Expandable support ring for packing element containment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10087704-B2
Application number	US-201414496747-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2014
Priority date	Sep 25, 2014
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

A packing element containment system includes a support member extending from a first end to a second end. One of the first and second ends includes a support ring engagement section. A support ring is carried by the support ring engagement section of the support member. The support ring is configured and disposed to shift relative to the support member converting an axial movement of one of the support ring and the support member to a radial expansion of the support ring to provide one of a support to an anti-extrusion ring and containment for a packing element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A packing element containment system comprising:
a support member extending from a first end to a second end, one of the first and second ends including a support ring engagement section integrally formed with the support member and having at least one angled surface section, and a support ring carried by the support ring engagement section of the support member, the support ring having a surface portion including at least one angled surface portion, the support ring being configured and disposed to shift relative to the support member with the at least one angled surface portion moving over the at least one angled surface section converting an axial movement of one of the support ring and the support member to a radial expansion of the support ring to provide one of a support to an anti-extrusion ring and containment for a packing element, wherein the support ring includes a body having a first radial thickness, and a deflection member extending from the body and having a second radial thickness that is less than the first radial thickness, the deflection member connecting the support ring and the support member.

2. The packing element containment system according to claim 1 , wherein the support ring is secured to the support member through a pin extending from the deflection member toward the support member.

3. The packing element containment system according to claim 2 , wherein the pin is materially and integrally formed with the deflection member.

4. The packing element containment system according to claim 1 , wherein the support ring engagement section includes an outer surface section provided with a plurality of threads and the body of the support ring includes an inner surface portion provided with a plurality of threads that engage with the plurality of threads on the outer surface section of the support ring engagement section.

5. The packing element containment system according to claim 1 , wherein the deflection member includes a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, at least one annular groove is formed in the radially outer surface and at least one annular groove is formed in the radially inner surface.

6. The packing element containment system according to claim 5 , wherein one of the radially outer and radially inner surfaces includes two annular grooves and the other of the radially outer and radially inner surface includes a single annular groove, the two annular grooves and single annular groove forming a folding zone on the deflection member.

7. The packing element containment system according to claim 1 , wherein the deflection member includes a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, a plurality of openings extend through the radially outer and radially inner surfaces defining a plurality of deformation members.

8. The packing element containment system according to claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of deformation members extend axially outwardly of the body.

9. The packing element containment system according to claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of deformation members extends at an angle relative to an axial axis of the support member.

10. The packing element containment system according to claim 1 , wherein the support ring engagement section includes an outer surface section having an annular groove, the deflection member snap-fittingly engaging with the annular groove to secure the support ring to the support member.

11. The packing element containment system according to claim 10 , wherein the deflection member includes a cantilevered end portion, a plurality of slots extend axially outwardly of the cantilevered end portion forming a plurality of deflecting members.

12. The packing element containment system according to claim 1 , wherein the support ring engagement section includes an angled surface section and the body of the deflection member includes an angled surface portion configured and disposed to axially shift over the angled surface section.

13. The packing element containment system according to claim 1 , wherein the support member is mounted to a downhole tool that forms part of a downhole system operatively connected to an uphole system.

14. A method of containing a packing element comprising:
shifting a support ring having at least one angled surface section relative to a support ring engagement section integrally formed with a support member, the support ring engagement section having at least one angled surface portion with an axial force; and
deforming a deflection member extending from the support ring, the deflection member connecting the support ring and the support member to transfer the axial force into a radial force through movement of the at least one angled surface section over the at least one angled surface portion causing an outward expansion of the support ring.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein transferring the axial force includes shifting at least one angled surface section on the support ring relative to at least one angled surface portion on the support member.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein shifting the at least one angled surface section on the support ring relative to the at least one angled surface portion on the support member includes axially shifting a first plurality of threads on the support ring relative to a second plurality of threads on the support member.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein shifting the support ring relative to the support member includes unseating a snap member on the support ring from an annular groove formed in the support member.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein shifting the support ring relative to the support member includes engaging a packing element section of a downhole tool to a formation to facilitate extraction of downhole fluids in the formation to an uphole system.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein transferring the axial force into a radial force through an outward expansion of the support ring provides support for an anti-extrusion ring.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein transferring the axial force into a radial force through an outward expansion of the support ring provides containment for a packing element.

Assignees

• Conner Nicholas S
• Anderson Gary L
• Maenza Frank J
• Castro Adrian R
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Conner Nicholas S
• Anderson Gary L
• Maenza Frank J
• Castro Adrian R

Classifications

• E21B33/1208

  characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means (E21B33/1277 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/128

  with a member expanded radially by axial pressure (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/1216 Primary

  Anti-extrusion means, e.g. means to prevent cold flow of rubber packing · CPC title

• E21B33/12

  Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) · CPC title

• E21B33/06

  Blow-out preventers {, i.e. apparatus closing around a drill pipe, e.g. annular blow-out preventers (rotating blow-out preventers E21B33/085)} · CPC title