Tandem expanded metal packers are proposed as an alternative to open hole packers and cemented liners for zone isolation in hostile well environments. Packers made of ductile steel tubes can be inflated and plastically enlarged to conform, attach, and seal to the wellbore. Metal packers promise a method to achieve permanent zone isolation in wells where cemented completion liners or traditional open hole packers do not provide satisfactory or economic completions.

Keywords:
application, inflation pressure, packer tube, elongation, diameter, ductile tube, anchor, liner, collapse resistance, well integrity
Subjects:
Completion Installation and Operations, Well Integrity, Zonal isolation
Copyright 1991, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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