US 12,410,677 B2
Multiple expandable metal packers with hydrolock prevention
Samuel Roselier, Bruz (FR); Romain Neveu, Bruz (FR); Robin Laupie, Bruz (FR); Nicolas Saltel, Rio de Janeiro (BR); and Dinesh Patel, Humble, TX (US)
Assigned to Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Appl. No. 18/720,970
Filed by Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 23, 2023, PCT No. PCT/US2023/011307
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 17, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/141311, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 27, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/302,222, filed on Jan. 24, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2025/0075588 A1, Mar. 6, 2025
Int. Cl. E21B 33/122 (2006.01); E21B 34/06 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 33/122 (2013.01) [E21B 34/06 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for use in a well, comprising:
a well string size for deployment in a wellbore, the well string comprising:
a base pipe;
a plurality of packers disposed along the base pipe, each packer having an expandable metal sleeve which may be expanded into a fully expanded configuration forming a secure, sealing engagement with a surrounding wall;
an annular space between packers of the plurality of packers; and
a hydrolock prevention valve system having a valve, a flow passage within a valve body between the annular space and an annular section outside of the plurality of packers, the valve being actuatable such that a piston of the valve allows flow between the annular space and the annular section outside of the plurality of packers in a first position and blocks flow between the annular space and the annular section outside of the plurality of the packers in a second position, wherein the piston includes a tapered outer surface and a groove, wherein the valve body includes a spring-loaded retention member. and wherein in response to the piston moving to the second position, the spring-loaded retention member moves along the tapered outer surface and into the groove, thereby retaining the piston in the second position.