Patent Publication Number: US-10329866-B2

Title: Locking keyed components for downhole tools

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/722,160 filed on Oct. 2, 2017, and entitled “OPEN-HOLE MECHANICAL PACKER WITH EXTERNAL FEED THROUGH AND RACKED PACKING SYSTEM” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/722,271 filed on Oct. 2, 2017, and entitled “OPEN-HOLE MECHANICAL PACKER WITH EXTERNAL FEED THROUGH RUN UNDERNEATH PACKING SYSTEM,” the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure is related to the field of locking keyed members for downhole tools having an external feed through and methods of using locking keyed members with downhole tools having an external feed through. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In wellbore operations, a packer assembly system may sometimes be used to create a seal between an uphole portion of a wellbore and a downhole portion of the wellbore in order to enable operations to be performed by one or more tools on a string within the downhole portion. Various mechanisms may be used to form a seal with a sealing or packing element between the tool and a wall of the wellbore. Any interruptions between a packing element, or a sealing element, of the packer assembly system and the wellbore wall may prevent proper sealing and may adversely affect operations in the wellbore. 
     A typical packer assembly system may not provide accommodations for communication lines and/or control lines to be inserted within the packer system. If accommodations are provided, in a typical packer assembly, the line may be run either through the packing element, through an exterior of the packer assembly system, or through a drilled hole in the mandrel, which may result in the packer assembly not sealing completely when set within a wellbore. Some packer assemblies may rely on swellable materials to try to reduce this potential problem. However, in a mechanically set packer assembly, swellable materials may not be compatible with a packing or sealing element. Further, after assembly a typical packer assembly system may not enable a line to be subsequently inserted into an interior of the packer assembly. Packer assemblies that provide a line through either the packing element, an exterior of the packer assembly, or through the mandrel typically require splicing the communication and/or control line above and below the packer assembly. Splices in a communication line and/or a control line may significantly degrade signal quality and may, therefore, adversely affect operations within the wellbore. Further, splices in the line may present a weak point in a line, which may affect the integrity of the seal provided by the packer. 
     Various downhole tools may include an external line for controlling and/or communication to a location below the downhole tool. Such tools may require the external line to be spliced above and below the tool in order to provide the desired control and/or communication. As discussed herein, splices in a line may provide weak points along the line. Other disadvantages may exist. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to locking keyed members for use in a downhole tool having an external line. For example, a downhole packer system for use in a wellbore may include a line that needs to bypass the packing element of the packer system. The packer system may be positioned along a string and includes a line that traverses the packer system along the string without the use of splices. 
     An embodiment of the disclosure is a packer system for use in a wellbore comprising a mandrel having an interior and an exterior. The system comprises a packer assembly including a packing element positioned between a first ring and a second ring, which is configured to slide onto the exterior of the mandrel. The first ring includes a first gap along the first ring between a first end and a second end. The system comprises a line configured to run between the exterior of the mandrel and an interior of the packing element, through an inner bore of the first ring, and through an inner bore of the second ring. The system comprises a first key member, wherein the gap is configured to receive the first key member. 
     The insertion of the first key member into the first gap may selectively interlock the first key member with the first and second ends of the first ring. Removal of the first key member from the first gap may enable the line to pass from the inner bore of the first ring to an exterior of the first ring. The first key member may comprise a metal, a polymer, a thermoplastic, an elastomeric, and/or a combination thereof. 
     The system may include a second key member and a second gap configured to receive the second key member, the second gap being along the second ring between a first end and a second end, wherein the insertion of the second key member into the second gap may selectively interlock the second key member with the first and second ends of the second ring. The first key may have a first cross-sectional geometry and the second key may have a second cross-sectional geometry, which differs from the first cross-sectional geometry. Removal of the second key member form the second gap may enable the line to pass from the inner bore of the second ring to an exterior of the second ring. 
     The system may include a third key member and a third gap along the first ring, the third gap being between a third end and a fourth end of the first ring. The third gap may be configured to receive the third key member, wherein insertion of the third key member into the third gap may selectively interlock the third key member with the third and fourth ends of the first ring. The first and third gaps may be approximately 180 degrees apart along the first ring. Removal of the first key member from the first gap and removal of the third key member from the third gap may separate the first ring into two separate components. 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure is a method of providing a packer system. The method comprises providing a packer assembly on a mandrel, the packer assembly including a first ring, a packing element, and a second ring, wherein the packing element is positioned between the first and second ring. The method comprises installing a line between an exterior of the mandrel and an inner surface of the packing element, through an inner bore of the first ring, and through an inner bore of the second ring. The line may be installed through a gap along the first ring and a second gap along the second ring. 
