first aspect of the invention, the lower section of the apparatus  40  has a setting section already surrounded and mounted with a sleeve, the assembly being done at the surface or directly at the factory, the apparatus being lowered as such in the well. In a second aspect of the invention, the lower section of the apparatus  40  has a setting section surrounded with a sleeve, but not fixedly pre-mounted. The sleeve is arranged as a fan and can be deployed gradually on the setting section at the surface when lowered into the well or in the well when deploying near the tube. This second aspect of the invention will be explained below in more details. 
         [0045]      FIG. 1C  shows the further step of deployment of the apparatus  40  according to the invention. The sleeve  50  is positioned inside the tube  20  in a zone  60 . The zone  60  delimits the location where the sleeve  50  has to be positioned to ensure an efficient method of treatment. The zone  60  is defined by a cylinder inside the well, wherein the external surface of the cylinder is delimited by the tube  20 . The zone of treatment can be delimited by a near zone  60 B and a far zone  60 C. The near zone  60 B is defined by an annulus surrounding the zone  60 , delimited by the tube  20  and the wellbore  10 . The far zone  60 C is defined by an annulus also surrounding the zone  60 B, delimited at one side by the wellbore  10  and stretching into the earth formation from a fixed length L, varying from few centimeters to few meters, preferably the length L is between 2 centimeters to 15 meters and more preferably between 10 centimeters to 5 meters. The sleeve  50  is inflated thanks to an inflating means  51  located on the connecting means  50 A. The inflating means  51  can also advantageously be located on another portion of the tool communicating with the inside of the system {sleeve and setting section}. The sleeve  50  is inflated with a component  13 , which can be mud, water, Nitrogen or any type of gas or liquid. In one embodiment, the inflating means  51  is a check valve or any type of valve allowing circulating mud from the inside of the well into the inside of the sleeve  50  but not the reverse. In a second embodiment, the inflating means  51  is a pump in communication with the inside of the well delivering mud as component  13 . In a third embodiment, the inflating means  51  is a reservoir delivering gas as component  13 , said gas can be Nitrogen, carbon dioxide or air. The inflating means  51  can be self activated or activated remotely from surface or activated by a timer or by another device located in the well. When inflated, a part of the sleeve is in contact with a zone of the tube  20 , said contact zone or interface is called zone  60 A. The zone  60 A should be comprised in the surface defined by the intersection of zone  60  and zone  60 B. The sleeve  50  is inflated enough to ensure a tight contact. Said tight contact ensures that the zone  60 A made of the interface sleeve/tube becomes impermeable to the said one material that the tube  20  is permeable. A zone  6  is left permeable to the said one material, so the material can flow from the inside of the well to the annulus  2  and to the zone  60 B through the zone  6 . The zone  60 A can cover the entire tube  20  and the zone  6  can be a zone, located downhole compared to apparatus  40  or below the setting section  18  and the sleeve  50 , void of casing or tube directly in communication with the annulus and with the zone  60 B. Also the zone  60 A can cover a part of the tube  20  and the zone  6  can be another part of the tube  20  still permeable, said another part located downhole compared to apparatus  40  or below the setting section  18  and the sleeve  50 . The sleeve  50  follows the shape of the setting section when deflated and has a shape practically cylindrical when inflated. 
         [0046]      FIG. 1D  shows the pumping of a treatment fluid  70  into the well. The treatment fluid is a component that flows through the tube  20 —the tube  20  is permeable to this treatment fluid  70 —. The treatment fluid flows into the well through delivering means or delivery opening  55  positioned at the lower end of the setting section  18  below the sleeve  50 . Once arrived below the setting section  18 , the treatment fluid  70  tends to returns to the surface. Ideally the treatment fluid  70  should have the same density as the fluid  700  already in the well. As the sleeve  50  plugs the inside of the tube  20 , the treatment fluid  70  is forced to circulate through the tube  20  or at least through the part  6  of the tube  20 , and the treatment fluid  70  will flow all along the annulus  2  between the zone  60 A and the wellbore. If the treatment fluid has not the same density as the fluid  700  already in the well, there is a risk that by gravity the treatment fluid  70  will first fill part of the well below the setting section  18  and the sleeve  50  (said zone below zone  60  is called zone  70 A—FIG.  1 G—) despite the fact that said zone  70 A is closed volume already filled with the fluid  700 . For example, to limit this risk, as it will be explained below in more details, few barrels of a viscous fluid can first be pumped into said zone  70 A or at least into a part of said zone  70 A. 
