Electrically-actuated resettable downhole anchor and/or packer, and method of setting, releasing, and resetting

Abstract

An electric motor-actuated packer and/or anchor (EMAP/A) apparatus and method for use in downhole operations. The apparatus includes a packer subassembly and/or a slip subassembly and can be: set in a packer and anchor mode; set in an anchor-only mode without energizing the packer elements; repeatedly set and unset without run-in string manipulation; run in a multiple, or redundant, configuration within a given tool string, with each EMAP/A apparatus capable of being set/unset independently of the others; and combined within a tool string in a straddle packer configuration, with inverted and non-inverted EMAP/As providing the ability to isolate an interval of interest from both above and below the interval. Among other uses, the apparatus and method are well suited for application in a single-trip, e-coil conveyed completion system, and particularly one providing for radial hydraulic jetting.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a wellbore comprising a packer and/or anchor assembly having: a body having a longitudinally extending exterior; a linear actuator subassembly in the body comprising an electric motor, a screw which is rotated by the electric motor, and a nut positioned on the screw which is locked against rotation and which moves linearly along the screw as the screw is rotated; one or both of (a) a slip subassembly having a plurality of slips on the exterior of the body and/or (b) a packer subassembly having one or more packer elements on the exterior of the body; and a mechanical linkage subassembly which is connected to the nut and is moved longitudinally by the nut to (i) engage the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly from the body to an anchoring position and/or (ii) engage the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to a sealing position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the linear actuator subassembly having a torque-amplifying gearhead connected between the electric motor and the screw.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising the electric motor and the gearhead providing reversible torque to repeatedly (a) set the slips in the anchoring position and/or set the one or more packer elements in the sealing position at one location in a well casing, (b) release the slips from the anchoring position to at least a partially withdrawn position and/or release the one or more packer elements from the sealing position to at least a partially withdrawn position sufficient to at least begin longitudinal movement of the packer and/or anchor assembly in the well casing, and (c) reset the slips in the anchoring position and/or reset the one or more packer elements in the sealing position at another location in the well casing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the packer and/or anchor assembly including the packer subassembly and the packer and/or anchor assembly further comprising real time pressure, temperature, and/or other sensors in the body above and below the one or more packer elements.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electric power source which powers the electric motor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising the electric power source comprising an electric cable or other electric wireline, a battery, or a downhole generator.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising the electric power source comprising an electric cable or other electric wireline which extends through a passageway which runs longitudinally through the body.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: the body of the packer and/or anchor assembly being positioned on a tubing string or in a tool string connected to the tubing string and the electrical cable or other electric wireline extending through or being incorporated in the tubing string.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 comprising the tubing string being an e-coil tubular.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 comprising the electric cable or other electric wireline also including one or more fiber optic cables which receive and transmit data from the packer and/or anchor assembly and/or from one or more sensors located elsewhere in the tubing string or the tool string.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the packer and/or anchor assembly having a fluid passageway which extends longitudinally through the body.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: the packer and/or anchor assembly comprising both the slip subassembly and the packer subassembly; the nut being linearly movable on the screw in a first direction from a running-in location on the screw to a slip setting location in which the mechanical linkage subassembly engages the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly from the body to the anchoring position; and the nut being linearly movable on the screw in the first direction from the slip setting location to a packer setting location in which the mechanical linkage subassembly engages the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to the sealing position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising the nut being linearly movable on the screw in a second direction, opposite the first direction, from the running-in location on the screw to a slip only setting location in which the mechanical linkage subassembly engages the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly from the body to the anchoring position without acting on the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to the sealing position.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: the packer and/or anchor assembly being a first packer and anchor assembly which includes both the slip subassembly and the packer subassembly; the first packer and anchor assembly being positioned on a tubing string or in a tool string connected to the tubing string; a second packer and anchor assembly positioned on the tubing string or in the tool string below the first packer and anchor assembly; and the second packer and anchor assembly comprising a body having a longitudinally extending exterior, a linear actuator subassembly, in the body of the second packer and anchor assembly, comprising an electric motor, a screw which is rotated by the electric motor of the second packer and anchor assembly, and a nut positioned on the screw of the second packer and anchor assembly which is locked against rotation and which moves linearly along the screw of the second packer and anchor assembly as the screw of the second packer and anchor assembly is rotated, a slip subassembly having a plurality of slips on the exterior of the body of the second packer and anchor assembly, a packer subassembly having one or more packer elements on the exterior of the body of the second packer and anchor assembly, and a mechanical linkage subassembly which is connected to the nut of the second packer and anchor assembly and is moved longitudinally by the nut of the second packer and anchor assembly to (i) engage the slip subassembly of the second packer and anchor assembly to move the slips of the second packer and anchor assembly outwardly from the body of the second packer and anchor assembly to an anchoring position and (ii) engage the packer subassembly of the second packer and anchor assembly to transition the one or more packer elements of the second packer and anchor assembly to a sealing position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an electrical cable or other electric wireline which extends through or is incorporated in the tubing string which provides electric power to the linear actuator subassembly of the first packer and anchor assembly and to the linear actuator subassembly of the second packer and anchor assembly.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 comprising the tubing string being an e-coil tubular.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising: one of the first and the second packer and anchor assemblies being positioned on the tubing string or in the tool string with the packer subassembly of the one packer and anchor assembly being positioned above the slip subassembly of the one packer and anchor assembly and the other of the first and the second packer and anchor assemblies being positioned on the tubing string or in the tool string in an inverted position with the packer subassembly of the other packer and anchor assembly being positioned below the slip subassembly of the other packer and anchor assembly.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising the first and the second packer and anchor assemblies being independently operable for (a) setting the slips of one of the first and second packer and anchor assemblies in the anchoring position and/or setting the one or more packer elements of the one packer and anchor assembly in the sealing position both with and without (b) setting the slips of the other of the first and second packer and anchor assemblies in the anchoring position and/or setting the one or more packer elements of the other packer and anchor assembly in the sealing position.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: the packer and/or anchor assembly including both the packer subassembly and the slip subassembly and the packer subassembly and the slip subassembly being installed and positioned on the body such that, when the slips are in the anchoring position and the packer elements are in the sealing position, compressive forces acting on the packer elements are transmitted by the body to increase an outward anchoring force exerted by the slips.

20. A method of performing a downhole operation in a wellbore comprising the steps of: (a) running a tubing string into the wellbore, the tubing string having an electric motor-actuated apparatus positioned on the tubing string or in a tool string connected to the tubing string, the electric motor-actuated apparatus comprising a body having a longitudinally extending exterior, a linear actuator subassembly in the body which includes and is driven by an electric motor, one or both of (i) a slip subassembly having a plurality of slips on the exterior of the body and/or (ii) a packer subassembly having one or more packer elements on the exterior of the body, and a mechanical linkage subassembly which is linked to the linear actuator subassembly; and (b) setting the slips and/or setting the one or more packer elements by activating the electric motor to move the mechanical linkage subassembly to (i) engage the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly to an anchoring position in contact with an interior wall of a casing in the wellbore and/or (ii) engage the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to a sealing position in contact with the interior wall of the casing, the method further comprising the linear actuator subassembly also including an electronic unit for activating the electric motor, step (b) comprising sending a signal to the electronic unit to activate the electric motor, and supplying power to the electric motor and sending the signal to the electronic unit via an electric cable or other electric wireline which extends through or is incorporated in the tubing string.