     The method may comprise inserting a first key member into the first gap and inserting a second key member into the second gap after installing the line. The first key member may be inserted in a longitudinal direction with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the mandrel. The first key member may be inserted in a transverse direction with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the mandrel. The first key member may selectively interlock with the first ring and the second key member may selectively interlock with the second ring. The method may include removing the first key member from the first gap and removing the first ring from the packer assembly, wherein the line passes from the inner bore of the first ring through the first gap. 
     An embodiment of the disclosure is a packer assembly comprising a first ring having a first end, a second end, and a first gap between the first and second ends. The assembly comprises a second ring having a first end, a second end, and a second gap between the first and second ends. The assembly comprises a sealing element positioned between the first and second rings, wherein the first ring is movable with respect to the second ring, the movement of the first ring towards the second ring causes the sealing element to expand radially. The assembly comprises a first key member configured to be inserted into the first gap, wherein the first key member positioned within the first gap selectively interlocks with the first and second ends of the first ring and a second key member configured to be inserted into the second gap, wherein the second key member positioned within the second gap selectively interlocks with the first and second ends of the second ring. 
     The removal of the first key member may enable axial insertion of a line into an inner bore of the first ring. The removal of the second key member may enable axial insertion of a line into an inner bore of the second ring. The first key member may be configured to prevent insertion of the first key member into the second gap and the second key member may be configured to prevent insertion of the second key member into the first gap. 
     An embodiment of the disclosure is a tool comprising a mandrel having a first end, a second end, and an exterior and a first ring member positioned on the exterior of the mandrel, the first ring member having a first gap configured to receive a first key. The tool comprises a second ring member positioned on the exterior of the mandrel, the second ring member having a second gap configured to receive a second key member. The tool comprises first and second keys. The tool may include a line that extends along the exterior of the mandrel from the first end of the mandrel to the second end of the mandrel, the line passing between the first ring member and the exterior of the mandrel and passing between the second ring member and the exterior of the mandrel. The tool may include a plurality of slips positioned on the exterior of the mandrel between the first ring member and the second ring member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an embodiment of a packer system with a packer assembly positioned adjacent to a mandrel of a base assembly of the packer system. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an embodiment of a packer system with the packer assembly positioned on the mandrel of the base assembly of the packer system. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-section schematic view of an embodiment of a packer system. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are partial schematic views of an embodiment of a packer system with the packing element in an expanded or set configuration. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are partial schematic views of an embodiment of a packer system. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an embodiment of a ring component of a packer system that has been removed off of a continuous line that runs along the packer system. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are schematic views of an embodiment of a ring component of a packer system. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method of providing a packer system. 
         FIG. 9  is isometric schematic view of an embodiment of a downhole tool that includes locking keyed components. 
     
    
    
     While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a packer system  100  with a packer assembly  102  positioned adjacent to a mandrel  152  of a base assembly  150  of the packer system  100 . As discussed in the above referenced related patent applications entitled “OPEN-HOLE MECHANICAL PACKER WITH EXTERNAL FEED THROUGH AND RACKED PACKING SYSTEM” and “OPEN-HOLE MECHANICAL PACKER WITH EXTERNAL FEED THROUGH RUN UNDERNEATH PACKING SYSTEM” it may be beneficial to run a continuous line, such as line  180  shown in  FIG. 1 , down a work or tubing string that does not require splices to traverse tools along the string. The line  180  may provide communication with a downhole location and/or control of a downhole device as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The line  180  may be a pneumatic line, an electrical line, an optical line, or another type of line capable of control and/or communication. As the line  180  travels along the string it may need to negotiate a downhole tool. For example, the line  180  may need to bypass a packer system  100  that may be used to create a seal between the system  100  and a wellbore. The packer system  100  may be a packer system  100  used to create a seal in an openhole wellbore. 
