Downhole tool with an expandable sleeve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10156119-B2
Application number	US-201615217090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2016
Priority date	Jul 24, 2015
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

Downhole tools and methods, of which the downhole tool includes an expandable sleeve defining a bore therethrough, and a first body positioned at least partially within the bore of the expandable sleeve. The first body is slidable relative to the expandable sleeve, and sliding the first body along the bore of the expandable sleeve causes the expandable sleeve to radially expand so as to actuate the downhole tool from a run-in configuration to a set configuration. The downhole tool also includes an isolation device received at least partially in the expandable sleeve in the set configuration. A pressure on the isolation device is at least partially transmitted to the expandable sleeve as a radially-outward force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A downhole tool, comprising:
an expandable sleeve defining a bore therethrough;
a first body positioned at least partially within the bore of the expandable sleeve, wherein the first body is slidable relative to the expandable sleeve, and wherein sliding the first body along the bore of the expandable sleeve causes the expandable sleeve to radially expand so as to actuate the downhole tool from a run-in configuration to a set configuration;
an isolation device received at least partially in the expandable sleeve in the set configuration, wherein a pressure on the isolation device is at least partially transmitted to the expandable sleeve as a radially outward force; and
a second body positioned at least partially within the bore of the expandable sleeve, wherein, as the downhole tool actuates into the set configuration, the first body moves a first distance toward the second body, and the second body moves a second distance toward the first body, the first and second distances being different, and wherein the first and second bodies remain positioned within the expandable sleeve after the expandable sleeve is actuated into the set configuration.

2. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the expandable sleeve comprises grit, a plurality of teeth, a plurality of wickers, or a combination thereof.

3. The downhole tool of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member disposed on an outer surface of the expandable sleeve, and configured to seal with a surrounding tubular when the downhole tool is in the set configuration.

4. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the second body slides along the bore of the expandable sleeve, toward the first body, when the downhole tool is actuated from the run-in configuration to the set configuration, and causes the expandable sleeve to at least partially expand.

5. The downhole tool of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the expandable sleeve, the first body, or the second body is formed at least partially from a material configured to dissolve in a predetermined fluid.

6. The downhole tool of claim 4 , wherein the expandable sleeve comprises a first axial portion and a second axial portion, and the bore of the expandable sleeve defines a tapered inner surface, wherein, along the first axial portion, the tapered inner surface is oriented at a first acute angle with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the tool, and along the second axial portion, the tapered inner surface is oriented at a second acute angle with respect to the central longitudinal axis.

7. The downhole tool of claim 6 , wherein the first body is positioned at least partially within the first axial portion of the expandable sleeve, and wherein the second body is positioned at least partially within the second axial portion of the expandable sleeve.

8. The downhole tool of claim 4 , further comprising a setting tool, wherein:
the second body of the downhole tool is provided by a setting sleeve of the setting tool;
the setting tool further comprises an inner body positioned radially-inward from the setting sleeve;
in the run-in configuration of the downhole tool, the inner body of the setting tool is connected to the first body and extends within the expandable sleeve; and
in the set configuration of the downhole tool, the inner body is disconnected from the first body.

9. The downhole tool of claim 8 , wherein a portion of the first body shears as the expandable sleeve expands radially-outward to allow the inner body of the setting tool to be withdrawn from the first body and the expandable sleeve.

10. The downhole tool of claim 4 , further comprising a setting tool comprising:
a setting sleeve that bears against the first body; and
an inner body extending through the first body and the setting sleeve and connected to the second body, wherein the inner body is movable relative to the setting sleeve and the first body, and wherein the inner body moving causes the second body and the expandable sleeve to move relative to the first body.

11. The downhole tool of claim 10 , wherein the setting sleeve comprises a tapered surface and the first body comprises a tapered surface, wherein the tapered surfaces of the setting sleeve and the first body are in engagement with one another, and wherein the tapered surface of the first body provides a seat for the isolation device when the setting tool is removed.

12. The downhole tool of claim 10 , wherein the first body is in contact with the setting sleeve of the setting tool, and wherein the expandable sleeve moves axially with respect to the setting sleeve of the setting tool and the first body as the expandable sleeve expands radially-outward.

13. The downhole tool of claim 10 , wherein a portion of the second body is coupled to the inner body of the setting tool, and wherein the portion of the second body shears as the expandable sleeve expands radially-outward to allow the inner body of the setting tool to be withdrawn from the first body and the expandable sleeve.

14. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the first body comprises a setting tool, the setting tool comprising:
an inner body that extends through the expandable sleeve, the inner body defining a first ramped surface that engages the bore of the expandable sleeve; and
a setting sleeve disposed at least partially around the inner body and configured to prevent the expandable sleeve from moving in an axial direction with the inner body is moved through the bore.

15. The downhole tool of claim 14 , wherein:
the expandable sleeve comprises:
a first sleeve defining a first shoulder therein that is tapered to receive the isolation device, and a second shoulder on a radial inside of the first sleeve, wherein the first ramped surface engages the first sleeve; and
a second sleeve defining a first shoulder that is tapered to receive the isolation device, and a second shoulder on a radial outside of the second sleeve, the second shoulder being disposed adjacent to a second ramped surface of the inner body;

when the downhole tool is in the run-in configuration, the second shoulder of the first sleeve and the second shoulder of the second sleeve are spaced apart, and the second sleeve is connected to the inner body; and
when the downhole tool is in the set configuration, the second sleeve is at least partially radially inside of the first sleeve, the second shoulder of the first sleeve and the second shoulder of the second sleeve are in engagement, the first shoulder of the first sleeve and the first shoulder of the second sleeve cooperatively define a seat for engaging the isolation device, and the second sleeve is released from connection with the inner body.

16. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the isolation device is configured to be received in a seat defined by an inner surface of the expandable sleeve in the set configuration.

17. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the first body and the second body are positioned entirely within the expandable sleeve when the expandable sleeve is in the set configuration.

18. A downhole tool, comprising:
an expandable sleeve having a lower axial portion and an upper axial portion, wherein a thickness of the lower axial portion of the expandable sleeve increases proceeding in a first axial direction, and wherein a thickness of the upper axial portion of the expandable sleeve decreases proceeding in the first axial direction;
a first swage positioned in the upper or lower axial portion of the expandable sleeve, such that moving the first swag

Assignees

• Team Oil Tools Lp
• Innovex Downhole Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Martin Carl
• Kellner Justin
• Chauffe Stephen J

Classifications

• E21B43/261

  Separate steps of (1) cementing, plugging or consolidating and (2) fracturing or attacking the formation · CPC title

• E21B33/1208 Primary

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

• E21B43/103

  of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like · CPC title

• E21B33/129

  with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/13

  Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like · CPC title