21. The method of claim 20 comprising the tubing string being an e-coil tubular.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of transmitting real-time pressure and/or temperature signals from one or more sensors in the body of the electric motor-actuated apparatus through the electric cable or other electric wireline.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of transmitting data from the slip and/or packer subassemblies, and/or transmitting signals from one or more sensors in the body of the electric motor-actuated apparatus, via one or more fiber optic cables included in the electronic cable or other electric wireline.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising: the electric motor-actuated apparatus comprising both the slip subassembly and the packer subassembly and after step (b), pumping a fracturing fluid through an annulus formed between an exterior of the tubing string and the interior wall of the casing.

25. An apparatus for use in a wellbore comprising a packer and/or anchor assembly comprising: a body having a longitudinally extending exterior; a linear actuator subassembly in the body which includes and is driven by an electric motor; one or both of (a) a slip subassembly having a plurality of slips on the exterior of the body and/or (b) a packer subassembly having one or more packer elements on the exterior of the body; a mechanical linkage subassembly which is linked to the linear actuator subassembly and is moved longitudinally by the linear actuator subassembly to (i) engage the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly from the body to an anchoring position and/or (ii) engage the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to a sealing position; and the electric motor being reversible to (a) set the slips in the anchoring position and/or set the one or more packer elements in the sealing position at one location in a well casing, (b) release the slips from the anchoring position to at least a partially withdrawn position and/or release the one or more packer elements from the sealing position to at least a partially withdrawn position sufficient to at least begin longitudinal movement of the packer and/or anchor assembly in the well casing, and (c) reset the slips in the anchoring position and/or reset the one or more packer elements in the sealing position at another location in the well casing.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising the packer and/or anchor assembly including the packer subassembly and the packer and/or anchor assembly further comprising real time pressure and/or temperature sensors in the body above and below the one or more packer elements.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 comprising an electric power source for the electric motor comprising an electric cable or other electric wireline, a battery, or a downhole generator.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 comprising: the body of the packer and/or anchor assembly being positioned on a tubing string or in a tool string connected to the tubing string and the electric power source comprising an electric cable or other electric wireline which extends through or is incorporated in the tubing string.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 comprising the tubing string being an e-coil tubular.

30. A method of performing a downhole operation in a wellbore comprising the steps of: (a) running a tubing string into the wellbore, the tubing string having an electric motor-actuated apparatus positioned on the tubing string or in a tool string connected to the tubing string, the electric motor-actuated apparatus comprising a body having a longitudinally extending exterior, a linear actuator subassembly in the body which includes and is driven by an electric motor, one or both of (i) a slip subassembly having a plurality of slips on the exterior of the body and/or (ii) a packer subassembly having one or more packer elements on the exterior of the body, and a mechanical linkage subassembly which is linked to the linear actuator subassembly; (b) setting the slips and/or setting the one or more packer elements by activating the electric motor to move the mechanical linkage subassembly to (i) engage the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly to an anchoring position in contact with an interior wall of a casing in the wellbore and/or (ii) engage the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to a sealing position in contact with the interior wall of the casing; and (c) after step (b), delivering a fluid through a passageway in the body of the electric motor-actuated apparatus.

31. A method of performing a downhole operation in a wellbore comprising the steps of: (a) running a tubing string into the wellbore, the tubing string having an electric motor-actuated apparatus positioned on the tubing string or in a tool string connected to the tubing string, the electric motor-actuated apparatus comprising a body having a longitudinally extending exterior, a linear actuator subassembly in the body which includes and is driven by an electric motor, one or both of (i) a slip subassembly having a plurality of slips on the exterior of the body and/or (ii) a packer subassembly having one or more packer elements on the exterior of the body, and a mechanical linkage subassembly which is linked to the linear actuator subassembly; (b) setting the slips and/or setting the one or more packer elements by activating the electric motor to move the mechanical linkage subassembly to (i) engage the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly to an anchoring position in contact with an interior wall of a casing in the wellbore and/or (ii) engage the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to a sealing position in contact with the interior wall of the casing, the slips and/or the packer elements being set at a first location in the casing in step (b), the electric motor being activated in step (b) to rotate in a first direction, and the method further comprising the steps, after step (b) of activating the electric motor to rotate in a second direction, opposite the first direction which (i) releases the slips from the anchoring position to an at least partially withdrawn position and/or (ii) releases the one or more packer elements from the sealing position to an at least partially withdrawn position sufficient to at least begin longitudinal movement in the casing, moving the electric motor-actuated apparatus to a second location in the casing different from the first location, and then resetting the slips and/or resetting the packer elements by activating the electric motor to move the mechanical linkage subassembly to (i) engage the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly to the anchoring position in contact with the interior wall of the casing in the wellbore and/or (ii) engage the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to the sealing position in contact with the interior wall of the casing.

32. A method of performing a downhole operation in a wellbore comprising the steps of: (a) running a tubing string into the wellbore, the tubing string having an electric motor-actuated apparatus positioned on the tubing string or in a tool string connected to the tubing string, the electric motor-actuated apparatus comprising a body having a longitudinally extending exterior, a linear actuator subassembly in the body which includes and is driven by an electric motor, a slip subassembly having a plurality of slips on the exterior of the body, a packer subassembly having one or more packer elements on the exterior of the body, and a mechanical linkage subassembly which is linked to the linear actuator subassembly; and (b) setting the slips and setting the one or more packer elements by activating the electric motor to move the mechanical linkage subassembly to (i) engage the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly to an anchoring position in contact with an interior wall of a casing in the wellbore and (ii) engage the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to a sealing position in contact with the interior wall of the casing, the linear actuator subassembly further comprising a screw which is rotated by the electric motor and a nut positioned on the screw which is locked against rotation and which moves linearly along the screw as the screw is rotated, the mechanical linkage subassembly being connected to the nut, and step (b) comprising activating the electric motor to move the nut linearly on the screw in a first direction to a slip setting location which acts through the mechanical linkage subassembly to engage the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly to the anchoring position in contact with the interior wall of the casing in the wellbore and then move the nut further linearly on the screw in the first direction to a packer setting location which acts through the mechanical linkage subassembly to engage the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to the sealing position in contact with the interior wall of the casing.

33. A method of performing a downhole operation in a wellbore comprising the steps of: (a) running a tubing string into the wellbore, the tubing string having an electric motor-actuated apparatus positioned on the tubing string or in a tool string connected to the tubing string, the electric motor-actuated apparatus comprising a body having a longitudinally extending exterior, a linear actuator subassembly in the body which includes and is driven by an electric motor, a slip subassembly having a plurality of slips on the exterior of the body, a packer subassembly having one or more packer elements on the exterior of the body, and a mechanical linkage subassembly which is linked to the linear actuator subassembly and (b) setting the slips, the linear actuator subassembly further comprising a screw which is rotated by the electric motor and a nut positioned on the screw which is locked against rotation and which moves linearly along the screw as the screw is rotated, the mechanical linkage subassembly being connected to the nut, and step (b) comprising activating the electric motor to move the nut linearly on the screw to a slip only setting location which acts through the mechanical linkage subassembly to engage the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly to the anchoring position in contact with an interior wall of a casing in the wellbore without engaging the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to the sealing position.

