Capture method for flow back retrieval of borehole plug with a lower slip assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10450827-B2
Application number	US-201715635579-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2017
Priority date	May 31, 2016
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

A borehole plug or packer for treating is designed to be flowed back to a surface location after use. When the treatment is concluded pressure from above is relieved or lowered, and well fluid is flowed back, so that the plug or plugs disengages at slips designed to resist differential pressure from above. The application of differential pressure from below causes the lower slips to release one or more of such plugs in the hole into specialized sub surface or surface capture equipment so that well pressure is relieved before removal of the plugs from specialized subsurface or surface capture equipment. Packers or plugs are captured above, below or at a wellhead in a receptacle. Production ensues without milling with the captured plugs or packers in place or removed.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for releasing or retrieving at least one packer or plug from a borehole toward a surface location, comprising:
creating a differential pressure on the set at least one packer or plug in an uphole direction toward the surface;
overcoming grip on said at least one packer or plug;
moving said at least one packer or plug toward the surface;
containing said at least one packer or plug in a receptacle;
providing spaced valved fluid outlets from said receptacle connected to a common line; and
producing from the borehole without milling said at least one packer or plug.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
capturing said at least one packer or plug above a wellhead.

3. The method of claim 2 , comprising:
providing a conduit out of said receptacle for directing said at least one packer or plug to a collection location.

4. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
providing spaced valved fluid outlets from said receptacle connected to a common line.

5. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
retaining said at least one packer or plug in said receptacle against leaving said receptacle and into the borehole.

6. The method of claim 5 , comprising:
providing a plurality of spring loaded fingers for said retaining.

7. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
providing a counter with said receptacle for said at least one packer or plug;
signaling with said counter that said at least one packer or plug has entered said receptacle.

8. The method of claim 2 , comprising:
producing from the borehole upon said capturing of said at least one packer or plug.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising:
providing as said at least one packer or plug a plurality of packers or plugs;
capturing said packers or plugs in a receptacle aligned with the borehole.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
isolating said packers or plugs in said receptacle to enable said producing.

11. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
providing spaced valved fluid outlets from said receptacle connected to a common line.

12. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
providing a conduit out of said receptacle for directing said packers or plugs to a collection location.

13. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
retaining said at least one packer or plug in said receptacle against leaving said receptacle and into the borehole.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising:
providing a plurality of spring loaded fingers for said retaining.

15. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
providing a counter with said receptacle for said at least one packer or plug;
signaling with said counter that said at least one packer or plug has entered said receptacle.

16. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
retaining said at least one packer or plug in said receptacle against leaving said receptacle for the borehole.

17. The method of claim 16 , comprising:
providing a plurality of spring loaded fingers for said retaining.

18. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
providing a counter with said receptacle for said at least one packer or plug;
signaling with said counter that said at least one packer or plug has entered said receptacle.

19. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
capturing said at least one packer or plug at or below a wellhead.

20. The method of claim 19 , comprising:
providing a tubular receptacle with a plurality of openings for said capturing.

21. The method of claim 20 , comprising:
providing a tapered guide at an inlet to said receptacle.

22. The method of claim 20 , comprising:
providing as said at least one packer or plug a plurality of packers and plugs;
capturing all said packers or plugs in said receptacle.

23. The method of claim 22 , comprising:
retaining said packers or plugs in said receptacle against leaving said receptacle for the borehole.

24. The method of claim 23 , comprising:
providing a plurality of spring loaded fingers for said retaining.

25. The method of claim 22 , comprising:
providing a counter with said receptacle for said packers or plugs;
signaling with said counter that said packers or plugs have entered said receptacle.

26. The method of claim 22 , comprising:
removing said receptacle with all said packers or plugs before said producing.

27. The method of claim 22 , comprising:
leaving said receptacle with all said packers or plugs in the borehole during said producing.

28. The method of claim 22 , comprising:
flowing through and around said receptacle during said producing.

29. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
overcoming a retaining force by a sealing element on said at least one packer or plug after overcoming a grip of at least one slip with pressure differential in a direction toward the surface.

30. The method of claim 29 , comprising:
locating said slip only downhole from a sealing element on said at least one packer or plug.

31. The method of claim 30 , comprising:
providing a wedge between said slip and a mandrel to lock said slip in a set position;
providing at least one rib on said wedge oriented away from the surface to prevent said slip from moving relatively to said mandrel in a downhole direction.

32. The method of claim 30 , comprising:
providing a wedge between said slip and a mandrel to lock said slip in a set position;
providing at least one rib on said wedge oriented toward the surface to prevent said slip from moving relatively to said mandrel in an uphole direction.

33. The method of claim 29 , comprising:
performing at least one of hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding and cementing as said treatment.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Wise Tristan R
• Silva Zachary S
• Pena Elias
• Gonzalez Hector O

Classifications

• E21B33/129

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

• E21B23/06

  for setting packers · CPC title

• E21B33/1285

  by fluid pressure · CPC title

• E21B33/12 Primary

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

• E21B33/14

  for cementing casings into boreholes · CPC title