Controlled bypass plug and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10871048-B2
Application number	US-201816133856-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2018
Priority date	Nov 8, 2017
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

A composite plug for sealing a well includes a mandrel having an internal bore, the mandrel having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first end, and the bore extending from the first end to the second end; plural elements distributed along the mandrel in a given order and configured to seal the well; and a bypass mechanism, different from the bore, built into the composite plug and configured to allow a controlled leak of a fluid from the well, past the composite plug.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A composite plug for sealing a well, the composite plug comprising:
a mandrel having an internal bore, the mandrel having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first end, and the bore extending from the first end to the second end;
plural elements distributed along the mandrel in a given order and configured to seal the well; and
a bypass mechanism, different from the bore, built into the composite plug and configured to allow a controlled leak of a fluid from the well, past the composite plug,
wherein the first end of the mandrel has (i) a first seating, having a first radius R 1 , and (ii) a second seating, having a second radius R 2 , different from radius R 1 ,
wherein the bypass mechanism includes at least one conduit formed in the second seating, and
wherein the first seating is configured to receive a first ball to achieve a full seal, and the second seating is configured to receive a second ball, smaller than the first ball, to achieve the controlled leak through the bypass mechanism.

2. The composite plug of claim 1 , further comprising:
an adapter that connects to the bypass mechanism and adjusts a flow of the fluid through the bypass mechanism.

3. The composite plug of claim 1 , wherein the plural elements comprises:
a push ring located on the mandrel, adjacent to the first end,
a slip ring located on the mandrel, adjacent to the push ring;
a wedge located on the mandrel, adjacent to the slip ring; and
a sealing element located on the mandrel, adjacent to the wedge.

4. The composite plug of claim 1 , further comprising:
the second ball.

5. The composite plug of claim 4 , wherein the second ball has plural planar faces to allow the fluid in the well to leak into the bore of the mandrel.

6. The composite plug of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conduit is configured to allow a fluid in the well to move between the first end of the mandrel to an inside of the bore of the mandrel.

7. The composite plug of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the first seat is continuous with a surface of the second seat.

8. The composite plug of claim 1 , wherein there is an inflection point between surfaces of the first and second seats.

9. The composite plug of claim 1 , further comprising:
the first ball; and
the second ball,
wherein the first seating mates with the first ball but not with the second ball.

10. The composite plug of claim 1 , wherein the plural elements comprise:
a push ring located on the mandrel, adjacent to the first end;
an upper slip ring located on the mandrel, adjacent to the push ring;
an upper wedge located on the mandrel, adjacent to the upper slip ring, and configured to push the upper slip ring and break the upper slip ring into parts;
a sealing element located on the mandrel, adjacent to the upper wedge, and configured to seal the well;
a lower wedge located on the mandrel, adjacent to the sealing element;
a lower slip ring located on the mandrel, adjacent to the lower wedge, and configured to be pushed by the lower wedge and break into parts; and
a mule shoe located on the mandrel, adjacent to the lower slip ring.

11. A composite plug for sealing a well, the composite plug comprising:
a mandrel having an internal bore, the mandrel having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first end, and the bore extending from the first end to the second end;
a sealing element located on the mandrel and configured to seal a space between an exterior of the plug and the well; and
a bypass mechanism, different from the bore, built into the composite plug and configured to allow a controlled leak of a fluid from the well, past the sealing element,
wherein the first end of the mandrel has (i) a first seating, having a first radius R 1 , and (ii) a second seating, having a second radius R 2 , different from radius R 1 ,
wherein the bypass mechanism includes at least one conduit formed in the second seating, and
wherein the first seating is configured to receive a first ball to achieve a full seal, and the second seating is configured to receive a second ball, smaller than the first ball, to achieve the controlled leak through the bypass mechanism.

12. A method of manufacturing a composite plug with controlled bypass flow, the method comprising:
providing a mandrel having an internal bore, the mandrel having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first end, and the bore extending from the first end to the second end;
adding a push ring to the mandrel, adjacent to the first end;
adding a slip ring to the mandrel, adjacent to the push ring;
adding an upper wedge to the mandrel, adjacent to the slip ring;
adding a sealing element to the mandrel, adjacent to the upper wedge;
adding a lower wedge to the mandrel, adjacent to the sealing element;
adding a lower slip ring to the mandrel, adjacent to the lower wedge;
adding a mule shoe on the mandrel, adjacent to the lower slip ring; and
making a bypass mechanism, different from the bore, into the composite plug, that allows a controlled leak of a fluid from thea well, past the composite plug,
wherein the first end of the mandrel has (i) a first seating, having a first radius R 1 , and (ii) a second seating, having a second radius R 2 , different from radius R 1 ,
wherein the bypass mechanism includes at least one conduit formed in the second seating, and
wherein the first seating is configured to receive a first ball to achieve a full seal, and the second seating is configured to receive a second ball, smaller than the first ball, to achieve the controlled leak through the bypass mechanism.

Assignees

• Geodynamics Inc

Inventors

• Hardesty John T
• Snider Philip M
• Wesson David S

Classifications

• E21B33/1293 Primary

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

• E21B33/12 Primary

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

• E21B33/128

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

• E21B34/14

  operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools {(E21B34/066 takes precedence)} · CPC title