34. A method of performing a downhole operation in a wellbore comprising the steps of: (a) running a tubing string into the wellbore, the tubing string having a first electric motor-actuated apparatus positioned on the tubing string or in a tool string connected to the tubing string, the first electric motor-actuated apparatus comprising a body having a longitudinally extending exterior, a linear actuator subassembly in the body which includes and is driven by an electric motor, a slip subassembly having a plurality of slips on the exterior of the body, a packer subassembly having one or more packer elements on the exterior of the body, and a mechanical linkage subassembly which is linked to the linear actuator subassembly; and (b) setting the slips and setting the one or more packer elements by activating the electric motor to move the mechanical linkage subassembly to (i) engage the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly to an anchoring position in contact with an interior wall of a casing in the wellbore and (ii) engage the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to a sealing position in contact with the interior wall of the casing, a second electric motor-actuated apparatus also being positioned on the tubing string, or in a tool string connected to the tubing string, below the first electric motor-actuated apparatus, the second electric motor-actuated apparatus comprising a body having a longitudinally extending exterior, a linear actuator subassembly, in the body of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus, which includes and is driven by an electric motor, a slip subassembly having a plurality of slips on the exterior of the body of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus, a packer subassembly having one or more packer elements on the exterior of the body of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus, and a mechanical linkage subassembly which is linked to the linear actuator subassembly of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus and is moved longitudinally by the linear actuator subassembly of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus; and the method further comprising the step, before, during, or after step (b), of (c) setting the slips and the one or more packer elements of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus by activating the electric motor of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus to move the mechanical linkage subassembly of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus to (i) engage the slip subassembly of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus to move the slips of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus outwardly to an anchoring position in contact with the interior wall of the casing and (ii) engage the packer subassembly of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus to transition the one or more packer elements of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus to a sealing position in contact with the interior wall of the casing, and steps (b) and (c) forming a sealed annular interval in the casing, outside of the bodies of the first and second electric motor-actuated apparatuses, which extends from the one or more packing elements of the first electric motor-actuated apparatus to the one or more packing elements of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising supplying power to the electric motors of the first and second electric motor-actuated apparatuses using an electrical cable or other electric wireline which extends through the body of the first electric motor-actuated apparatus.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising delivering a fluid through the tubing string into the sealed annular interval via a fluid passageway in the body of the first electric motor-actuated apparatus.

37. The method of claim 34 further comprising: the sealed annular interval being at a first location in the casing; the method further comprising the steps, after steps (b) and (c), of activating the electric motors of the first and second electric motor-actuated apparatuses to (i) release the slips of the first and second electric motor-actuated apparatuses to an at least partially withdrawn position and (ii) release the one or more packer elements of the first and second electric motor-actuated apparatuses to an at least partially withdrawn position sufficient to at least begin longitudinal movement in the casing, moving the first and second electric motor-actuated apparatuses to a second location in the casing different from the first location, and then resetting the slips and resetting the one or more packer elements of the first and second electric motor-actuated apparatuses at the second location to form a sealed annular interval in the casing at the second location, outside of the bodies of the first and second electric motor-actuated apparatuses, which extends from the one or more packing elements of the first electric motor-actuated apparatus to the one or more packing elements of the second electric motor-actuated apparatus.

38. A method of performing a downhole operation in a wellbore comprising the steps of: (a) running a tubing string into the wellbore, the tubing string having an electric motor-actuated apparatus positioned on the tubing string or in a tool string connected to the tubing string, the electric motor-actuated apparatus comprising a body having a longitudinally extending exterior, a linear actuator subassembly in the body which includes and is driven by an electric motor, a slip subassembly having a plurality of slips on the exterior of the body, a packer subassembly having one or more packer elements on the exterior of the body, and a mechanical linkage subassembly which is linked to the linear actuator subassembly; (b) setting the slips and/or setting the one or more packer elements by activating the electric motor to move the mechanical linkage subassembly to (i) engage the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly to an anchoring position in contact with an interior wall of a casing in the wellbore and/or (ii) engage the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to a sealing position in contact with the interior wall of the casing; and (c) after step (b), simultaneously (i) pumping a fracturing fluid through an annulus formed between an exterior of the tubing string and the interior wall of the casing and (ii) pumping a fracturing fluid through the tubing string.

39. The method of claim 38 comprising only the fracturing fluid pumped through the annulus having a proppant material therein.

40. An apparatus for use in a wellbore comprising: first a packer and anchor assembly comprising: a body having a longitudinally extending exterior; a linear actuator subassembly in the body which includes and is driven by an electric motor; a slip subassembly having a plurality of slips on the exterior of the body, a packer subassembly having one or more packer elements on the exterior of the body; a mechanical linkage subassembly which is linked to the linear actuator subassembly and is moved longitudinally by the linear actuator subassembly to (i) engage the slip subassembly to move the slips outwardly from the body to an anchoring position and/or (ii) engage the packer subassembly to transition the one or more packer elements to a sealing position; the first packer and anchor assembly being positioned on a tubing string or in a tool string connected to the tubing string; a second packer and anchor assembly positioned on the tubing string or in the tool string below the first packer and anchor assembly, the second packer and anchor assembly comprising a body having a longitudinally extending exterior, a linear actuator subassembly, in the body of the second packer and anchor assembly, which includes and is driven by an electric motor, a slip subassembly having a plurality of slips on the exterior of the body of the second packer and anchor assembly, a packer subassembly having one or more packer elements on the exterior of the body of the second packer and anchor assembly, a mechanical linkage subassembly which is linked to the linear actuator subassembly of the second packer and anchor assembly and is moved longitudinally by the linear actuator subassembly of the second packer and anchor assembly to (i) engage the slip subassembly of the second packer and anchor assembly to move the slips of the second packer and anchor assembly outwardly from the body of the second packer and anchor assembly to an anchoring position and (ii) engage the packer subassembly of the second packer and anchor assembly to transition the one or more packer elements of the second packer and anchor assembly to a sealing position; and the tubing string comprising an e-coil tubular which provides electric power to the linear actuator subassembly of the first packer and anchor assembly and to the linear actuator subassembly of the second packer and anchor assembly.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 further comprising: one of the first and the second packer and anchor assemblies being positioned on the tubing string or in the tool string with the packer subassembly of the one packer and anchor assembly being positioned above the slip subassembly of the one packer and anchor assembly and the other of the first and the second packer and anchor assemblies being positioned on the tubing string or in the tool string in an inverted position with the packer subassembly of the other packer and anchor assembly being positioned below the slip subassembly of the other packer and anchor assembly.

42. The apparatus of claim 40 further comprising the first and the second packer and anchor assemblies being independently operable for (a) setting the slips of one of the first and second packer and anchor assemblies in the anchoring position and/or setting the one or more packer elements of the one packer and anchor assembly in the sealing position both with and without (b) setting the slips of the other of the first and second packer and anchor assemblies in the anchoring position and/or setting the one or more packer elements of the other packer and anchor assembly in the sealing position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 provides a cross-sectional view of a wellbore having been completed in a horizontal orientation.

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative horizontal wellbore with e-coil conveyed electric motor-actuated packer/anchor (EMAP/As) apparatuses deployed in an annular frac application. Multiple packers are shown in the figure to represent both set and unset configurations in a redundant packer installation.

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative horizontal wellbore with e-coil conveyed electric motor-actuated packer and/or anchors EMAP/A's apparatuses deployed in a casing testing, cement squeezing, or stimulation application. Multiple packers are shown in the figure to represent both actuated (set) and non-actuated (unset) configurations in a redundant packer installation.

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment 100 of the inventive electric motor-actuated packer and/or anchor EMAP/A apparatus provided by the present invention in an unset position.

(5) FIGS. 5a and 5b are detail cross-sectional views of the EMAP/A apparatus 100 showing the packer element and slip sections, respectively, in the set position.

(6) FIG. 6 a cross-sectional view of the inventive EMAP/A apparatus 100 rotated 90° from FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative horizontal wellbore 4c with multiple inventive, e-coil conveyed, electric motor-actuated packer and/or anchor assemblies (EMAP/As) 100 deployed in an annular frac application. Multiple EMAP/As 100 are shown in FIG. 2 to represent both set and unset configurations in a redundant packer installation. The ability to run and selectively actuate multiple assemblies 100 both above and below the desired isolation interval greatly increases reliability, especially in extended lateral and/or tighter stage spacing applications requiring increasing demands through additional packer actuating-releasing (or “setting-unsetting”) cycles. Half-fracture planes 16 are shown in 3-D along a horizontal leg 4c of the wellbore to illustrate fracture stages and fracture orientation relative to a subsurface formation 3. The fractures have been created through Ultra Deep perforations (UDP's) 15a in the production casing 12.

