Patent Description:
This disclosure relates to crossflow containment well tools, such as well bridge plugs.

In hydrocarbon production, a wellbore is drilled into a hydrocarbon-rich geological formation. After the wellbore is partially or completely drilled, a completion system is installed to secure the wellbore in preparation for production or injection. During production, hydrocarbons are extracted from the geological formation and flow uphole through the wellbore. Sometimes, water or other unwanted geological fluid also flows into the wellbore, called crossflow. Bridge plugs are often used to control fluid crossflow in a wellbore, for example, by isolating a section of the wellbore from fluid flow.

<CIT> describes a completion method that avoids formation impairment in the completion of a wellbore by anchoring and activating a plug at a selected position in the wellbore to seal off a selected portion of the wellbore from other portions of the wellbore. The plug is positioned at the selected position in the wellbore and anchored at that position. A seal in the plug is then activated such that fluid cannot pass the plug. Other parts of the wellbore can then be operated at different pressures than the isolated part of the wellbore without impairment of the formation resulting from the loss of well fluids into the formation.

This disclosure describes bridge plug assemblies, for example, that are disposed in a wellbore experiencing crossflow to seal and isolate a section of the wellbore. The invention is defined in the claims.

Certain aspects of the disclosure include a crossflow containment well tool. The crossflow containment well tool includes a sub body configured to be positioned in a well, the sub body including an internal fluid pathway extending from an inlet aperture at a downhole end of the sub body to an outlet aperture at an uphole end of the sub body, where the sub body is configured to flow well fluid through the internal fluid pathway in an uphole direction from the inlet aperture toward the outlet aperture. The crossflow containment well tool further includes a check valve that includes a flapper element disposed within the internal fluid pathway of the sub body, the flapper element configured to move between an open position and a closed position to selectively seal the internal fluid pathway from fluid flow, and a sealing element circumscribing a portion of the sub body between the downhole end and the uphole end, where the sealing element is configured to selectively seal against a wellbore wall.

This, and other aspects, can include one or more of the following features. The sub body can include a shoulder extending into the internal fluid pathway, and the flapper element can pivotally connect to an inner wall of the sub body. The flapper element can be configured to pivot between the open position and the closed position, and configured to engage the shoulder and seal the internal fluid pathway in the closed position of the flapper element.

In some aspects of the crossflow containment well tool, a well bridge plug assembly includes a plug nose positioned at the downhole end of the sub body, where the plug nose includes an aperture fluidly connected to the internal fluid pathway of the sub body.

This, and other aspects, can include one or more of the following features. The sub body can include a shoulder extending into the intemal fluid pathway, the shoulder configured to engage the flapper element in the closed position of the flapper element. The well bridge plug assembly can include a plurality of flapper elements including the first-mentioned flapper element and disposed within the internal fluid pathway, the plurality of flapper elements configured to move between the open position and the closed position to selectively seal the internal fluid pathway from fluid flow. The flapper element can pivotally connect to an inner wall of the sub body, the flapper element configured to pivot between the open position and the closed position. The well bridge plug assembly can include a plurality of apertures through the plug nose and including the first-mentioned aperture, the plurality of apertures fluidly connected to the internal fluid pathway of the sub body. The plurality of apertures can be disposed symmetrically about a front end of the plug nose. The plug nose can include a bull nose shape. The well bridge plug assembly can include an outlet aperture in the sub body at the uphole end of the sub body, the outlet aperture configured to direct the fluid flow in the internal fluid pathway to the wellbore uphole of the sealing element. The well bridge plug assembly can include a setting rod extending within the internal fluid pathway of the sub body and being selectively removable from the sub body, the setting rod configured to hold the flapper element in the open position to open the internal fluid pathway to fluid flow. The setting rod can connect to a well string disposed within the wellbore. The sealing element can include a sealing elastomer. The sealing element can include a packer element.