     The packer system  100  includes a packer assembly  102  that may be actuated to move a packer or sealing element  104  between an unset or unexpanded state (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and a set or expanded state (shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ). In the set or expanded state, the packer or sealing element  104  creates a seal between the packer system  100  and a portion of a wellbore. Specifically, a seal may be created between the outer portion  174  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the packer or sealing element  104  and a portion of the wellbore as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The packer system  100  includes a pathway that enables a line  180  to pass between an inner portion or inner surface  176  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the packer or sealing element  104  and an exterior  170  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the mandrel  152 . The exterior  170  of the mandrel  152  may include a recess or groove  160  that enables the line  180  to traverse between the exterior  170  of the mandrel  152  and the interior or inner surface  176  of the packing element  104 . After traversing the packer assembly  102 , the line  180  may pass through a recess or slot  162  in the housing  154  to the exterior of the housing  154 . 
     The packing assembly  102  may comprise various ring elements on a first or uphole side of the packer or sealing element  104  and various ring elements on a second or downhole side of the packer or sealing element  104 . On a first side of the packing assembly  102  relative to the packing element  104 , the packing assembly  102  may include a first inner grooved c-ring  106  and a first outer grooved c-ring  110  that are positioned adjacent to a first end of the packer element  104  with the first inner grooved c-ring  106  being positioned between the packer element  104  and the first outer grooved c-ring  110 . The packing assembly  102  may include a first keyed inner wedge ring  114  positioned between the first outer grooved c-ring  110  and a first wedge c-ring  122 . A keyed gauge ring  126  may be positioned on one end of the packer assembly  102  adjacent to the first wedge c-ring  122 . 
     On a second side of the packing assembly  102  relative to the packing element  104 , the packing assembly  102  may include a second inner grooved c-ring  108  and a second outer grooved c-ring  112  that are positioned adjacent to a second end of the packer element  104  with the second inner grooved c-ring  108  being positioned between the packer element  104  and the second outer grooved c-ring  112 . The packing assembly  102  may include a second keyed inner wedge ring  116  positioned between the second outer grooved c-ring  112  and a second wedge c-ring  124 . The second wedge c-ring  124  may be positioned against a housing  154  of the base assembly  150 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The housing  154  includes an exterior  194  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and an interior  196  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and is positioned against the second wedge c-ring  124  to prevent the movement of the “second side” ring elements  108 ,  112 ,  116 ,  124  of the packer assembly  102  along the mandrel  152  in a direction away from the “first side” ring elements  106 ,  110 ,  114 ,  122 ,  126  as the packer assembly  102  is mechanically actuated to set the packing element  104 . Various mechanisms may be used to mechanically set the packer assembly  102  by causing the movement of the first ring elements  106 ,  110 ,  114 ,  122 ,  126  towards the second ring elements  108 ,  112 ,  116 ,  124  to compress the packing element  104  causing to expand outward radially as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, a packing element of a packer assembly may be set in various ways as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The packer assembly  102  may be formed as a sub assembly and then slide onto the exterior  170  of the mandrel  152  as discussed in detail in the above referenced related application entitled “OPEN-HOLE MECHANICAL PACKER WITH EXTERNAL FEED THROUGH AND RACKED PACKING SYSTEM.” Alternatively, the packer assembly  102  may be installed component by component on a mandrel  152  of a base assembly  150  of a packer system  100 . 
     The packer assembly  102 , whether formed as a subassembly or installed component by component on a mandrel  152 , includes a plurality of key members  118 ,  120 ,  128 ,  156 , which may be inserted into various gaps located in components of the packer assembly  102 . The key members may be retained in the gaps by various mechanisms. For example, the key members may be configured to be an interference fit with a corresponding gaps. Alternatively, the key members may be selectively secured within a gap via fasteners, an adhesive, by welding, or by various other mechanisms that would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     The insertion of each key member into a gap of a component of the packer assembly  102  may complete the component and provide structural support thereto. For example, a first key member  118  may be inserted into a gap in the first keyed inner wedge ring  114 . The first key member  118  may interlock a first end and a second end of the first keyed inner wedge ring  114  together as the first key member  118  is inserted into a gap between the first and second end. The first key member  118  may be configured to be an interference fit with the gap in the first keyed inner wedge ring  114 . The first key member  118  may be selectively removed to permit installation or removal of the first keyed inner wedge ring  114  from the packer system  100 . For example, in the instance that the first keyed inner wedge ring  114  needs to be replaced from a packer system  100 , the packer assembly  102  may be slid off the end of the mandrel  152  and the removal of the first key member  118  enables the first keyed inner wedge ring  114  to be removed off of the line  180  without having to run the first keyed inner wedge ring  114  to end of the line  180  or, alternatively, having to cut and re-splice the line  180 . Likewise, a replacement first keyed inner wedge ring  114  may be installed onto the line  180  through a gap in the ring first keyed inner wedge ring  114 . Afterwards, the first key member  118  may be inserted into the gap into the first keyed inner wedge ring  114  to interlock the ends of the first keyed inner wedge ring  114  together. 