(8) It can be seen that the EMAP/A apparatus system has been conveyed into the lateral on an e-coil (or e-coil and fiber optic) tubing string 20 to allow electric power to be conveyed from the surface (and/or data to the surface). Furthermore, it can be seen that some of the inventive EMAP/As 100 are actuated (or “set”) by the bold “X” representing the packer element section 106.0 for each EMAP/A system 100. The lighter font “X” is used to indicate packer elements 106.0 that are unset or “released”. It can also be seen that although the other packers 106.0 are shown in the released position, any and all of the packers 106.0 can be selectively actuated as interval isolation operations proceed requiring additional packer setting-releasing cycles.

(9) The capability to run multiple uphole and/or downhole packer assemblies 106.0 and to selectively set and release each packer 106.0 independently of the others provides the additional isolation reliability required to permit virtually any number of stages and any length of lateral to be isolated, tested and stimulated pursuant to operational requirements. In addition, one or more of the inventive EMAP/A assemblies 100 can be installed in the e-coil tubing string in an inverted position in order to isolate a zone of interest from both above and below in a straddle EMAP/A configuration as depicted in FIG. 3.

(10) The embodiment of the inventive Electric Motor Actuated Packer and/or Anchor (EMAP/A) apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B and 6 is an electrically actuated dual purpose tool which comprises both a mechanical packer subassembly 101 and a mechanical anchor subassembly 102. The EMAP/A apparatus 100 is e-coil conveyed and operated, being set and unset using an electro-mechanical linear actuator subassembly 105, if utilized in a radial hydraulic jetting operation, it may be preferred that only the slips 107.0 are set to hold the EMAP/A apparatus 100 in position (i.e., “anchor mode”), thus providing hydraulic communication in the tool string—casing annulus 22. During hydraulic fracturing operations, however, both the packer elements 106.0 and the slips 107.0 are set (i.e., in a “packer mode”), reducing stress and possible damage to the packer elements 106.0 (as would be experienced by an inflatable packer, typically without slip-holding capabilities).

(11) It should be noted that, by the design of the inventive EMAP/A apparatus 100 in the genre of mechanical packers, any hydraulic differential pressure imposed upon the top surface of the packer elements 106.0 will be transferred through the body of the apparatus down to the slips 107.0. That is, more top-down (hydraulic) force just causes the slips 107.0 to “bite harder” into the inner casing wall.

(12) The inventive EMAP/A apparatus 100 preferably comprises: the lower packer shoe subassembly 101, the slip wedge subassembly 102, a slip retainer subassembly 103, a key sleeve subassembly 104, an actuator subassembly 105, the packer elements 106.0, the slips 107.0, retaining balls 108.1-108.4, spring retainers 109.1-109.2, a spring 110.0, a pressure equalizing piston 111.0, a flat (wireline) cable 112.0, and hydraulic oil 103.0.

(13) The lower packer shoe subassembly 101 is used to set and unset the packer elements 106.0. It comprises a lower packer shoe 101.1 and a lower packer shoe sleeve 101.2. The lower packer shoe 101.1 is threadedly attached to or otherwise made up on the upper end of the lower packer shoe sleeve 101.2 and holds the lower end of the packer elements 106.0 in place. The lower packer shoe sleeve 101.2 transfers load to the lower packer shoe 101.1 to set and unset the packer elements 106.0 and has two sets of radial holes 10121, 101.22 which contain retaining balls 108.1, 108.2.

(14) As used herein, the terms “upper” and “lower” and the terms “upward” and “downward” refer to relative uphole and downhole positions, locations, or movements in horizontal and other orientations of the inventive apparatus 100.

(15) The slip wedge subassembly 102 is used to set and unset a plurality of slips 107.0. It comprises a slip wedge sleeve 102.1 and a slip wedge 102.2. The slip wedge sleeve 102.1 is threadedly attached or otherwise made up to the upper end of the slip wedge 102.2. It has an external upset 102.11 at the upper end and two sets of radial holes 102.12, 102.13 which contain retaining balls 108.3, 108.4. The slip wedge 102.2 contains slip pockets 102.21 in which the upper end of slips 107.0 move during setting and unsetting operations. The slip wedge 102.2 also contains longitudinal holes 102.22 between slip pockets through which load transfer screws 104.12 extend.

(16) The slip retainer subassembly 103 is used to preload and contain the spring 110.0 and spring retainers 109.1, 109.2. It is also used to set and unset the slips 107.0. It comprises the slip retainer 103.1 and the spring compression nut 103.2. The slip retainer 103.1 contains t-slots at the upper end in which the lower end of slips move during setting and unsetting operations. An external shoulder 103.11 at the upper end restricts longitudinal movement of the upper spring retainer 109.1. External threads 103.12 at the lower end allow make-up of the compression slip nut 103.2 to compress the spring 110.0. The spring compression nut 103.2 contains an internal thread and is made up on the lower end of the slip retainer 103.1 to compress the spring 110.0. The upper end of the compression nut 103.2 restricts longitudinal movement of the lower spring retainer 109.2.

(17) The key sleeve subassembly 104 is used to transfer setting and unsetting forces from the linear actuator sub-subassembly 105.6 to the packer elements 106.0 and slips 107.0. It is also used to lock and unlock the lower packer shoe 101 and slip wedge 102 subassemblies from the actuator subassembly 105 using retaining balls 108.2-108.4. The key sleeve subassembly 104 comprises a ball retainer shoe 104.1, a ball retainer 104.2, the load transfer screws 104.12, a screw retainer 104.4 which holds the lower ends of the screws 104.12, an upper spring shoe 104.5, a spring housing 104.6, a lower spring shoe 104.7, a key sleeve 104.8, the key 104.9 which is carried by the key sleeve 104.8, a key body 104.10 and a ball nut 104.11.

(18) The ball retainer shoe 104.1 contains an internal seal 104.13 at the upper end that seals against the lower packer shoe sleeve 101.2 OD. The lower end of the ball retainer shoe 104.1 is threadedly attached or otherwise made up to the ball retainer 104.2. The ball retainer 104.2 includes an internal upset 104.24 in the middle with undercuts on each side, an internal seal 104.25 at the lower end that seals against the slip wedge sleeve 102.1, and longitudinal threaded holes 104.26 at the lower end which threadedly receive the upper ends of the load transfer screws 120. Longitudinal movement of the ball retainer 104.2 covers/retains and uncovers/releases retaining balls 108.3, 108.4, respectively locking and unlocking the lower packer shoe 101 and slip wedge 102 subassemblies to the actuator subassembly 105.

(19) The load transfer screws 104.12 extend from the screw retainer 104.4 to the threaded holes 104.26 at the lower end of the ball retainer 104.2 and go through longitudinal holes 103.11 and 102.22 in the slip retainer 103.1 and slip wedge 102.2, respectively. The load transfer screws 104.12 provide the means of transmitting the longitudinal loads from the lower components of the key sleeve subassembly 104 to the ball retainer 104.2. The screw retainer 104.4 has an external thread 104.41 at the lower end which is made up in the upper end of the upper spring shoe 104.5. The screw retainer 104.4 also has longitudinal holes and counterbores 104.42 drilled between the OD and ID of the retainer 104.4 in which are located the heads of the load transfer screws 104.12.