Certain aspects of the disclosure encompass a method for sealing a wellbore under crossflow. In a wellbore in which a well bridge plug assembly is disposed, the well bridge plug includes a sub body including an internal fluid pathway extending from a downhole end of the sub body to an uphole end of the sub body, a plug nose positioned at a downhole end of the sub body, a check valve that includes a flapper element disposed within the internal fluid pathway of the sub body, and a sealing element. The plug nose includes an aperture fluidly connected to the internal fluid pathway of the sub body, the flapper element is configured to move between an open position and a closed position to selectively seal the internal fluid pathway from fluid flow, and the sealing element circumscribes a portion of the sub body between the downhole end and the uphole end. The method includes directing fluid flow through the aperture of the plug nose and through the internal fluid pathway of the sub body through an outlet aperture in the sub body to the wellbore uphole of the sealing element, the outlet aperture positioned at the uphole end (<NUM>) of the sub body, engaging the sealing element with a wall of the wellbore, and sealing, with the sealing element, an annulus of the wellbore between the well bridge plug assembly and a wall of the wellbore from fluid flow.

This, and other aspects, can include one or more of the following features. The method can include, in response to sealing the annulus of the wellbore with the sealing element, moving the flapper element to the closed position to seal the internal fluid pathway from fluid flow. Moving the flapper element to the closed position to seal the internal fluid pathway from fluid flow can include engaging the flapper element with a shoulder extending into the internal fluid pathway of the sub body. The well bridge plug assembly can include a removable setting rod extending within the internal fluid pathway of the sub body, and directing fluid flow into the aperture of the plug nose and through the internal fluid pathway of the sub body can include holding, with the removable setting rod, the flapper element in the open position to open the internal fluid pathway to fluid flow. The method can include, in response to sealing the annulus of the wellbore with the sealing element, removing the removable setting rod from the internal fluid pathway and moving the flapper element to the closed position to seal the internal fluid pathway from fluid flow.

The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below.

This disclosure describes bridge plug assemblies for well systems, for example, to isolate a portion of a wellbore from fluid crossflow. In some wells, during well production operations, well fluid flow through the wellbore includes hydrocarbon flow and unwanted fluid flow, such as water. A bridge plug assembly can be run downhole and positioned in the wellbore at a location corresponding to high crossflow rates, such as over <NUM>^<NUM>/day (<NUM>,<NUM> barrels per day (bbl. The bridge plug assembly plugs the wellbore to restrict, prevent, or otherwise control fluid flow through the wellbore from downhole of the bridge plug assembly to uphole of the bridge plug assembly. In some implementations, water or other fluid infiltration exists in a wellbore further downhole in the wellbore than hydrocarbon flow, such that blocking the water or other fluid infiltration in the wellbore with a bridge plug reduces crossflow uphole of the bridge plug. A well bridge plug assembly installed in the wellbore can restrict water or other fluid crossflow from flowing uphole past the bridge plug assembly.

Some well bridge plug assemblies include a close-ended nose to prevent fluid flow through the bridge plug assembly, or include an internal flow pathway equipped with a back pressure valve (BPV) that allows certain well fluid flow through the bridge plug assembly. The back pressure valve can include flapper type valves, typically installed at the bottom of bridge plug system, and is utilized to seal off pressure. In wellbores with high fluid crossflow rates, for example, between <NUM>^<NUM>/day (<NUM>,<NUM> bbl. /day) and <NUM>^<NUM>/day (<NUM>,<NUM> bbl. /day), some well bridge plugs cannot perfect a sufficient seal to a wall of the wellbore (for example, an inner wall of a wellbore casing or inner wall of the wellbore) to plug the wellbore. For example, crossflow rates can be substantially high enough such that the volume and pressure of the fluid flowing across a packer sealing element of the bridge plug assembly prevents or reduces a sufficient seal between the packer sealing element and the wall of the wellbore. The well bridge plug assemblies described in this disclosure include a selectively sealable internal fluid pathway through a sub body of the well bridge plug, such that well fluid flowing through the internal fluid pathway provides an alternative pathway for well fluid to flow other than between the sealing element and the wall of the wellbore. This alternative pathway reduces a pressure of the well fluid acting on the sealing element during an expansion or sealing operation of the sealing element in order to perfect a sufficient seal between the sealing element and the wall of the wellbore. Also, the internal fluid pathway can be selectively closed following the engagement and sealing of the sealing element with the wall of the wellbore to close the internal fluid pathway from fluid flow, thereby isolating (substantially or completely) fluid downhole of the well bridge plug assembly from flowing uphole beyond the bridge plug assembly. The selectively sealable internal fluid pathway allows fluid flow through the well bridge plug to reduce a fluid pressure on the sealing element during a sealing operation while also being operable to close the internal fluid pathway from fluid flow, for example, after the sealing operation of the sealing element is complete.