         [0047]    Aim of the impermeabilisation of the zone  60 A allows the treatment fluid  70  to rise into the zone  60 B ( FIG. 1E ) instead of rising into the inside of the well via zone  60 . Once the entire zone  60 B to be treated is filled with the treatment fluid, the pumping of the treatment fluid is stopped. Advantageously, depending on the composition of the treatment fluid  70  and on the composition of the earth formation beyond the wellbore (in the zone  60 C), the treatment fluid can, after having filled the zone  60 B, flow into the zone  60 C. The pumping of the treatment fluid can be re-launched if needed to compensate for the fluid treatment flowing into the zone  60 C and re-stopped when required. This step can be further re-executed a number of times, as needed. All along this time, the sleeve  50  is left inflated, ensuring impermeability of zone  60 A, the time needed that the treatment fluid  70  makes its action in zone  60 B and/or in zone  60 C. As a first example of realization, the treatment fluid can be an acid for acid fracturing of the zone  60 C or a chemical activator for activating zone  60 C. As a second example of realization, the treatment fluid can be a settable fluid to set in zone  60 B and/or in zone  60 C, the settable fluid can be a permeable cement, a remedial cement or any type of cement or other sealant e.g. epoxy or furan resin. 
         [0048]    After the zone  60 B and/or the zone  60 C is treated, the sleeve  50  is deflated ( FIG. 1F ). The sleeve  50  is deflated thanks to a deflating means  52  located on the connecting means  50 A. The deflating means  52  can also advantageously be located on another portion of the tool communicating with the inside of the system {sleeve and setting section}. Preferably, the deflating means  52  and the inflating means  51  are the same means allowing choice between inflation or deflation of the sleeve. For the first example of realization, when the treatment fluid is a non-settable fluid, but an acid or activator, the deflated sleeve allows the treatment fluid to flow back into the well. Advantage of the use of the sleeve, is that the treatment of the zone  60 B and/or the zone  60 C can be done with a lesser quantity of treatment fluid than will be needed without sleeve—without sleeve, the entire zone  60  would have needed to be filled with the treatment fluid—. For the second example of realization, when the treatment fluid is a settable fluid, the deflated sleeve leaves the zone  60 B and/or zone  60 C with the set fluid. Advantage of the use of the sleeve, is that the inside of the tube  20  is left void of any type of pollution, as set fluid—without sleeve, the entire zone  60  would have been filled with the set fluid, requiring a further step of drilling the entire zone  60 —.  FIG. 1G  shows the same well as in  FIG. 1A  after treatment with the method and apparatus according to the invention with a settable fluid. The apparatus  40  with the sleeve  50  has been removed from the well. The zone  60 B and/or the zone  60 C have been treated and the entire zone  60  remains unaffected by the treatment. 
         [0049]    In a first embodiment, the method and the apparatus according to the invention are deployed at the bottomhole of the well, all the volume of the zone  70 A left downhole of the apparatus  40  can be filled with the treatment fluid. After the treatment is finished, the set fluid set remaining in zone  70 A can be drilled with a drilling tool lowered into the well from surface. 
         [0050]    In a second embodiment, the method and the apparatus according to the invention are deployed anywhere in the well, the volume of the zone  70 A left downhole of the apparatus  40  is unknown and considered big. If the treatment fluid  70  has the same density as the fluid  700  already in the well, there is no risk that the treatment fluid fill first the zone  70 A. However, if the treatment fluid  70  has not the same density as the fluid  700  already in the well two solutions can be used. One solution can be to pump few barrels of a viscous fluid into a part of said zone  70 A, for example viscous fluid can be viscous bentonite pill, a delayed-gel, a reactive fluids system (RFS). If this is not sufficient, a second solution can be to mechanically isolate a part of said zone  70 A with a second apparatus. Said second apparatus will be deployed first and will act as a plug so to limit the zone  70 A to a smallest volume. An example of such a second apparatus can be found in patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,460,625; U.S. Pat. No. 2,922,478 and preferably in the co-pending European patent application from the Applicants under application number 05291785.3. Preferably, said second apparatus is deployed with the apparatus  40  and is positioned downhole compared to the apparatus  40 ; the second apparatus acts as a plug and the apparatus  40  can be used as described from  FIGS. 1D to 1G . The plug can be reusable or releasable. As a first example of embodiment, when the treatment fluid is a non-settable fluid, the second apparatus can be connected to the apparatus  40  and can have a reusable plug which is deployed the time the sleeve  50  is inflated. When the sleeve  50  is deflated, the plug is removed also—the plug can also be an expandable sleeve for example—. So, the treatment fluid falls into the well when the apparatus  40  and the second apparatus are removed from the well, leaving the zone  60 B and/or the zone  60 C treated and the inside of the tube near zone  60  void of any pollution. As a second example of embodiment, when the treatment fluid is a settable fluid, the second apparatus can be connected to the apparatus  40  and can have a releasable plug which is deployed the time the sleeve  50  is inflated. When the sleeve  50  is deflated, the apparatus  40  and the second apparatus are removed, the plug is released. Either the volume of the set fluid in zone  70 A is sufficient to push the plug downhole and the plug falls lower into the well or zone  70 A with the plug can be drilled with a drilling tool lowered into the well from surface. 