(20) The upper spring shoe 104.5 has an internal thread 104.51 at the upper end and an external thread 104.52 at the lower end. The upper end is made up to the screw retainer 104.4 to lock the load transfer screws 104.12 in the screw retainer 104.4. The lower end is made to the spring housing 104.6.

(21) The spring housing 104.6 has internal threads 104.61, 104.62 at its upper and lower ends. The upper end is made up to the upper spring shoe 104.5 and the lower end is made up to the lower spring shoe 104.7. The spring housing 104.6 covers the spring 110.0. The lower spring shoe 104.7 has external threads 104.71, 104.72 at its upper and lower ends with internal and external shoulders 104.73, 104.74 at an intermediate location. The upper end is made up to the spring housing 104.6 and the lower end is made up to the key sleeve 104.8.

(22) The key sleeve subassembly 104 provides a mechanical linkage between the linear actuator subassembly 105.6 and the packer and slip subassemblies 101, 102, 103 for setting, releasing and resetting the packer elements 106.0 and the slips 107.0.

(23) The key sleeve 104.8 has an ID bore 104.81 that seals against an external seal 105.31 on the mandrel 105.3. Below the ID bore 104.81 are two arms 104.82 180 degrees apart with two milled slots 104.83 centered at the lower ends of the arms 104.82. The key 104.9 is inserted through the two slots 104.84 at the lower end of the key sleeve arms 104.82, through two longitudinal slots 105.41 in the key guide 105.4, and through a slot in the key body 104.10. The key 104.9 transfers forces used to set and unset the packer elements 106.0 and slips 107.0 from the key body 104.10 to the key sleeve arms 104.82 through the slots 105.41 in the key guide 105.4.

(24) The key body 104.10 has external seals 104.101, 104.102 at the upper and lower ends, a radial slot 104.103 for the key 104.9 in the center portion thereof, an ID bore 104.104 at the lower end, and longitudinal holes 104.105 on each side of the slot 104.103 extending from the upper end to the ID bore 104.104. A nut, preferably a ball nut, 104.11 is made up on the lower end of the key body 104.10 and is used to convert torsional forces from a screw, preferably a ball screw 105.6.1, to longitudinal forces (i.e., longitudinal movement of the key sleeve assembly 104) to set and release the packer elements 106.0 and/or the slips 107.0 of the inventive EMAP/A apparatus 100.

(25) The nut 104.11 can be any type of internally threaded member which can be positioned on the screw 105.6.1 for linear movement of the nut 104.11 as the screw 105.6.1 is rotated. The screw 104.11 is preferably a ball screw. As used herein, the term “ball nut”, or “nut”, is part of the ball screw assembly and provides a means to translate the rotary motion of the ball screw “shaft” into linear motion through the halls/bearings. The ball nut is available in various forms including flanged, threaded, etc. depending on the specific application, load requirements, etc.

(26) The screw 105.6.1 used in the linear actuator subassembly 105.6 can be any type of longitudinally extending, externally threaded member which is effective for moving the nut 104.11 longitudinally to convert the rotary motion of the electric motor 105.6.3 to linear motion. The screw 105.6.1 will preferably be a ball screw. The ball screw 105.6.1 and the ball nut 104.11 assembly will preferably include recirculating ball bearings such that the interface between the ball screw 105.6.1 and the ball nut is 104.11 is made by ball bearings which roll in matching ball forms.

(27) The actuator subassembly 105 preferably comprises: upper packer shoe 105.1 at the upper end of the inventive apparatus 100, a upper packer mandrel 105.2, a lower mandrel 105.3, the key guide 105.4, an actuator housing 105.5, actuator sub-subassembly 105.6, an actuator shoe 105.7, an actuator housing 105.8 and an actuator shoe 105.9 at the lower end of the inventive apparatus 100. The upper packer shoe 105.1, the a upper packer mandrel 105.2, the lower mandrel 105.3, the key guide 105.4, the actuator housing 105.5, the actuator shoe 105.7, the actuator housing 105.8, and the actuator shoe 105.9 form a body of the inventive EMAP/A apparatus 100 which has a longitudinally extending exterior, on and around which the slips 107 and the one or more packer elements 106 are located. The actuator sub-assembly 105.6 is located within the body.

(28) The upper packer shoe 105.1 has an internal thread 105.11 at its lower end that is made up on the upper end of the packer mandrel 105.2. The packer shoe 105.1 holds the upper end of the packer elements 106.0 in place. The upper end of the upper packer shoe 105.1 can be adapted to accommodate connecting to other tools or components located above the EMAP/A apparatus 100.

(29) The packer mandrel 105.2 upper end has an external thread 105.21 that makes up in the lower end of the upper packer shoe 105.1. The packer mandrel 105.2 extends through and holds thereon the packer elements 106.0, the lower packer shoe 101.1, the slip wedge sleeve 102.1 the slip wedge 102.2, and the slip retainer subassembly 103. The packer mandrel 105.2 has external undercuts 105.23-105.25 into which retaining balls 108.1-108.4 are extended and locked to hold the lower packer shoe 101 and slip wedge 102 subassemblies in place. The lower end of the packer mandrel 105.2 has an external shoulder or other upset 105.26 and internal threads 105.27 which make up to the lower mandrel 105.3. The lower end of the slip retainer subassembly 103 shoulders against the external upset 105.26 of the packer mandrel 105.2 which limits the downward movement of the slip retainer subassembly 103 when only the slips 107.0 are set.

(30) The lower mandrel 105.3 is comprised of an upper end that has an external thread 105.32 which makes up in the packer mandrel 105.2. The mid portion of the lower mandrel 105.3 has an external seal 105.31 and the lower end has an external thread 105.33 which makes up in the key guide 105.4, while the ID bore 105.34 of the lower mandrel 105.3 extends from the upper end to near the lower end where it intersects two downward angled ports 105.35, 105.36. The lower end of the lower mandrel 105.3 contains an ID bore 105.37 with radial ports 105.38 to its OD.

(31) The key guide 105.4 is made up on the lower end of the lower mandrel 105.3 and has an ID bore 105.43 extending through its length. The lower end is made up to the actuator housing 105.5.

(32) The OD of the key guide 105.4 has four longitudinal grooves 105.42 at 90° running the length of the key guide 105.4. Two of the grooves 105.42 at 1800 apart have a longitudinal slot 105.41 for the key 104.9 milled through the bottom of each of the grooves and into the ID of the key guide 104.9. Each slot 105.41 is centered in its respective groove 105.42 and is aligned with the slot in the opposite groove. The two OD grooves 105.42 without slots in them are aligned with the two angled ports 105.35 and 105.36 in the mandrel 105.3. The slots 105.41 located in the grooves 105.42 are 90 degrees offset from the angled ports 105.35 and 105.36.

(33) The actuator housing 105.5 is threadedly connected to or otherwise made up on the lower end of the key guide 105.4. The actuator housing 105.5 has a small ID bore 105.51 at the upper end and a larger ID bore 105.52 below the small ID bore 105.51. Longitudinal holes and counterbores for hex socket screws 115 are spaced around the upper end of the actuator housing 105.5, with longitudinal holes for fluid flow located between them, while a hydraulic oil fill port 105.53 is located at the lower end.

(34) The linear actuator sub-subassembly 105.6 is comprised of the ball screw 105.6.1, a gearhead 105.6.2, and an electric motor 105.6.3 with Hall-effect sensors. The linear actuator sub-subassembly 105.6 is located in the actuator housing 105.5 with the ball screw 105.6.1 extending through the upper end of the actuator housing 105.5. Hex socket cap screws 115.0 are inserted through the longitudinal holes and counterbores at the upper end of the actuator housing 105.5 and are made up in the gearhead 105.6.2 to hold the linear actuator sub-subassembly 105.6 in place. The gearhead 105.6.2 and electric motor 105.6.3 OD's are smaller than the actuator housing 105.5 ID to allow movement of oil through external ports in the gearhead 105.6.2 and electric motor 105.6.3. The ball screw 105.6.1 has a longitudinal hole 105.6.11 intersecting radial holes 105.6.12 at the lower end. The position of the ball nut 104.11 of the key sleeve subassembly 104 on the ball screw 105.6.1 can be determined using the Hall-effect sensors.