<FIG> is a schematic partial cross-sectional side view of an example well system <NUM> that includes a substantially cylindrical wellbore <NUM> extending from a surface <NUM> downward into the Earth into one or more subterranean zones of interest <NUM> (one shown). The well system <NUM> includes a horizontal well, with the wellbore <NUM> extending substantially vertically from the surface <NUM> to the subterranean zone <NUM>, and turning to a horizontal configuration in the subterranean zone <NUM>. The concepts herein, however, are applicable to many different configurations of wells, including vertical, horizontal, slanted, or otherwise deviated wells. The well system includes a liner or casing <NUM> defined by lengths of tubing lining a portion of the wellbore <NUM> extending from the surface <NUM> into the Earth. The casing <NUM> is shown as extending only partially down the wellbore <NUM> and into the subterranean zone <NUM>, with the horizontal portion of the wellbore <NUM> shown as open-hole (for example, without a liner or casing); however, the casing <NUM> can extend further into the wellbore <NUM> or end further uphole in the wellbore <NUM> than what is shown schematically in <FIG>. A well string <NUM> is shown as having been lowered from the surface <NUM> into the wellbore <NUM>. In some instances, the well string <NUM> is a series of jointed lengths of tubing coupled end-to-end or a continuous (or, not jointed) coiled tubing. The well string <NUM> can make up a production string, drill string, or other well string used during the lifetime of a well system. In the example well system <NUM> of <FIG>, the well string <NUM> includes a well bridge plug assembly <NUM>. The well bridge plug assembly <NUM> is shown in <FIG> at a bottommost, downhole end of the well string <NUM>. However, the location of the well bridge plug assembly <NUM> can vary on the well string <NUM>, and more than one well bridge plug assembly <NUM> can be distributed along the well string <NUM>. For example, a well bridge plug assembly can be positioned at an intermediate location between a tophole end and a bottomhole end of the well string <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic side view of an example bridge plug assembly <NUM> that can be used in the well bridge plug assembly <NUM> of <FIG>. The example bridge plug assembly <NUM> is shown in <FIG> as positioned in the wellbore <NUM>, and includes a sub body <NUM>, for example, with a downhole end <NUM> positioned further downhole in the wellbore <NUM> than an uphole end <NUM> of the sub body <NUM> opposite the downhole end <NUM>. The sub body <NUM> is generally cylindrical, for example, to traverse the generally cylindrical wellbore <NUM>. An internal fluid pathway (not shown), described in more detail later, extends through the sub body <NUM> from the downhole end <NUM> to the uphole end <NUM> to selectively flow fluid, such as well fluid in the wellbore <NUM>, through the internal fluid pathway in an uphole direction from the downhole end <NUM> to the uphole end <NUM>.

The example bridge plug assembly <NUM> also includes a plug nose <NUM> positioned at the downhole end <NUM> of the sub body <NUM>, and a sealing element <NUM> circumscribing a portion of the sub body <NUM> between the downhole end <NUM> and the uphole end <NUM>. The plug nose <NUM> is attached (for example, by any means including fastened, threaded, or otherwise coupled) to the sub body <NUM>, or the plug nose <NUM> can be integral to the sub body <NUM>. In the example bridge plug assembly <NUM>, the plug nose <NUM> is directly located beneath (for example, directly downhole of) the dual back pressure valve (DBPV) <NUM>. The plug nose <NUM> includes an aperture <NUM> fluidly connected to the internal fluid pathway of the sub body <NUM>, for example, to allow fluid flow from the wellbore <NUM> downhole of the bridge plug assembly <NUM> into the internal fluid pathway. The dual back pressure valve (DBPV) <NUM> is depicted as a dual flapper check valve including two flapper elements <NUM>, and is designed to minimize flow restriction in the intended flow direction and to prevent reverse flow and seal off pressure.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of the example plug nose <NUM> of the example bridge plug assembly of <FIG>. The example plug nose <NUM> is shown in <FIG> as having multiple apertures <NUM>, in particular, five apertures <NUM> disposed symmetrically about a central longitudinal axis of the plug nose <NUM>. However, the plug nose <NUM> can have a different number or pattern of apertures <NUM> that connect to the internal fluid pathway. For example, the plug nose <NUM> can include one, two, three, four, five, or six or more apertures <NUM>, which can be disposed symmetrically or asymmetrically about the face of the plug nose <NUM>. In some instances, when the plug nose <NUM> is integral to the sub body <NUM>, the downhole end <NUM> of the sub body <NUM> includes the one or more apertures <NUM>. The example plug nose <NUM> can take a variety of shapes, such as rounded, pointed, bull nosed, or another shape.