     Likewise, a second key member  120  may be inserted into a gap in the second keyed inner wedge ring  116 . The second key member  120  may interlock a first end and a second end of the second keyed inner wedge ring  116  together as the second key member  120  is inserted into a gap between the first and second end. The second key member  120  may be configured to be an interference fit with the gap in the second keyed inner wedge ring  116 . The second key member  120  may be selectively removed to permit installation or removal of the second keyed inner wedge ring  116  from the packer system  100 . For example, in the instance that the second keyed inner wedge ring  116  needs to be replaced from a packer system  100 , the packer assembly  102  may be slid off the end of the mandrel  152  and the removal of the second key member  120  enables the second keyed inner wedge ring  116  to be removed off of the line  180  without having to run the second keyed inner wedge ring  116  to end of the line  180  or, alternatively, having to cut and re-splice the line  180 . Likewise, a replacement second keyed inner wedge ring  116  may be installed onto the line  180  through a gap in the second keyed inner wedge ring  116 . Afterwards, the second key member  120  may be inserted into the gap into the second keyed inner wedge ring  116  to interlock the ends of the second keyed inner wedge ring  116  together. 
     The keyed gauge ring  126  may also include a gap that permits the insertion of a key member  128  into the gap to interlock the two ends of the keyed gauge ring  126  together. A plurality of fasteners  129  may be used to selectively retain the key member  128  within the gap of the keyed gauge ring  126 . Likewise, the housing  154  may also include a gap that is configured to insert a key member  156  to interlock portions of the housing  154  together. A plurality of fasteners  157  may be used to selectively retain the key member  156  within the gap of the housing  154 . As discussed herein, the removal of key members  118 ,  120 ,  128 ,  156  from the components of the packer system  100  may enable each of the components to be installed or replaced by passing a line through a gap in the component. 
     The packer system  100  is shown with four key members for illustrative purposes only. The keyed gauge ring  126 , first wedge c-ring  122 , first keyed inner wedge ring  114 , first outer grooved c-ring  110 , first inner grooved c-ring  106 , second inner grooved c-ring  108 , second outer grooved c-ring  112 , second keyed inner wedge ring  116 , second wedge c-ring, and the housing  154  each may include at least one gap configured to receive a key member. Each gap may be configured to a unique key member with respect to the other components of the packer system  100 , which may prevent the insertion of the wrong key member into a component. In other words, a key member may be configured to be inserted into a gap located in a specific component of the packer system  100 . Alternatively, the key members may be interchangeable and used on any gap in a component depending on the application. In some embodiments, the rings  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  122 ,  124  may include gaps that are left open in order to allow for the rings to expand radially. Such gaps also may enable the rings to be removed off the line  180  as described herein as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     The number, shape, size, and/or configuration of the ring elements is shown for illustrative purposes only and may be varied depending on the application as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. As used herein, a “first ring” comprises any element configured to be positioned around the mandrel  152  on a first side of the packer element  104  and a “second ring” comprises any element configured to be positioned around the mandrel  152  on a second side of the packer element  104 . The number, shape, size, and/or configuration of the key members is shown for illustrative purposes only and may be varied depending on the application as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-section view schematic of a packer system  100 . The packer system  100  includes a packer assembly  102  positioned on an exterior  170  of a mandrel  152 . The mandrel  152  includes an inner surface  172  and a bore  191 . A line  180  travels along the exterior  170  of the mandrel  152  until it reaches the packer assembly  102 . The line  180  then travels between an inner surface  176  of the packer element  104  of the packer assembly  102  and the exterior  170  of the mandrel  152 . The mandrel includes a groove or recess  160  that permits the passage of the line  180  between the mandrel  152  and the packer or sealing element  104 . After traversing the packer assembly  102 , the line  180  passes to the exterior  194  of the housing  154  via a slot or groove  162  in the housing  154 . The line  180  may then travel down a string (not shown) connected to the packer system  100  to a desired downhole location within a wellbore. 
