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Packers were first introduced in the early twentieth century as mechanical devices for isolating zones in oil and gas wells. In 1933, Swiss engineer Maurice Lugeon introduced what became known as the Lugeon test, which used a dual inflatable packer system to measure the permeability of fractured rock in dam foundations. |
Packers were first introduced in the early twentieth century as mechanical devices for isolating zones in oil and gas wells. In 1933, Swiss engineer Maurice Lugeon introduced what became known as the Lugeon test, which used a dual inflatable packer system to measure the permeability of fractured rock in dam foundations. |
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”’Design and operation”’ |
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An inflatable packer is constructed from three principal components: a central mandrel, a reinforced inflatable element, and a set of end fittings and valves. The mandrel, usually made of steel, provides structural strength and fluid pathways for tools or fluids. |
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Latest revision as of 11:50, 2 October 2025
An inflatable packer is a downhole tool used to seal sections of a borehole or well by inflating a reinforced elastomeric sleeve against the surrounding casing or rock wall. The term packer derives from the industry phrase “to pack off”, meaning to seal off a section of a well or borehole. The device, typically set by applying pneumatic or hydraulic pressure from the surface, provides temporary or permanent zonal isolation and is employed in oil and gas operations, hydrogeology, mining, geotechnical investigations, civil engineering, and environmental monitoring. Inflatable packers can expand to a greater extent than most mechanical packers, enabling their use in a wide array of applications.
Packers were first introduced in the early twentieth century as mechanical devices for isolating zones in oil and gas wells. In 1933, Swiss engineer Maurice Lugeon introduced what became known as the Lugeon test, which used a dual inflatable packer system to measure the permeability of fractured rock in dam foundations.
Design and operation
An inflatable packer is constructed from three principal components: a central mandrel, a reinforced inflatable element, and a set of end fittings and valves. The mandrel, usually made of steel, provides structural strength and fluid pathways for tools or fluids.