         [0051]    In a further step, another zone of the well can be treated with the method according to the invention by deploying the apparatus in said another zone, if for example there are multiple and separated zones in the well or if the zone to be treated is too long to be treated with a single treatment. 
         [0052]      FIG. 2A  shows a view in details of the apparatus according to the invention in a first embodiment. The apparatus  40  is lowered in the well from the surface, it comprises an upper section  41  made of a delivery pipe  17  and a lower section  42  made of a setting section  18 . The delivery pipe  17  can be a drill pipe or coiled tubing. The setting section  18  can be a drill pipe or coiled tubing, it can be also a tube made of metal or a rigid and resistant material as composite. The setting section  18  is surrounded by an expandable sleeve or bladder  50 . The expandable sleeve  50  can be formed from an elastic but resistant material, for example rubber. The expandable sleeve is connected to the setting section  18  by one connecting means  50 A at the upper level and with a second connecting means  50 B at the lower level. The connecting means  50 A and  50 B are systems of fixation of the expandable sleeve  50  to the setting section  18  as screwing, hanging, sticking, crimping, hooping. The sleeve  50  is inflated thanks to a check valve  51 - 52  located on the connecting means  50 A. The sleeve  50  is inflated with mud  13  present inside the well. The sleeve is deflated thanks also to the check valve  51 - 52  which is unlocked and allows exit of mud. The apparatus  40  comprises a hole  55  at the lower level of the lower section  42  to ensure delivering of the fluid treatment inside the well. 
         [0053]      FIG. 2B  shows a view in details of the apparatus according to the invention in a second embodiment. The apparatus  40  is lowered in the well from the surface, it comprises an upper section  41  made of a delivery pipe  17  and a lower section  42  made of at least two setting sections  18 A and  18 B mounted telescopically. Preferably, the setting sections  18 B is connected to the surface and slides on the setting section  18 A inside said last one. The delivery pipe  17  can be a drill pipe or coiled tubing. The setting sections  18 A and  18 B can be a drill pipe or coiled tubing, it can be also a tube made of metal or a rigid and resistant material as composite. The setting sections  18 A and  18 B are surrounded by an expandable sleeve or bladder  50  arranged as a fan. The expandable sleeve is connected to the setting section  18 A by one connecting means  50 A at the upper level and is connected to the setting section  18 B by a second connecting means  50 B at the lower level. The connecting means  50 A and  50 B are systems of fixation of the expandable sleeve  50  to the setting section  18  as screwing, hanging, sticking, crimping, hooping. When the setting section  18 B slides on the setting section  18 A, the setting section  18 B deployed the sleeve  50  on the setting sections  18 A and  18 B. From a closed position where length of the sleeve is of some meters—sleeve being arranged as a fan on the setting sections  18 A and  18 B—, the sleeve can go to a deployed position with a length of several meters (up to 200 meters or 100 meters)—sleeve being deployed with the setting section  18 B—. The expandable sleeve  50  can be formed from an elastic but resistant material, for example rubber. The sleeve  50  is inflated thanks to a check valve  51 - 52  located on the connecting means  50 A. The sleeve  50  is inflated with mud  13  present inside the well. The sleeve is deflated thanks also to the check valve  51 - 52  which is unlocked and allows exit of mud. The apparatus  40  comprises a hole  55  at the lower level of the lower section  42  to ensure delivering of the fluid treatment inside the well. