Downhole Tool having Slips Set by Stacked Rings

Abstract

An apparatus installs downhole in a surrounding tubular. A first shoulder on a mandrel of the apparatus is movable toward a second shoulder. A plurality of stacked rings are disposed about the mandrel and are spaced between the first and second shoulders. A first of the stacked rings decreases in spacing in response to the movement of the first shoulder toward the second shoulder, and a second of the stacked rings expands outward from the mandrel in response to the decrease in spacing. A slip disposed on the stacked rings is movable away from the mandrel toward the surrounding tubular in response to the outward expansion. The apparatus can be a plug, a bridge plug, a fracture plug, a packer, a permanent packer, a retrievable packer, a sump packer, and a sealbore packer. Additionally, the apparatus can include a completion assembly with packer and screen supported on the mandrel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Appl. 62 / 081,753, filed 19 Nov. 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present disclosure relates to the field of downhole tools, and in particular to downhole tools, such as bridge plugs, frac-plugs, and packers.BACKGROUND ART[0003]An oil or gas well includes a wellbore extending into a well to some depth below the surface. Typically, the wellbore is lined with tubulars or casing to strengthen the walls of the borehole. To strengthen the walls of the borehole further, the annular area formed between the casing and the borehole is typically filled with cement to set the casing permanently in the wellbore. Perforating the casing then allows production fluid to enter the wellbore and flow to the surface of the well.[0004]Downhole tools with sealing elements, such as plugs or packers, are placed within the wellbore to isolate the production fluid or to ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0027]A drive sleeve disposed on the mandrel move the first shoulder. A lock disposed between the drive sleeve and the mandrel can permit movement of the drive sleeve toward the second shoulder, but prevents reverse movement of the drive sleeve. The first shoulder can have a catch at least temporarily holding an end of the slip. For its part, the second shoulder can be a sleeve fixed on the mandrel.

[0031]The spacings in between the stacked rings can expand the second of the stacked rings outward at one of the opposing shoulders before the other opposing shoulder. Also, the stacked rings can have contact angles disposed adjacent one another, and the contact angles can expand the second of the stacked rings outward at one of the opposing shoulders before the other opposing shoulder.

Problems solved by technology

In one continuing problem associated with conventional element systems of these types of downhole tools, the cones of the element systems can collapse.

Attempts to design a convention downhole tool, such as a packer, capable of handling 10,000-psi or greater cone collapse pressure have been made, and testing has proven these attempts to be unsuccessful.

One issue that prevents increased cone collapse pressures one conventional downhole tools is the limitations in the contact area between the slips and the cones when set into the tubular or casing.

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