Patent ID: 7624793

Claim:
A method of perforating and isolating in a subterranean wellbore, the method comprising the steps of: positioning an apparatus in the wellbore, the apparatus including first and second packers, each having a swellable seal material, and a perforating assembly attached to the first and second packers; isolating at least one existing perforation by swelling the seal material of each of the first and second packers; forming multiple new perforations by actuating the perforating assembly, wherein fluid communication is not allowable between the at least one existing perforation and the new perforations; and providing fluid communication between the new perforations on opposite longitudinal sides of the apparatus while fluid communication is not allowable between the at least one existing perforation and the new perforations, the fluid communication being provided longitudinally through a tubular structure interconnecting and spacing apart the first and second packers.