The sealing element <NUM> selectively seals against a wall of the wellbore <NUM>, such as an open hole section of the wellbore wall or a wall of a casing. For example, the sealing element <NUM> extends or expands radially outward to engage and seal against the wall of the wellbore <NUM>. In some implementations, the sealing element <NUM> is activated by dropping a setting ball and pumping it down to a ball seat formed in part of the hydraulic running tool above the plug. The sealing element <NUM> acts to plug the wellbore annulus, which is the space between an outer surface <NUM> of the sub body <NUM> and the wall of the wellbore <NUM>, from fluid flow. The sealing element <NUM> can include a sealing elastomer, and can take a variety of forms. For example, the sealing element <NUM> can include a packer element, such as an inflatable packer, swellable packer, elastomeric packer, a combination of these, or other packer elements. In certain implementations, the bridge plug assembly <NUM> includes slips <NUM> configured to radially expand toward the wall of the wellbore <NUM>. The slips <NUM> can include movable arm elements that radially expand toward the wall of the wellbore <NUM> and engage (for example, contact) the wall of the wellbore <NUM>. Well fluid, mechanical activation, or other aspects of the well bridge plug <NUM> can activate the slips <NUM> to move from a radially inward position where the slips <NUM> substantially align with the outer surface <NUM> of the sub body <NUM> to the radially outward position where the slips <NUM> can engage the wall of the wellbore <NUM>. The slips <NUM> centrally position the bridge plug assembly <NUM> within the wellbore <NUM> along (substantially or exactly) a central longitudinal axis of the wellbore <NUM>, for example, to position the sub body <NUM> during the sealing operation of the sealing element <NUM>. The slips <NUM> are shown in <FIG> as positioned along the sub body <NUM> downhole of the sealing element <NUM>; however, the position of the slips <NUM> can vary. For example, the slips <NUM> can be closer to the sealing element <NUM>, farther from the sealing element <NUM>, uphole of the sealing element <NUM>, or in another location along the sub body <NUM>. In <FIG>, both the sealing element <NUM> and the slips <NUM> are shown in a radially retracted position, where sealing element <NUM> and the slips <NUM> substantially align with the outer surface <NUM> of the sub body <NUM>. The sealing element <NUM>, the slips <NUM>, or both, can be oriented differently, for example, such that the radially retracted position of the sealing element <NUM>, slips <NUM>, or both, constitute a position that is radially inward or radially outward from the outer surface <NUM> of the sub body <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the example bridge plug assembly <NUM> in the wellbore <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the sub body <NUM> includes the internal fluid pathway <NUM> extending from the downhole end <NUM> (for example, at the aperture(s) <NUM> of the plug nose <NUM>) to the uphole end <NUM> of the sub body <NUM>. Also, a removable setting rod <NUM> of the well bridge plug assembly <NUM> is shown as extending from the uphole end <NUM> to the downhole end <NUM>, for example, within the internal fluid pathway <NUM>. The setting rod <NUM> is removable such that the setting rod <NUM> can be removed, for example, following a sealing operation of the sealing element <NUM> where the bridge plug assembly <NUM> is set in place in the wellbore <NUM> with the sealing element <NUM>, the slips <NUM>, or both. The setting rod <NUM> can connect to a well string, such as well string <NUM> of <FIG>, disposed within the wellbore <NUM>.