(35) The electric motor 105.6.3 can generally be any type of electric motor which, (i) is compact enough to fit in the EMAP/A apparatus 2, (ii) is preferably reversible, (iii) can withstand the conditions downhole, and (iv) will provide sufficient rotational torque, either alone or in combination with the gearhead 105.6.2 to operate the inventive EMAP/A apparatus 100. Electrical power is preferably supplied to the electric motor by wire or cable from the surface, which is preferably incorporated in or extends through an e-coil tubular, but can alternatively be supplied by a battery, turbine, a downhole generator, or other electric power source.

(36) A gearhead 105.6.2 is preferably used in conjunction with the electric motor 105.6.3 to make it possible to control a large load inertia with a comparatively small motor inertia, thus reducing the required size or power of the electric motor 105.6.3. Without the gearhead, the motor torque, and thus the current, would have to be as many times greater.

(37) The actuator shoe 105.7 is made up on the lower end of the actuator housing 105.5. The actuator shoe 105.7 has an ID bore 105.71 at the upper end which houses electronics 116.0 used to control the actuator. An ID bore 105.72 at the lower end intersects two upward angled ports 105.7.3, 105.7.4 which are aligned with the angled ports in the lower mandrel 105.3. External threads 105.7.5 facing upwards allow makeup of the actuator shoe 105.7 to the housing 105.8; i.e., the lower end of the housing 105.8 is made up on the actuator shoe 105.7. The housing 105.8 extends upward over the lower end of the key sleeve subassembly 104. The upper end of the housing 105.8 is made up in the lower end of the shoe 105.9. The shoe 105.9 contains an internal seal 105.91 at the upper end and an external thread 105.92 at the lower end that makes up into the housing 105.8.

(38) Additional components/features include the packer elements 106.0, packer element spacers 106.1, the slips 107.0, the retaining balls 108.1-108.4, the upper and lower spring retainers 109.1 and 109.2, the spring 110.0, a pressure equalizing piston 111.0, the flat (electric wireline) cable 112.0, hydraulic oil 113.0, a hydraulic oil fill plug 114.0, the cap screws 115.0, the electronics 116.0, and the fluid passage 117.0.

(39) The packer elements 106.0 and packer element spacers 106.1 are assembled on the packer mandrel 105.2 and provide a seal between the casing ID 12 and packer mandrel 105.2 OD thereby providing the means for downhole zonal isolation.

(40) The packer elements 106.0 can generally be any type of packer elements used in downhole tools. Examples of suitable packer elements include, but are not limited to various forms of nitrile rubber including carboxylated, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), fluoropolymers (e.g. Viton®), ethylene propylene diene monomers (EPDM) rubber etc. in assorted durometers (i.e. hardnesses) based on the downhole environment and other application-specific data. A typical 3-packer element system could consist of two higher durometer packer elements on the ends with a lower durometer (softer) packer element in the center, e.g. 90-70-90 durometer configurations are common. The packer elements 106.0 will preferably provide a pressure resistant seal, against the casing wall, which is capable of withstanding a pressure differential across the packer elements 106.0 of at least 5,000 or at least 10,000 or at least 20,000 psi, such that the packer elements 106.0 can withstand the magnitude of treating pressures encountered in high pressure hydraulic fracturing or other well stimulation, treating, or cementing operations.

(41) The slips 107.0 are assembled on the slip wedge 102.2 and slip retainer 103.1 and expand out against the casing ID 12 when set to hold mechanical and hydraulic forces above the set packer elements 106.0. The retaining balls 108.1-108.4 are located in radial holes in the lower packer shoe 101 and slip wedge 102 subassemblies extending into external undercuts 105.2.3-105.25 on the packer mandrel 105.2. When covered by the ball retainer 104.2 internal upset 104.2.4, the retaining balls 108.1-108.4 lock the lower packer shoe 101.1 and slip wedge 102.2 subassemblies to the packer mandrel 105.2. When selectively uncovered by the ball retainer 104.2 internal upset 104.2.4, the retaining balls 108.1-108.4 unlock either or both of the lower packer shoe 101 and slip wedge 102 subassemblies to allow their movement.

(42) The slips 107.0 used in the anchor apparatus can be any anchoring armatures or other slip structures used in downhole tools. The slips 107.0 will preferably be circumferentially spaced and collapsible and will engage the casing wall with a setting force of at least 5,000 or at least 7,500 or at least 10,000 lbs.

(43) The spring retainers 109.1, 109.2 are located on the slip retainer subassembly 103, one contacting an external shoulder 103.3 at the upper end of the slip retainer 103.1 and one contacting the upper end of the spring compression nut 103.2. The spring 110.0 is located between the two spring retainers 109.1, 109.2 on the slip retainer subassembly 103.

(44) The pressure equalizing piston 111.0 is inserted in the upper end of the key guide 105.4 and shoulders against the lower end of the lower mandrel 105.3. The pressure equalizing piston 111.0 has external seals 111.1 that seal against the key guide 105.4.

(45) The flat (electric) cable 112.0 carries power and signals from the e-coil completely through the entire apparatus 100, thus providing electric power access to any tool string member below. In a preferred embodiment, each of the individual conductors of a multi-conductor electric cable are wrapped or spaced to accommodate an accompanying fiber optic cable. The flat cable 112.0 branches to the electronics 116.0 controlling the linear actuator sub-subassembly 105.6 and the linear actuator motor 105.6.3.

(46) The hydraulic oil 103.0 is used to fill a closed volume containing the electro-mechanical actuator sub-subassembly 105.6 and is used for cooling the motor 105.6.3 and lubricating the gearhead 105.6.2, ball nut 104.11, and ball screw 105.6.1.

(47) To run the e-coil deployed EMAP/A apparatus 100 into a wellbore, the apparatus 100 is put in the “running in” position. In the running in position, the ball nut 104.11 of key sleeve subassembly 104 is at the middle of the ball screw 105.6.1 of the actuator subassembly 105, which keeps the key sleeve subassembly 104 at a neutral position. In the neutral position, the key sleeve subassembly 104 keeps the lower set of retaining balls 108.2 in the lower packer shoe 101.1 subassembly and the upper and lower set of retaining balls 108.3, 108.4 in the slip wedge subassembly 102 pushed into external grooves on the actuator sub-subassembly 105, locking them in place preventing longitudinal movement. The upper set of retaining balls 108.1 in the packer shoe subassembly 101 are locked in place by the lower packer shoe 101.1 and prevent downward movement of the packer shoe subassembly 101.

(48) The pre-compressed spring 110.0 is held in a neutral position between the two spring retainers 109.1, 109.2, each of which contacts both an internal shoulder in the key sleeve assembly 104 and an external shoulder on the slip retainer 103.1. Upward movement of the slip retainer subassembly 103 through the key sleeve subassembly which is for the moment retained in fixed position, is resisted by the initial pre-compression of the spring 110.0 and would only compress the spring 110.0 further. Downward movement of the slip retainer subassembly 103 is prevented by contact with the external upset 105.26 on the actuator sub-subassembly 105.

(49) Also in the running in position, the packer elements 106.0 are held in an unset position and the slips 107.0 are held in a retracted position. The gearhead 105.6.3 on the linear actuator sub-subassembly 105.6 is self-locking so that upward or downward forces on the ball nut 104.11 cannot back drive the ball screw 105.6.1 and cause premature setting of the packer elements 106.0 and slips 107.0.