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 3A to 3C  show a view in details of the apparatus according to the invention in a third embodiment. The apparatus  40  is lowered in the well from the surface, it comprises an upper section  41  made of a delivery pipe  17  and a lower section  42  made of a setting section  18 . The delivery pipe  17  can be a drill pipe or coiled tubing. The setting section  18  can be a drill pipe or coiled tubing, it can be also a tube made of metal or a rigid and resistant material such as a composite material. The setting section  18  is surrounded by an expandable sleeve or bladder  50 . The expandable sleeve  50  can be formed from an elastic but resistant material, for example rubber. The expandable sleeve is connected to the setting section  18  by one connecting means  50 A at the upper level and with a second connecting means  50 B at the lower level. The connecting means  50 A and  50 B are systems of fixation of the expandable sleeve  50  to the setting section  18  as screwing, hanging, sticking, crimping, hooping. The setting section  18  comprises openings  51 - 52  for inflated/deflated the sleeve. The setting section  18  comprises openings  55  for delivering treatment fluid inside the well. An additional tube  58  is mounted inside the setting section  18  and is weighted on the lower part of the additional tube  58  with optionally a weighting element  57 . Further, the delivering openings  55  can have a deflector (not shown on Figures) forcing the delivery uphole and/or on the tube. The additional tube  58  comprises also openings for inflated/deflated the sleeve and for delivering treatment fluid inside the well, but not juxtaposed with the last of the setting section  18 . So, the system  57  and  58  slides in the setting section and allows the choice between: inflation of the sleeve, delivering of the treatment fluid, or deflation of the sleeve. In a first position ( FIG. 3A ), the sleeve is inflated with the treatment fluid or with any type of fluid  13 . When the sleeve is correctly inflated, the pressure inside the setting section reaches a certain threshold and breaks the fingers or unlocks shear screws retaining the additional tube  58  in first position. The additional tube slides thanks to the weighting element or the load resulting from the pressure inside the tube to a second position ( FIG. 3B ). In the second position, the sleeve is blocked inflated, and the treatment fluid can be delivered inside the well, into the zone to treat. Finally, when all the volume that can be filled is full, the pressure inside the setting section reaches another certain threshold and unlocks the fingers or breaks shear screws retaining the additional tube  58  in second position. The additional tube slides thanks to the weighting element or the load resulting from the pressure inside the tube to a third position ( FIG. 3C ). In the third position, the sleeve can be deflated, and the retained treatment fluid or any type of fluid is delivered inside the well. The apparatus  40  is removed from the well and can be reutilized by rearming it. When shear screws are used to lock or unlock from first to third position, all the system  57  and  58  is pushed back into the setting section and another job can be completed with the same apparatus. It can also not be useful to remove the apparatus from the well to rearm it. Effectively, by pushing it to the bottomhole of the well, the apparatus can be rearmed by pressing it to the bottom. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 4A to 4C  show a view in details of the apparatus according to the invention in a fourth embodiment. The apparatus  40  is lowered in the well from the surface, it comprises an upper section  41  made of a delivery pipe  17  and a lower section  42  made of a setting section  18 . The delivery pipe  17  can be a drill pipe or a coiled tubing. The setting section  18  is made of a rigid but drillable stinger with a material such as light metal or alloy, e.g. aluminum or such as friable plastic or composite e.g. fiberglass, epoxy resin materials. The material, when drilled, has to transform rapidly and easily in small cuts. The setting section  18  is surrounded by an expandable sleeve or bladder  50 . The expandable sleeve  50  can be formed from an elastic but resistant material, for example as rubber. The expandable sleeve is connected to the setting section  18  by one connecting means  50 A at the upper level and with a second connecting means  50 B at the lower level. The connecting means  50 A and  50 B are systems of fixation of the expandable sleeve  50  to the setting section  18  as case, screwing, hanging, sticking. The delivery pipe  17  comprises also a disconnect mechanism  17 ′, allowing the delivery pipe to abandon the lower section  42  of the apparatus  40  when required or at the end of the treatment. 
