Frac diverter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11248436-B2
Application number	US-201816634201-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2018
Priority date	Jul 26, 2017
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A technique facilitates use of a frac diverter instead of a frac plug in a variety of fracturing operations. The frac diverter has a simpler and less expensive construction. Although the frac diverter may not form a seal with the surrounding casing in some applications, the frac diverter is able to sufficiently restrict flow of fracturing fluid to enable a successful fracturing operation. The frac diverter may comprise arrangements of at least one cone, at least one slip ring, and at least one corresponding sub which work in cooperation with a flow restricting element. The flow restricting element may comprise various types of rings, e.g. sealing element rings, able to sufficiently restrict flow of fracturing fluid past the frac diverter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for use in a well, comprising:
a frac diverter to enable a fracturing operation following expansion of the frac diverter against a surrounding wellbore wall, the frac diverter comprising:
a cone;
a slip ring mounted on the cone;
a bottom sub engaging the slip ring; a sealing element mounted about the cone;
a backup ring between the sealing element and the slip ring, the slip ring being forced from a radially contracted position to a radially expanded position as the cone is moved toward the bottom sub, the sealing element being simultaneously engaged by the backup ring and expanded radially outwardly to substantially restrict flow along the surrounding wellbore wall; and
a lock ring mechanism which locks the slip ring in the radially expanded position.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sealing element comprises a flapper or cup style seal having a lip expandable against the surrounding wellbore wall.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sealing element comprises an expandable elastomeric ring adjacent an anti-extrusion ring.

4. The system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the anti-extrusion ring is located between the expandable elastomeric ring and the backup ring.

5. The system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the anti-extrusion ring is formed of PEEK.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sealing element comprises an expandable elastomeric ring squeezed between the backup ring and a second backup ring.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bottom sub comprises a castellation ring oriented to engage the slip ring.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the slip ring comprises a plurality of gripping members.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the plurality of gripping members comprises steel buttons.

10. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the plurality of gripping members comprises ceramic buttons.

11. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the cone comprises radially oriented slots to facilitate millout.

12. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lock ring mechanism comprises a first ring coupled to the cone and a second ring coupled to the bottom sub, the first ring and the second ring having ratchet grooves which progressively interlock as the second ring moves farther into engagement with the first ring.

13. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the lock ring mechanism further comprises an energizer ring positioned to energize a stable lock between the first ring and the second ring.

14. A system, comprising: a frac diverter having:
a cone;
a plurality of slips mounted about the cone, the plurality of slips including gripping elements;
a bottom sub engaging the a plurality of slips;
a flow restrictor element mounted about the cone, the flow restrictor being expandable radially outwardly to substantially restrict flow along the surrounding wellbore wall, the flow restrictor being expandable via movement of the cone and the bottom sub toward each other, the cone having a conical surface oriented to force the plurality of slips in a radially outward direction until the gripping elements engage a surrounding wall surface;
a locking mechanism which locks the plurality of slips in a radially expanded position to maintain the gripping elements into engagement with the surrounding wall surface; and
castellations positioned to maintain separation between slips of the plurality of slips.

15. The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the flow restrictor element comprises a flapper style seal with a lip expandable against the surrounding wall surface.

16. The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the flow restrictor element comprises an expandable elastomeric ring adjacent an anti-extrusion ring.

17. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the anti-extrusion ring is located between the expandable elastomeric ring and the plurality of slips.

18. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the anti-extrusion ring is formed of PEEK.

19. The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the flow restrictor element comprises an expandable elastomeric ring squeezed between a pair of backup rings.

20. The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the cone comprises radially oriented slots to facilitate millout.

21. A method, comprising:
positioning a cone in slidable engagement with a bottom sub;
mounting a slip ring between the cone and the bottom sub such that an internal conical surface of the slip ring engages an external conical surface of the cone;
locating an elastomeric sealing element between a portion of the cone and the slip ring such that movement of the cone and the bottom sub toward each other causes radial expansion of the slip ring and expansion of the elastomeric sealing element as the elastomeric sealing element is squeezed between a portion of the cone and the slip ring; and
locking the cone and the bottom sub together in a position maintaining the slip ring and the elastomeric sealing element in a radially expanded position.

22. The method as recited in claim 21 , wherein locating an elastomeric sealing element comprises locating a flapper style sealing element with a lip oriented toward a backup ring, the backup ring forcing the lip in a radially outward direction when the backup ring is moved against the lip by the slip ring.

23. The method as recited in claim 21 , wherein locating an elastomeric sealing element further comprises using at least one anti-extrusion ring in combination with the elastomeric sealing element.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Graham Robert Matthew
• Bilynsky Michael
• Jaime Roberto
• Cromer Christopher
• Jasek Sidney J
• Norrid William
• Pendse Bhushan

Classifications

• E21B43/26

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title

• E21B33/134

  Bridging plugs · CPC title

• E21B33/128 Primary

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