Difference Between Hydraulic & Permanent Set Packer?

Difference between hydraulic set packers and permanent set packers in oil and gas industry?

Introduction

Downhole tools and equipment, including integrated technologies for well construction, completion, and optimization, are essential in oil and gas production. Packers are paramount among these and are used to isolate and isolate sections of the wellbore.

For further information, hydraulic set packers and permanent set packers, two types of packers commonly used in the industry are explained below. This article describes the differences between hydraulic set packers and permanent set packers and how these packers differ for use in oil and gas operations.

Hydraulic Set Packers and Permanent Set Packers

✔They may perform duties such as zonal isolation, pressure containment, and fluid control.

✔While hydraulic set packers and permanent set packers are two types of packers that used in O&G wells.

Dynamic Sealing Solutions: Hydraulic Set Packers

Operation Mechanism

✔They use hydraulic pressure to expand elastomeric elements or slips against the casing wall to create a seal.

✔On the surface, a hydraulic piston or mechanism is activated to apply pressure to set the packer in place and achieve zonal isolation.

Features

Reusability: These packers are often retrievable and can be reused in multiple installations and retrievals, providing significant cost savings in well operations.

Interchangeable: Hydraulic packers only utilize a minimal amount of liquid to create the packer pressure from the surface definition which gives adjustable force.

Applications

✔In most cases, hydraulic set packers are employed in situations where temporary zonal isolation is desired, for example during a well test, fracture treatment, or remedial cementing operation.

✔They are also retrievable and adjustable, making them appropriate for dynamic well conditions and operations with frequent interventions.

✔Permanent Zonal Locking Assemblies: A Time-tested Solution for Permanent Set Packers

Operation Mechanism

✔This type of packer is called permanent set packer, with mechanical or hydraulic means permanently sets the packer in position.

✔Permanent packers, once set, cannot be readily retrieved or adjusted and will remain for the operational life of the well.

Features

​Reliability: Permanent set packers provide reliable zonal isolation and sealing capabilities over the long-term, protecting against fluid migration or communication across divergent reservoir zones.

Reliability: Permanent packers are designed to resist downhole pressures and conditions once deployed, providing long-term reliability during the life of the well.

Applications

✔Permanent set packers are placed in wells where long-term zonal isolation and integrity is critical; for example, production wells, injection wells, and/ or permanently plugged and abandoned wells.

✔The robust design and the permanent sealing ability of such devices enable the application in cases where enduring zonal isolation and reliability is desired.

The One Packer to Rule Them All is a Comparative Guide to Choosing the Best Packer for Your Well

When To Use Hydraulic Set Packers:

✔Temporary isolation during well testing

✔Applications that need adjustable packer settings for fracturing operations

✔Temporary isolation for remedial cementing jobs

✔Intervention represents a common occurrence in dynamic well conditions

✔Permanent Set Packers Are Perfect For:

✔Production wells requiring permanent zonal isolation

✔Injection wells that require a tough, permanent seal

✔Wells plugged and abandoned permanently

✔Long-term well integrity assessment through reservoir isolation

Conclusion: How to Choose the Right Packer for Your Well

To summarize, hydraulic set packers and permanent set packers are two types of packers utilized in the oil and gas industry, each with its own characteristics and applications. Hydraulic set packers offer expeditious performance flexibility and retrievability, whereas permanent set packers provide zonal isolation and long-term reliability.

Prioritizing zonal isolation, integrity, and performance in the oil and gas well, operators should know the differences between these packer types and their best applications. In the oil and gas industry, whether for a temporary intervention or a long-term production solution, choosing the right packer is crucial to optimizing well productivity and capitalizing on operational efficiencies.