<FIG> are partial schematic cross-sectional side views of the uphole end <NUM> and the downhole end <NUM>, respectively, of the example bridge plug assembly <NUM> of <FIG> show flow of fluid through the wellbore <NUM> from downhole of to uphole of the bridge plug assembly <NUM>. The flow of fluid is indicated by arrows <NUM>, where the fluid flows partly through the bridge plug assembly <NUM> (via the internal fluid pathway <NUM>) and partly through the annulus between the bridge plug assembly <NUM> and the wellbore wall. For example, the bridge plug assembly <NUM> directs fluid through an inlet aperture, such as the aperture <NUM> of the plug nose <NUM>, through the internal fluid pathway <NUM> of the sub body <NUM>, and out to the wellbore <NUM> uphole of the bridge plug assembly <NUM> through one or more outlet apertures <NUM> in the sub body <NUM>. The outlet aperture(s) <NUM> are positioned at an uphole end of the internal fluid pathway <NUM> at the uphole end <NUM> of the sub body <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the example bridge plug assembly <NUM> includes flapper elements <NUM> (two shown) disposed within the internal fluid pathway <NUM>, for example, as part of the dual back pressure valve (DBPV) <NUM>. The flapper elements <NUM> pivotally connect to an inner wall of the sub body <NUM>, and are configured to move, or pivot, between an open position (as shown in <FIG>) and a closed position (refer to <FIG>), described later. For example, the setting rod <NUM> holds the flapper elements <NUM> in the open position when engaged with the sub body <NUM> to open the internal fluid pathway <NUM> to fluid flow, whereas the flapper elements <NUM> can move to the closed position when the setting rod <NUM> is disengaged and removed from the sub body <NUM> to close the internal fluid pathway <NUM> to fluid flow. The flapper elements <NUM> selectively seal the internal fluid pathway <NUM> from fluid flow, for example, in the uphole direction. In the open position of the flapper elements <NUM>, well fluid is free to flow through the internal fluid pathway <NUM>, such as in the uphole direction from the downhole end <NUM> to the uphole end <NUM>. In the closed position of the flapper elements <NUM>, well fluid is blocked from flow through the internal fluid pathway <NUM>.

<FIG> show two flapper elements <NUM> in the internal fluid pathway <NUM> proximate to the plug nose <NUM>. However, the number and location of the flapper elements <NUM> can vary. For example, the example bridge plug assembly <NUM> can include one or more flapper elements, and the one or more flapper elements can be positioned anywhere along the internal fluid pathway <NUM>.

In some implementations, the sub body <NUM> includes a shoulder <NUM> corresponding to each flapper element <NUM>. In the example bridge plug assembly of <FIG>, two shoulders <NUM> correspond to the two flapper elements <NUM>. The shoulder(s) <NUM> extends into the internal fluid pathway <NUM> and engages the flapper element <NUM> in the closed position of the flapper element <NUM>. For example, the shoulder <NUM> can include a lip edge extending radially inward into the internal fluid pathway <NUM>, and the shoulder <NUM> acts as a seat for the flapper element <NUM> to engage and seal against, closing the internal fluid pathway <NUM> from fluid flow. In some examples, the flapper elements <NUM> have a substantially circular cross-section and the respective shoulders <NUM> have a lip edge with a corresponding circular cross-section. An outer diameter of the flapper elements <NUM> can be the same or larger than an inner diameter of the lip edge of the shoulder <NUM> to close and seal the internal fluid pathway <NUM> in the closed position of the flapper elements <NUM>. The flapper elements <NUM> can pivot together or separately between the open position, as indicated in <FIG>, and the closed position, described later with respect to <FIG>.

