Bidirectional slips

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10633942-B2
Application number	US-201515745359-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2015
Priority date	Aug 27, 2015
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

A downhole tool comprising a bidirectional slip having a slip frame and at least two slip banks. The slip frame including a plurality of slats spaced radially about a center ring. The slip banks have a first gripping bank and a second gripping bank. The first gripping bank is slideably received in a first slot in the slip frame, and the second gripping bank is slideably received in a second slot in the slip frame such that the slip bank has a set position in which the first gripping bank and second gripping bank extend radially outward from the slip frame so as to be able to engage the casing, and the slip bank has an unset position in which the slip bank is positioned radially inward from the set position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A downhole tool comprising:
a bi-directional slip configured to engage a casing in a subterranean well, the bidirectional slip comprising:
a slip frame having a center ring and a plurality of slats extending longitudinally uphole and downhole from the center ring and spaced radially about the center ring so as to define at least two pairs of slots, wherein each pair of slots has a first slot extending longitudinally uphole from the center ring and a second slot extending longitudinally downhole from the center ring; and
at least two slip banks, wherein each slip bank has a first gripping bank, a second gripping bank and a groove between the first gripping bank and second gripping bank, wherein the first gripping bank and second gripping bank each have an outer surface configured to grip the casing, and wherein each pair of slots is associated with one of the slip banks so that the first gripping bank is slideably received in the first slot and the second gripping bank is slideably received in the second slot such that the slip bank has a set position in which the groove receives a portion of the center ring and the first gripping bank and second gripping bank extend radially outward from the slip frame so as to be able to engage the casing, and the slip bank has an unset position in which the slip bank is positioned radially inward from the set position;

a mandrel, wherein the bi-directional slip is disposed about the mandrel;
a first wedge disposed about the mandrel and associated with the first gripping bank; and
a second wedge disposed about the mandrel and associated with the second gripping bank, the first and second wedges being engageable with the bi-directional slip to urge each slip bank radially outward in response to a first load applied thereto so that the slip bank moves to its set position; and
an unidirectional slip disposed about the mandrel having an expanded position in which it can engage and grip the casing and an unexpanded position in which it does not engage and grip the casing, wherein in the expanded position the unidirectional slip provides sufficient anchor for the first load to move the bi-directional slip to the set position.

2. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the bi-directional slip further comprising a spring associated with each slip bank, wherein the spring is positioned between the center ring and the associated slip bank such that the spring biases the associated slip bank to the unset position.

3. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of each gripping bank comprises gripping elements each having a gripping edge wherein the gripping edge is aligned with the radial axis of the slip.

4. The downhole tool of claim 3 , wherein the gripping elements are a series of wickers with each wicker aligned with the radial axis of the slip.

5. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the slip banks are comprised of a carburized grade of steel.

6. The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein each slat has an uphole end and a downhole end and is connected to the center ring at a position between the uphole end and the downhole end, and the slip frame further comprises:
an uphole ring connected to the uphole ends of the slats; and
a downhole ring connected to the downhole ends of the slats.

7. The downhole tool of claim 1 , further comprising a pre-set mechanism having a detent ring located between the second wedge and the mandrel and positioned at least partially in a groove in the mandrel, wherein the detent ring prevents movement of the second wedge relative to the mandrel in at least one longitudinal direction until a predetermined force is exceeded by a load on the mandrel.

8. The downhole tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drag block assembly disposed about the mandrel and engaging the casing such that a second load applied to the mandrel moves the unidirectional slip to the expanded position, wherein the first load is greater than the second load.

9. The downhole tool of claim 8 , wherein the bi-directional slip further comprising a spring associated with each slip bank, wherein the spring is positioned between the center ring and the associated slip bank such that the spring biases the associated slip bank to the unset position.

10. The downhole tool of claim 9 , further comprising:
a third wedge associated with the unidirectional slip for urging the unidirectional slip outwardly to engage the casing.

11. The downhole tool of claim 10 , further comprising a pre-set mechanism having a detent ring located between the third wedge and the unidirectional slip and positioned at least partially in a groove in the third wedge, wherein the detent ring prevents movement of the unidirectional slip relative to the third wedge in at least one longitudinal direction until a predetermined force is exceeded by a load on the mandrel.

12. The downhole tool of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first pre-set mechanism having a first detent ring located between the second wedge and the mandrel and positioned at least partially in a first groove in the mandrel, wherein the first detent ring prevents movement of the second wedge relative to the mandrel in at least one longitudinal direction until a first predetermined force is exceeded by a load on the mandrel; and
a second pre-set mechanism having a second detent ring located between the third wedge and the unidirectional slip and positioned at least partially in a second groove in the third wedge, wherein the second detent ring prevents movement of the unidirectional slip relative to the third wedge in at least one longitudinal direction until a second predetermined force is exceeded by the load on the mandrel.

13. The downhole tool of claim 10 , wherein the outer gripping surface comprises gripping elements having gripping edges wherein the gripping edges are aligned with the radial axis of the slip.

14. The downhole tool of claim 13 , wherein the gripping elements are a series of wickers with each wicker aligned with the radial axis of the slip.

15. The downhole tool of claim 14 , wherein each slat has an uphole end and a downhole end and is connected to the center ring at a position between the uphole end and the downhole end, and the slip frame further comprises:
an uphole ring connected to the uphole ends of the slats; and
a downhole ring connected to the downhole ends of the slats.

16. The downhole tool of claim 15 , further comprising a first pre-set mechanism having a first detent ring located between the second wedge and the mandrel and positioned at least partially in a first groove in the mandrel, wherein the first detent ring prevents movement of the second wedge relative to the mandrel in at least one longitudinal direction until a first predetermined force is exceeded by a load on the mandrel.

17. The downhole tool of claim 16 , further comprising a second pre-set mechanism having a second detent ring located between the third wedge and the unidirectional slip and positioned at least partially in a second groove in the third wedge, wherein the second detent ring prevents movement of the unidirectional slip relative to the third wedge in at least one longitudinal direction until a second predetermined force is exceeded by the load on the mandrel.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Dockweiler David Allen

Classifications

• E21B33/1292

  with means for anchoring against downward and upward movement · CPC title

• E21B33/128 Primary

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

• E21B33/1293 Primary

  with means for anchoring against downward and upward movement (E21B33/1291, E21B33/1295 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B23/01 Primary

  for anchoring the tools or the like (E21B23/02 - E21B23/06 take precedence; anchoring of drives in the borehole E21B4/18) · CPC title

• E21B33/12

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