WELL TOOLS UTILIZING SWELLABLE MATERIALS ACTIVATED ON DEMAND

- 25 -WELL TOOLS UTILIZING SWELLABLE MATERIALS ACTIVATED ON DEMANDA well tool includes a generally tubular mandrel with a flow passage extendinglongitudinally through the mandrel, and a flow controller which initially prevents a fluidfrom contacting a swellable material, but which permits the fluid to contact the material inresponse to manipulation of pressure in the flow passage. Another well tool includes aswellable material, a generally tubular mandrel, and a conduit wrapped circumferentiallyabout the mandrel, the conduit containing a fluid which, upon contact with the swellablematerial, causes the material to swell. A method of actuating a well tool in a well includesmanipulating pressure in a flow passage extending through a tubular string, therebyopening at least one flow control device of the well tool which selectively permits fluidcommunication between a reservoir of the well tool and a swellable material of the welltool, whereby a fluid in the reservoir contacts the swellable material.[Figure.3]- 25 - WELL TOOLS UTILIZING SWELLABLE MATERIALS ACTIVATED ON DEMAND A welltool includes a generally tubular mandrel with a flow passage extendinglongitudinally through the mandrel, and a flow controller which initiallyprevents a fluid from contacting a swellable material, but which permits thefluid to contact the material in response to manipulation of pressure in theflow passage. Another well tool includes a swellable material, a generallytubular mandrel, and a conduit wrapped circumferentially about the mandrel,the conduit containing a fluid which, upon contact with the swellablematerial, causes the material to swell. A method of actuating a well tool in awell includes manipulating pressure in a flow passage extending through atubular string, thereby opening at least one flow control device of the welltool which selectively permits fluid communication between a reservoir of thewell tool and a swellable material of the well tool, whereby a fluid in thereservoir contacts the swellable material. [Figure.3]