<FIG> are a schematic perspective view and a schematic cross-sectional side view, respectively, of an example bridge plug assembly <NUM> in the wellbore <NUM>. The example bridge plug assembly <NUM> is like the example bridge plug assembly <NUM> of <FIG>, except the sealing element <NUM> and the slips <NUM> are shown in radially outward, expanded positions. In the example bridge plug assembly <NUM> of <FIG>, well fluid flows through the open internal fluid pathway <NUM> as the sealing element <NUM> engages and seals against the wall of the wellbore <NUM>. The internal fluid pathway <NUM> directs at least a portion of the fluid flow from downhole of the bridge plug assembly <NUM> through the internal fluid pathway <NUM> to an open bore area of the wellbore <NUM> uphole of the bridge plug assembly <NUM>. The internal fluid pathway <NUM> directs a portion of the fluid flow through the bridge plug assembly <NUM> to reduce the impact (for example, upward force, velocities, differential pressure, or a combination of these) of fluid crossflow on the sealing element <NUM> as the sealing element <NUM> fully expands to engage and seal against the wellbore wall. The fluid that flows through the internal fluid pathway <NUM> would otherwise impact the sealing element <NUM>, for example, which would increase the chance of an imperfect seal between the sealing element <NUM> and the wellbore wall if the internal fluid pathway <NUM> was not open to flow.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an example bridge plug assembly <NUM> in the wellbore <NUM>. The example bridge plug assembly <NUM> is like the example bridge plug assembly <NUM> of <FIG> and the example bridge plug assembly <NUM> of <FIG>, except the setting rod is removed and the flapper elements <NUM> are in the closed position. <FIG> are partial schematic cross-sectional side views of the uphole end <NUM> and the downhole end <NUM>, respectively, of the example bridge plug assembly <NUM> of <FIG>. As discussed earlier, shoulders <NUM> extend into the internal fluid pathway <NUM> and engage the flapper element <NUM> in the closed position of the flapper element <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. For example, the shoulders <NUM> include a lip edge extending radially inward into the internal fluid pathway <NUM>, and act as a seat for the flapper elements <NUM>. The flapper elements <NUM> pivot from the open position (as shown in <FIG>) to the closed position to engage and seal against the shoulders <NUM>, closing the internal fluid pathway <NUM> from fluid flow uphole through the internal fluid pathway <NUM>. The flapper elements <NUM> can pivot together or separately between the open position, as indicated in <FIG>, and the closed position, as indicated in <FIG>. In some implementations, a pressure within the wellbore <NUM> downhole of the bridge plug assembly <NUM> acts against a downhole surface of the flapper element(s) <NUM> in the closed position, biasing the flapper element <NUM> to remain in the closed position.

<FIG> is a flowchart describing an example method <NUM> for sealing a wellbore under crossflow, for example, performed by the example well bridge plug assembly <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. An example well bridge plug assembly disposed in a wellbore can include a sub body having an internal fluid pathway extending from a downhole end of the sub body to an uphole end of the sub body, a plug nose positioned at a downhole end of the sub body, the plug nose including an aperture fluidly connected to the internal fluid pathway of the sub body, a flapper element disposed within the internal fluid pathway of the sub body, where the flapper element can move between an open position and a closed position to selectively seal the internal fluid pathway from fluid flow, and a sealing element circumscribing a portion of the sub body between the downhole end and the uphole end. At <NUM>, fluid flow is directed through the aperture of the plug nose and through the internal fluid pathway of the sub body. At <NUM>, the sealing element engages with a wall of the wellbore. At <NUM>, the sealing element seals an annulus of the wellbore between the well bridge plug assembly and a wall of the wellbore from fluid flow. In some instances, the flapper element moves to the closed position to seal the internal fluid pathway from fluid flow in response to the sealing element sealing the annulus. For example, a removable setting rod extending within the internal fluid pathway of the sub body can hold the flapper element in the open position to open the internal fluid pathway to fluid flow while the sealing element engages and seals with the wellbore wall, and, in response to the sealing element sealing the annulus of the wellbore, the setting rod can be removed from the internal fluid pathway to allow the flapper element to move to the closed position, sealing the internal fluid pathway from fluid flow.

Claim 1:
A crossflow containment well tool (<NUM>) comprising:
a sub body (<NUM>) configured to be positioned in a well, the sub body comprising an internal fluid pathway (<NUM>) extending from an inlet aperture (<NUM>) at a downhole end (<NUM>) of the sub body to an outlet aperture at an uphole end (<NUM>) of the sub body, the sub body (<NUM>) configured to flow well fluid through the internal fluid pathway in an uphole direction from the inlet aperture toward the outlet aperture;
a check valve (<NUM>) that includes a flapper element (<NUM>) disposed within the internal fluid pathway (<NUM>) of the sub body, the flapper element (<NUM>) configured to move between an open position and a closed position to selectively seal the internal fluid pathway from fluid flow in the uphole direction from the inlet aperture (<NUM>) toward the outlet aperture; and
a sealing element (<NUM>) circumscribing a portion of the sub body (<NUM>) between the downhole end (<NUM>) and the uphole end (<NUM>), the sealing element configured to selectively seal against a wellbore wall.