(50) After the EMAP/A apparatus 100 is run to position in the well, a signal is sent to the electronics 116.0 through the wireline 112.0 to allow power to the actuator electric motor 105.6.3, causing the electric motor 105.6.3 to rotate the ball screw 105.6.1. Rotation of the ball screw 105.6.1 in turn moves the ball nut 104.11 and thus the key body 104.10 and the remainder of the key sleeve subassembly 104 upward. The key 104.9 transfers the movement and load from the key body 104.10 through the slots 105.10 in the key guide 105.4 to the key sleeve 104.8 and the rest of the key sleeve subassembly 104 components. The slots 105.41 in the key guide 105.4 prevent rotation of the key sleeve subassembly 104 by the ball screw 105.6.1.

(51) As the key sleeve subassembly 104 moves upward, it exposes the retaining balls 108.2 in the lower packer shoe 101 and slip wedge 102 subassemblies to undercuts in the ball retainer 104.2, allowing the lower packer shoe 101 and slip wedge 102 subassemblies to move upward when loaded. The slips 107.0 are pushed up onto the slip wedge 102.2 and out against the casing 12 inner wall by the slip retainer 103 subassembly. The spring 110.0 remains in the neutral position at this point.

(52) Continued upward movement of the key sleeve subassembly 104 causes additional compression of the spring 110.0 as the lower spring retainer 109.2 is moved upward by the key sleeve subassembly 104 and the upper spring retainer 109.1 is held stationary by the slip retainer subassembly 103. In addition, the key sleeve subassembly 104 contacts the external upset 102.11 at the upper end of the slip wedge subassembly 102.

(53) Continued upward movement of the key sleeve subassembly 104 against the external upset 102.11 acts against the lower packer shoe sleeve 101.2 to begin loading and compressing the packer elements 106.0, expanding them outward against the casing 12 ID. The exposed retaining balls 108.2 are pushed upward and outward due to the angled shoulders of the grooves. The upper retaining balls in the lower packer shoe 101 and slip wedge 102 subassemblies remain locked and prevent downward movement but do allow upward movement. The slips 107.0 continue to move upward while expanded against the casing ID with no additional compression of the spring 110.0 as the packer elements 106.0 are compressed. Increased load on the actuator motor 105.6.3 reduces motor rotation, providing an indicator of the packer elements 106.0 setting.

(54) Once the required setting force on the packer elements 106.0 is reached, power to the actuator motor 105.6.3 is shut off. The gearhead 105.6.2 is self-locking so the ball screw 105.6.1 will not back drive and reduce the setting force. The key sleeve subassembly 104 is pressure balanced to the internal pressure in the EMAP/A apparatus 100. Internal pressure will not increase or decrease the load on the electro-mechanical linear actuator sub-subassembly 105.6. The EMAP/A apparatus 100 holds pressure from above during fracking and from below when inverted in a straddle application. This pressure is applied to the set packer elements 106.0 and is transferred through the packer shoe 101 and slip wedge 102 subassemblies to the slips 107.0 and casing.

(55) During setting operations, the volume between the upper end of the key sleeve subassembly 104 and the actuator sub-subassembly 104 decreases, causing fluid in this volume to be displaced to the OD of the EMAP/A apparatus 100. During unsetting operations, this volume increases, drawing in fluid.

(56) The external seals at the upper and lower ends of the key body 104.1 straddle the slots 105.41 in the key guide 105.4, isolating the internal volume in the key guide 105.4, the actuator housing 1055, and actuator shoe 105.7. This allows hydraulic oil 103.0 to freely circulate in the closed volume when the key body 104.10 is moved up and down. As the key body moves up and down when setting and unsetting the packer elements 106.0 and slips 107.0, displaced hydraulic oil 103.0 below the key body 104.10 flows between the hall screw 105.6.1 OD and actuator housing 105.5 ID to the radial ports 105.6.12 at the lower end of the ball screw 105.6.1. Hydraulic oil 103.0 then flows through the radial ports 105.6.12 to the longitudinal hole 105.6.11 in the ball screw 105.6, out the upper end of the ball screw 105.6.1 and into the ID bore 104.104 at the lower end of the key body 104.10. Some hydraulic oil 103.0 can also pass between the ball nut 104.11 and ball screw 105.6.1, providing lubrication and cooling. The hydraulic oil 103.0 then passes through the longitudinal ports 104.105 in the key body 104.10 and into the volume 105.43 above the key body 104.10 and below the pressure equalizing piston 111.0.

(57) The pressure equalizing piston 111.0 is located in the LD bore 105.43 of the key guide 105.4 above the key body 104.10. The upper side of the pressure equalizing piston 111.0 is exposed to pressure in the EMAP/A apparatus 100 and the lower side is exposed to pressure in the closed volume. This results in the two pressures always being equal.

(58) The electric flat cable 112.0 is received in the apparatus 100 through the hollow cylindrical ID of the actuator subassembly 105. The cable 112.0 is run through the ID bore in the upper end of the actuator sub-subassembly 105, out one of the downward angled ports 105.35, 105.36, through one of the external longitudinal grooves on the key guide 105.4, over the OD of the actuator housing 105.5, and down the aligned upward angled port 105.73 and ID bore 105.72 in the actuator shoe 105.7. A part of the cable 112.0 is branched off above the downward angled port in the actuator shoe 105.7 to the electronics 116.0 in the upper ID bore 105.71 in the actuator shoe 105.7 to supply signals and power to the linear actuator sub-subassembly 105.6 components. The cable 112.0 then continues its path through and out of the EMAP/A apparatus 100, thus providing electric power (and in a preferred embodiment, fiber optic capacity) to any tool string member immediately below apparatus 100. A similar path located 180 degrees from the cable 112.0 path is used as a fluid passage, thus providing flow-through hydraulic capacity to any tool string member attached immediately below the inventive apparatus 100. Hence the apparatus 100 conducts electric, hydraulic, and fiber optic capacity throughout.

(59) Pressure sensors can be located immediately above and below the apparatus 100 in the tool string, and connected fiber optically to the surface. Or similarly, pressure and/or temperature sensors 118.1 and 118.2 can be incorporated into apparatus 100 at positions above and below the packer elements 106.0, and connected fiber optically to the surface. Either alternative provides real-time pressure information at points above and below the packer elements 106.0, confirming both the establishment of a pressure seal upon setting the apparatus 100 in ‘packer mode’, and also maintenance of the integrity of the pressure seal throughout, for example, a hydraulic fracturing treatment placed above apparatus 100. Likewise, force sensors could be placed as to register real-time measurement of the force exerted by the slips 107.0 against the casing 12 inner wall when the apparatus 100 is in ‘anchor mode’.

(60) To unset apparatus 100, and specifically the components engaging the inner wall of casing 12, that is the packer elements 106.0 and slips 107.0, a signal is sent to the electronics 116.0 through the wireline cable 112.0 to allow power to the actuator electric motor 105.6.3 and reverse the rotation of the ball screw 105.6.1. This moves the ball nut 104.11 and key sleeve subassembly 104 downward, moving the upper and lower spring retainers 109.1, 109.2 respectively and spring 110.0 to the neutral position. Continued downward movement of the key sleeve subassembly 104 has it contacting the extended retaining balls 108.1,108.4 in the lower packer shoe 101 and slip wedge 102 subassemblies (specifically, at the ID of the ball retainer shoe 104.1 contacting retainer balls 108.2 in the lower packer shoe sleeve 101.2, and the internal upset 104.24 of ball retainer 104.2 contacting retainer balls 108.4 in slip wedge sleeve 102.1) and simultaneously moving the upper spring retainer 109.1 downward, which further compresses the spring 110.0 from above. Increased load on the actuator motor 105.6.3 reduces the motor rotation, providing an indicator of the contact with the extended retaining balls 108.1,108.4. Power to the actuator motor 105.6.3 is then shut off. At this point the apparatus 100 has been “unset” such that the packer elements 106.0 can no longer provide an effective seal, but the packer elements 106.0 are not fully retracted to their original run-in condition.