     The packer assembly  102  includes various first ring elements  106 ,  110 ,  114 ,  122 ,  126  positioned on a first side of the packer element  104  and various second ring elements  108 ,  112 ,  116 ,  124 ,  154  positioned on a second side of the packer element  104  as discussed herein. Each ring element or component  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  122 ,  124 ,  154  may include a key member positioned within a gap along the ring member. First key members  118 ,  128  and second key members  120 ,  156  are shown herein for illustrative purposes only. A key member may be removed from a ring element or component  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  122 ,  124 ,  154  to permit the ring element or component to be removed from the packer system  100 , as discussed herein. Additionally, the key members (shown herein as  118 ,  120 ,  124 ,  156 ) may be removed from a component to permit access to the line  180  positioned within the bore of the component. Likewise, the key members may be removed to permit the insertion of the line  180  along the packer system  100  as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
       FIG. 4A  is a partial schematic view of the packer system  100  with the packer or sealing element  104  in a compressed or set configuration.  FIG. 4A  shows the key member  128  removed out of a gap  127  in the keyed gauge ring  126 . Line  180  is not shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  for clarity. The gap  127  is positioned between a first end  126 A of the keyed gauge ring  126  and a second end  126 B of the keyed gauge ring  126 . The gap  127  is configured to receive the key member  128 . In other words, the shape of the gap  127  conforms to the shape of the key member  128 . The key member  128  is inserted into the gap  127  in a longitudinal direction with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the mandrel  152 , as indicated by arrow L. The key member  128  may include a plurality of flanges to interlock the key member  128  with the ends  126 A,  126 B of the keyed gauge ring  126  when inserted into the gap  127 , as shown in  FIG. 4B . The shape, size, and/or configuration of the key member  128  is shown for illustrative purposes and may be varied depending on the application as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are partial schematic view of the packer system  100 .  FIG. 5A  shows the key member  118  removed out of a gap  115  in the first keyed inner wedge ring  114 . The gap  115  is positioned between a first end  114 A of the first keyed inner wedge ring  114  and a second end  114 B of first keyed inner wedge ring  114 . The gap  115  is configured to receive the key member  118 . In other words, the shape of the gap  115  conforms to the shape of the key member  118 . The key member  118  is inserted into the gap  115  in a transverse direction with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the mandrel  152 , as indicated by arrow T. The key member  118  may include a plurality of flanges to interlock the key member  118  with the ends  114 A,  114 B of first keyed inner wedge ring  114  when inserted into the gap  115 , as shown in  FIG. 5B . The shape, size, and/or configuration of the key member  118  is shown for illustrative purposes and may be varied depending on the application as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     First key members  118 ,  128  are shown in  FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B  for illustrative purposes only. The shape, configuration, size, and/or direction of insertion may be varied depending on application as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. Key members may be may be selectively inserted and removed from various elements of the packer system  100 , such as but not limited to, ring elements or component  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  122 ,  124 ,  154 . The key members may enable ring elements or components to be removed from the packer system  100 , as discussed herein. The key members and ring elements configured to receive a key member may enable a packer system  100  to be constructed onsite at a wellbore. Additionally, the key members may be removed from a component to permit access to the line  180  positioned within the bore of the component. Likewise, the key members may be removed to permit the insertion of the line  180  along the packer system  100  as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The insertion of key members into a component may lock that component into place on the mandrel  152  of the packer system  100 . 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic showing the keyed gauge ring  126  removed from off the line  180 . After key member  128  from the gap  127  between the ends  126 A,  126 B in the keyed gauge ring  126 , the keyed gauge ring  126  may be slid off the mandrel  152  and the line  180  may pass through the gap  127  to permit the removal of the keyed gauge ring  126  from the packer system  100 . Likewise, a replacement keyed gauge ring  126  may be installed within the packer system  100  by passing the line  180  through the gap  127  into the bore  126 C of the keyed gauge ring  126 . The keyed gauge ring  126  may then be slid onto the mandrel  152  of the packer system  100  and positioned adjacent the first wedge c-ring  122 . The key member  128  may be inserted into the gap  127  to close the gap  127 . The keyed gauge ring  126  shown in  FIG. 6  is for illustrative purposes only as each keyed ring component of the packer system  100  may be removed or installed in the same manner. 
