Retrievable Inflatable Packer for Wellhead Inspection and Maintenance

摘要

Geothermal energy is an important part of the overall energy structure in Iceland and is the source for an increasing proportion of national electricity generation, for most district heating, and for industrial processes. Once operating, geothermal wells require regular maintenance. Inspection and maintenance of the upper well casing and the wellhead, specifically the master valve and wellhead expansion spool, requires that the well be shut down or isolated. In low pressure geothermal fields this may be possible using conventional inflatable packers, but for high pressure fields and future super critical wells these packers are inadequate. A retrievable inflatable packer has been developed to meet these high pressure/high temperature requirements. The packer, attached to a hydraulically operated insertion and retrieval rig by a quick-release coupling, reliably isolates high pressure geothermal wells and is can be developed further to meet the requirements of super critical wells.