         [0056]      FIG. 5A  is a view in details of the upper level of the setting section showing the disconnect mechanism  17 ′. The setting section  18  comprises at the upper level  9 A a connector  27  allowing a disconnection of the setting section  18  from the delivery pipe  17 . The connector  27  is connected to the delivery pipe  17  by elastic fingers  22  or keys. The elastic fingers engage into a groove  23  cut into the setting section  18 . A ramp  23 A allows disengagement of the elastic fingers  22  from the groove  23 . The elastic fingers are made of an elastic metal or elastic plastic or composite material. A sliding sleeve  24  surrounding the delivery pipe  17  is further present and can displace along the delivery pipe to cover the system {elastic fingers, groove}. The sliding sleeve  24  is made of metal or plastic or composite material. Preferably, the sliding sleeve  24  is equipped with a brake pressing against the delivery pipe or a locking mechanism  26  to maintain the sliding sleeve  24  in position. For example, the locking mechanism  26  can be made of one or several shear screws engaged in a groove  26 A cut in the delivery pipe  17 . A first seal  24 A is located on the sliding sleeve  24  and ensures tightness between sliding sleeve  24  and delivery pipe  17 . A second seal  24 B is located on the setting section  18  and ensures tightness between sliding sleeve  24  and setting section  18 . The diameters of the seals  24 A and  24 B are different; the diameter of the seal  24 B is larger than the diameter of the seal  24 A. 
         [0057]    The setting section  18  comprises openings  51 - 52  for inflated/deflated the sleeve. The setting section  18  comprises openings  55  for delivering treatment fluid inside the well. An additional tube  58  is mounted inside the setting section  18  and is weighted on the lower part of the additional tube  58  with optionally a weighting element  57 . Further, the delivering openings  55  can have a deflector (not shown on Figures) forcing the delivery uphole and/or on the tube. The additional tube  58  comprises also openings for inflating/deflating the sleeve and for delivering treatment fluid inside the well, but not juxtaposed with the last of the setting section  18 . So, the system  57  and  58  slides in the setting section and allows the choice between: inflation of the sleeve, delivering of the treatment fluid, or deflation of the sleeve. In a first position ( FIG. 3A ), the sleeve is inflated with the treatment fluid or with any type of fluid  13 . When the sleeve is correctly inflated, the pressure inside the setting section reaches a certain threshold and breaks the fingers or unlocks shear screws retaining the additional tube  58  in first position. The additional tube slides thanks to the weighting element or the load resulting from the pressure inside the tube to a second position ( FIG. 3B ). In the second position, the sleeve is blocked inflated, and the treatment fluid can be delivered inside the well, into the zone to treat. Finally, when all the volume that can be filled is full, the pressure inside the setting section and the delivery pipe reaches another certain threshold and disconnects the disconnect mechanism  17 ′ as it will be explained in further details. The delivery pipe  17  is removed from the well, and the lower section  42  of the apparatus  40  is left in the well. This lower section  42  of the apparatus can be drilled in a further step after. 
         [0058]      FIGS. 5B and 5C  show the connector  27  in action of disconnection.  FIG. 5B  shows the connector locked to the delivery pipe  17 . The elastic fingers  22  are engaged into the groove  23  and can not retract as long as the sliding sleeve  24  is covering them. An internal cavity is formed between the sliding sleeve and the delivery pipe  17  and tightness is maintained in the cavity thanks to both seals  24 A and  24 B. Through the orifice  25  the same pressure is applied inside the cavity than inside the bladder. Thus the sliding sleeve  24  is sensible to the same differential pressure as the bladder, but it is secured in its initial locked position by the locking mechanism  26 . The diameters of the seals  24 A and  24 B are different so the internal pressure of the treatment fluid or any type of fluid  13  acting on the differential area (created by difference of diameters of the seals  24 A and  24 B) induces a load that tends to move the sliding sleeve  24  against the brake or locking mechanism  26 . If the pressure increases above a given threshold, the induced axial load shears the locking mechanism and the sliding sleeve translates to the unlocked position (shown on  FIG. 5C ). As shown on  FIG. 5A , the diameter of the seal  24 B is larger than the diameter of the seal  24 A, the sliding sleeve  24  translating on the delivery pipe  17  and remaining on it. Another symmetric configuration could be obtained where the diameter of the seal  24 A is larger than the diameter of the seal  24 B, the sliding sleeve  24  translating on the setting section  18  and remaining on it. The locking mechanism sets the threshold below the burst pressure of the expandable sleeve  50 . When the sliding sleeve  24  moves, it frees the elastic fingers  22 , and the ramp  23 A pushes the elastic fingers  22  away, disconnecting the delivery pipe. In fact, the sliding sleeve  24  acts as a piston.