(61) Full retraction of the packer elements 106.0 will then occur simply by moving the apparatus 100 to its next working location within wellbore casing 12. For example, in the case of an e-coil deployment of the inventive apparatus 100, simply “picking up” (i.e., applying sufficient tensile force for uphole movement) on the coiled tubing string will also move the actuator 105 and key sleeve 104 subassemblies upwards, releasing the packer elements 106.0 such that they can no longer provide an effective seal, also moving the spring retainers 109.1, 109.2 and spring 110.0 to the neutral position. Continued upward movement of the coiled tubing string, actuator 105 and key sleeve 104 subassemblies continues the retraction of the packer elements 106.0. The retaining balls 108.3 in the slip wedge subassembly 102 lock the slip wedge subassembly 102 to the actuator subassembly 105 against downward movement. The key sleeve subassembly 104 point of contact, the lower spring shoe 104.7, pushes the lower spring retainer 109.2 upward, further compressing the spring 110.0.

(62) Power is again applied to the actuator motor 105.6.3, moving the key sleeve subassembly 104 down and moving the spring 110.0 to the neutral position. Continued downward movement of the key sleeve subassembly 104 to the neutral position over the retaining balls 108.2-108.4 locks the lower packer shoe 101 and slip wedge 102 subassemblies to the actuator subassembly 105. The key sleeve subassembly 104 (point of contact upper spring shoe 104.5) pushes the upper spring retainer 109.1 downward, further compressing the spring. The position of the key sleeve subassembly 104 is determined by the position of the ball nut 104.11 on the ball screw 105.6.1 using Hall-effect sensors. The coiled tubing string is picked up to move the actuator 105 and key sleeve 104 subassemblies upward, pulling the locked slip wedge subassembly 102, and particularly the slip wedge 102.2 out from beneath the slips 107.0. The spring 110.0 and slip retainer subassembly 103 then return to the neutral position, retracting the slips 107.0.

(63) Similarly, the operation of the inventive (EMAP/A) apparatus 100 deployed in the “anchor only” option, i.e. packer elements 106.0 remain unset and only the slips 107.0 are engaged to anchor the run-in string, is enabled by reversing the direction of the electric motor 105.6.3 rotation as detailed here. In the running in position, the ball nut 104.11 is at the middle of the ball screw 105.6.1 which keeps the key sleeve subassembly 104 at a neutral position. In the neutral position, the key sleeve subassembly 104 keeps the lower set of retaining balls 108.2 in the lower packer shoe 101.1 subassembly and the upper and lower sets of retaining balls 108.3, 108.4 in the slip wedge 102.2 subassembly pushed into external grooves on the actuator sub-subassembly 105, locking them in place against longitudinal movement. The upper set of retaining balls 108.1 are locked in place by the lower packer shoe 101.1 and prevent downward movement of the packer shoe assembly subassembly. The pre-compressed spring 110.0 is held in a neutral position between the two spring retainers 109.1, 109.2, each of which contacts an internal shoulder in the key sleeve subassembly 104 and an external shoulder on the slip retainer subassembly 103. Upward movement of the slip retainer subassembly 103 is resisted by the initial pre-compression of the spring 110.0 and will only compress the spring 110.0 further. Downward movement of the slip retainer subassembly 103 is prevented by contact with an external upset 105.26 on the actuator subassembly 105. The packer elements 106.0 are held in an unset position and the slips 107.0 are held in a retracted position. The gearhead 105.6.2 on the linear actuator sub-subassembly 105.6 is self-locking so upward or downward forces on the ball nut 104.11 will not back drive the ball screw 105.6.1 and cause premature setting of the slips 107.0.

(64) After the EMAP/A apparatus 100 is run to position in the well, a signal is sent to the electronics 116.0 through the wireline cable 112.0 to allow power to the actuator electric motor 105.6.3, causing the motor to rotate the ball screw 105.6.1. This in turn moves the ball nut 104.11 and key sleeve subassembly 104.8 downward. The key 104.9 transfers the movement and load from the key body 104.10 through the slots 105.10 in the key guide 105.4 to the key sleeve 104.8 and the rest of the key sleeve subassembly 104.8 components. The slots 105.10 in the key guide 105.4 prevent rotation of the key sleeve subassembly 104 by the ball screw 105.6.1. As the key sleeve subassembly 104 moves downward, it exposes the upper set of retaining balls 108.3 in the slip wedge subassembly 102 to undercuts in the ball retainer 104.2, allowing the slip wedge subassembly 102 to move downward when loaded. The lower retaining balls 108.2 in the lower packer shoe subassembly 101 remain locked and prevent upward movement but do allow downward movement. The key sleeve subassembly 104 contacts the upper spring retainer 109.1 and moves it downward, further compressing the spring 110.0. The key sleeve subassembly 104 then contacts the upper end of the slip wedge 102.2. Continued downward movement of the key sleeve subassembly 104 moves the slip wedge 102.2 beneath the slips 107.0, expanding them outward against the casing ID and against the slip retainer 103.1. The lower end of the slip retainer subassembly 103 is shouldered against an external upset 105.26 on the actuator sub-subassembly 105, preventing downward movement of the slip retainer 103.1. The uncovered lower retaining balls 108.4 in the slip wedge subassembly 102 move down and outward over the groove in the actuator sub-subassembly 105. The spring 110.0 is further compressed from above. Increased load on the actuator motor 105.6.3 reduces motor rotation, providing an indicator of the slips 107.0 setting. Once the required setting force on the slips 107.0 is reached, power to the linear actuator sub-subassembly 105.6 is shut off. The gearhead 105.6.2 is self-locking so the ball screw 105.6.1 will not back drive and reduce the setting force.

(65) To unset the slips 107.0, a signal is sent to the electronics 116.0 through the wireline cable 112.0 to allow power to the actuator electric motor 105.6.3 and reverse the rotation of the ball screw 105.6.1. This moves the ball nut 104.11 and key sleeve subassembly 104 upward with the key sleeve subassembly 104 contacting the extended retaining balls 108.3, 108.4 in the slip wedge subassembly 102 and decreasing the spring 110.0 compression. An increase in load on the actuator motor 105.6.3 is an indicator of contact. Continued upward movement of the key sleeve subassembly 104 has it pulling the slip wedge 102.2 out from beneath the slips 107.0 through the extended retaining balls 108.3, 108.4 in the slip wedge subassembly 102 until the retracted retaining balls 108.3, 108.4 contact the upper end of the groove on the actuator subassembly 105 in which they are assembled. The compressed spring 110.0 keeps a downward force on the slips 107.0 as the slip wedge 102.0 moves upward, retracting the slips 107.0. The upper spring retainer 109.1 is also moved upward, further decreasing the spring 110.0 compression. A decrease in load on the actuator motor 105.6.3 is an indicator of the slip wedge 102.2 being pulled out from beneath the slips 107.0. Continued upward movement of the key sleeve subassembly 104 to the neutral position over the retaining balls 108.3, 108.4 locks the slip wedge subassembly 102 to the actuator subassembly 105. The spring 110.0 is in the neutral position. Actuator motor 105.6.3 rotations and Hall-effect sensors are used to indicate position.

(66) Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within this invention as defined by the claims.