Frac plug system having bottom sub geometry for improved flow back, milling and/or setting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10458200-B2
Application number	US-201715462015-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2017
Priority date	Mar 17, 2016
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

A technique facilitates plugging of a wellbore during, for example, a fracturing operation. A frac plug is constructed with an unobstructed internal passage and comprises a seal member combined with a plurality of slips for engaging a surrounding wall, e.g. a surrounding wellbore wall. Additionally, the frac plug comprises a lower sub having raised edges arranged to catch a ball during a flow back stage without blocking flow along the unobstructed internal passage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A frac plug for plugging a wellbore, the frac plug having an internal passage extending therethrough, the frac plug comprising:
a bottom sub positioned at a bottom end of the frac plug, the bottom sub defining a portion of the internal passage, the bottom sub having a plurality of raised edges extending in an axial direction and spaced circumferentially about the internal passage, wherein each of the plurality of raised edges is configured to rotationally lock the frac plug to a subsequent frac plug positioned below the frac plug in the wellbore,
wherein the raised edges are configured to receive a frac ball without substantially preventing fluid flow through the internal passage.

2. The frac plug of claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the internal passage is sized to receive a tool therethrough, the tool having an outer diameter that is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the portion of the internal passage defined by the bottom sub.

3. The frac plug of claim 2 , further comprising:
an internal shear member positioned within the second portion of the internal passage, the internal shear member configured to secure the tool within the internal passage.

4. The frac plug of claim 1 , wherein the raised edges are configured to enable a desired flow rate when the frac ball is received thereon.

5. A frac plug for plugging a wellbore, the frac plug having an internal passage extending therethrough, the frac plug comprising:
a bottom sub positioned at a bottom end of the frac plug, the bottom sub defining a portion of the internal passage, the bottom sub having a plurality of raised edges extending in an axial direction and spaced circumferentially about the internal passage, wherein each of the plurality of raised edges is configured to rotationally lock the frac plug to a subsequent frac plug positioned below the frac plug in the wellbore, and
a slip member positioned at a top end of the frac plug, the slip member defining a second portion of the internal passage, the slip member having a plurality of slips spaced circumferentially about the internal passage.

6. The frac plug of claim 5 , further comprising:
a seal member selectively actuatable into sealing engagement with an inner surface of the wellbore.

7. The frac plug of claim 6 , wherein the slip member is an upper slip member, the upper slip member being actuatable into sealing engagement with the inner surface of the wellbore, the frac plug further comprising:
a lower slip member being actuatable into sealing engagement with the inner surface of the wellbore.

8. The frac plug of claim 7 , further comprising:
a main mandrel having a mandrel wedge section and a cylindrical section, wherein the upper slip member is slidably mounted on the mandrel wedge section, and wherein the seal member is positioned on an outer surface of the cylindrical section.

9. The frac plug of claim 8 , further comprising:
a wedge member defining an internal recess, wherein the main mandrel is slidably received within the internal recess, wherein the seal member is selectively actuatable by sliding the main mandrel within the internal recess.

10. A method for milling a frac plug within a wellbore comprising:
inserting the frac plug into the wellbore, the frac plug having an unobstructed internal passage extending therethrough, the frac plug including a bottom sub defining a portion of the internal passage, the bottom sub having a plurality of raised edges extending in an axial direction and spaced circumferentially about the internal passage, wherein the raised edges are configured to receive a frac ball without substantially preventing fluid flow through the internal passage; and
engaging a subsequent frac plug positioned below the inserted frac plug with the raised edges of the bottom sub, wherein the raised edges rotationally lock the inserted frac plug to the subsequent frac plug.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the frac plug includes an upper slip member, wherein the bottom sub has a shear member positioned within, the method further comprising:
inserting a tool through the internal passage of the frac plug in a downhole direction to engage the shear member; and
applying a force by the tool on the frac plug via the shear member in an uphole direction causing the upper slip member to extend in a radial direction and engage an inner surface of the wellbore.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the frac plug further includes a lower slip member and a main mandrel, wherein lower slip member and the main mandrel define a portion of the internal passage.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the force applied by the tool causes the lower slip member and the seal member to extend in the radial direction and engage the inner surface of the wellbore.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the force is a setting force, the method further comprising:
applying a shear force by the tool on the shear member to shear the shear member, the shear force being greater than the setting force.

15. A frac plug having an unobstructed internal passage extending therethrough, the frac plug comprising:
a main mandrel having a mandrel wedge section and a cylindrical section, wherein the upper slip member is slidably mounted on the mandrel wedge section;
a seal member positioned on an outer surface of the cylindrical section of the main mandrel;
a wedge member defining an internal recess, wherein the main mandrel is slidably received within the internal recess, wherein the seal member is selectively actuatable by sliding the main mandrel within the internal recess;
a lower slip member having a plurality of engagement features spaced circumferentially about an outer surface of the lower slip member, wherein the lower slip member is slidably mounted on the wedge member; and
a bottom sub coupled to the lower slip member, the bottom sub having a plurality of raised edges extending in an axial direction and spaced circumferentially about a lower end of the bottom sub.

16. The frac plug of claim 15 , further comprising: an upper slip member having a plurality of slips spaced circumferentially about the internal passage; and a wedge member defining an internal recess, wherein the main mandrel is slidably received within the internal recess, wherein the seal member is selectively actuatable by sliding the main mandrel within the internal recess.

17. The frac plug of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of raised edges is configured to rotationally lock the frac plug to a subsequent frac plug positioned below the frac plug in the wellbore.

18. The frac plug of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of raised edges are positioned between each of a plurality of slips on the subsequent frac plug.

19. The frac plug of claim 15 , wherein an inner diameter of the internal passage is sized to receive a tool therethrough, the tool having an outer diameter that is substantially similar to an inner diameter of the internal passage.

20. The frac plug of claim 15 , wherein the seal member selectively actuatable into sealing engagement with an inner surface of the wellbore, wherein the seal member is selectively actuatable by sliding the main mandrel within the internal recess.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Tse Kyle

Classifications

• E21B33/1291 Primary

  anchor set by wedge or cam in combination with frictional effect, using so-called drag-blocks (E21B33/1295 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/1204 Primary

  permanent; drillable · CPC title

• E21B29/00

  Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground · CPC title