       FIG. 7A  is a schematic of an embodiment of a keyed gauge ring  226  that includes a first key member  228 A inserted into a first gap  227 A and a second key member  228 B inserted into a second gap  227 B. The first gap  227 A is positioned between a first end  226 A of the keyed gauge ring  226  and a second end  226 B of the keyed gauge ring  226 . The second gap  227 B is positioned between a third end  226 C of the keyed gauge ring  226  and a fourth end  226 D of the keyed gauge ring  226 . The keyed gauge ring  226  includes a bore  226 E that permits the insertion of a mandrel  152  of a packer system  100  and line  180  as discussed herein. The first and second key members  228 A,  228 B may have the same cross-sectional geometry permitting them to be interchangeable. Alternatively, the first and second key members  228 A,  228 B may have different cross-sectional geometries so that only the first key member  228 A may be inserted into the first gap  227 A and only the second key member  228 B may be inserted into the second gap  227 B. The first and second gaps  227 A,  227 B may be positioned approximately 180 degrees apart from each other around the keyed gauge ring  226 . 
       FIG. 7B  is a schematic of the keyed gauge ring  226  of  FIG. 7A  with the first and second key members  228 A,  228 B removed from the first and second gaps  227 A,  227 B, which permits the keyed gauge ring  226  to be separated into two individual or separate components  229 A,  229 B. The removal of two key members  228 A,  228 B from two gaps  227 A,  227 B may enable the keyed gauge ring  226  to be removed from off the mandrel  152  of the packer system  100  without having to slide it off the mandrel  152  first. The number, size, configuration, and location of the gaps and key member is for illustrative purposes only and may be varied as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. For example, three key members and gaps could be used to selectively separate a ring component into three individual parts. The keyed gauge ring  226  shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  is for illustrative purposes only as each keyed ring component of the packer system  100  may include multiple gaps and key members to permit the removal and/or installation in the same manner. 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method  800  of providing a packer system. The method  800  includes the step  802  of providing a packer assembly on a mandrel, the packer assembly including a first ring, a packing element, and a second ring, where the packing element is positioned between the first and second rings. The method includes installing a line between an exterior of the mandrel and an inner surface of the packing element, through an inner bore of the first ring, and through an inner bore of the second ring where the line may be installed through a first gap along the first ring and a second gap along the second ring, at step  804 . The method  800  may include inserting a first key member into the first gap and inserting a second key member into the second gap after installing the line, at step  806 . The first key member may be inserted in a longitudinal direction with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the mandrel or the first key member may be inserted in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the mandrel. The first key member may interlock with the first ring and the second key member may interlock with the second ring. The method may include removing the first key member from the first gap and removing the first ring from the packer assembly, wherein the line passes from the inner bore of the first ring through the first gap. 
       FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of a downhole tool  900  that includes an external line  980  that runs along an exterior  970  of a mandrel  952  from a first end  990  of the mandrel  952  to a second end  992  of the mandrel. The tool  900  includes a plurality of slips  930  that may be set against a portion of a wellbore. The plurality of slips  930  may be actuated by various mechanisms as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The tool includes a first ring member  910  positioned around the exterior  970  of the mandrel  952  and a second ring member  920  position around the exterior  970  of the mandrel  952 . The line  980  run between an interior of the ring members  910 ,  920  and the exterior  970  of the mandrel  952 . The line  980  may be a continuous line from a surface location to a location within a wellbore below the tool  900  and may be used to communicate with and/or control a tool at location below the tool  900  within a wellbore. The ring members  910 ,  920  and key members  915 ,  925  permit a line to traverse the tool  900  without the need to splice into a line about and below the tool  900  as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The ring members  910 ,  920  and key members  915 ,  925  may also enable onsite construction of the tool  900  at a wellbore. 
     The first ring member  910  includes a gap  911  that is configured to receive a first key  915  and the second ring member  920  includes a gap  921  that is configured to receive a second key member  925 . The key members  915 ,  925  may be selectively inserted into their respective ring member  910 ,  920  to complete the ring members  910 ,  920 , as discussed herein. The insertion and removal of the key members  915 ,  915  may permit the insertion of the line  980  through the tool  900 , provide access to the line  980 , permit the removal of the ring members  910 ,  920  of the tool  900  and line  980 , and/or permit the installation of the ring members  910 ,  920  onto the mandrel  952  and the line  980 . The key members  915 ,  925  may be retained within their respective gap  911 ,  921  via fasteners, friction fit, adhesive, welding, or by various other mechanisms as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. As discussed herein, a portion of the exterior  970  of the mandrel  952  may include a groove or recess to receive a portion of the line  980 . The groove or recess may extend along the exterior  970  of the mandrel  952  from the first end  990  to the second end  992 . 
     Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, including embodiments that do not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein, are also within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by reference to the appended claims and equivalents thereof.