Flapper on frac plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11486226-B2
Application number	US-202016800342-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2020
Priority date	Aug 23, 2019
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

Zonal isolation devices, systems, and methods for use are provided. In some embodiments, the zonal isolation device comprises a tubular body having a fluid communication pathway formed along a longitudinal axis comprising: a sealing element comprising a deformable material and an inner bore forming at least a portion of the fluid communication pathway; a support ring disposed within the bore of the sealing element; a rotatable sealing component coupled to the support ring; a wedge engaged with a downhole end of the sealing element; and an anchoring assembly engaged with the wedge. In certain embodiments, the tubular body further comprises an end element adjacent the anchoring assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A zonal isolation device having a central axis and comprising:
a sealing element comprising a deformable material, an inner bore, and a downhole end surface configured to expand radially outwards with respect to the central axis and into sealing engagement with an inner surface of a wellbore;
a wedge comprising an uphole end surface and a downhole outer surface comprising a frustoconical surface or a plurality of planar tapered outer surfaces;
an anchoring assembly with an uphole inner surface configured to slidably engage with the downhole outer surface of the wedge;
a support ring comprising an outer tapered surface and movably disposed within the inner bore of the sealing element;
wherein the outer tapered surface of the support ring is configured to engage with the inner bore of the sealing element;
wherein the downhole end surface of the sealing element directly contacts the uphole end surface of the wedge;
wherein the wedge is between the sealing element and the anchoring assembly with the sealing element uphole of the anchoring assembly; and
a rotatable sealing component coupled to the support ring and configured to engage a sealing surface of the support ring, wherein the rotatable sealing component blocks fluid flow through the zonal isolation device in a closed position and allows fluid flow through the zonal isolation device in an open position, wherein the rotatable sealing component is releasably held in the open position while the zonal isolation device is inserted into the wellbore.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable sealing component is selected from a group consisting of a flapper valve, a ball valve, an iris valve, and a pinch valve.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the rotatable sealing component remains at an axially fixed distance from the support ring as a result of coupling of the rotatable sealing component to the support ring such that the support ring and rotatable sealing component move together in an axial direction during setting of the zonal isolation device.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable sealing component rotates around a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the central axis and is tangential to an outer radius of the support ring, the outer radius of the support ring extending from the central axis to an outer edge of the support ring and wherein upon rotation a contact surface of the rotatable sealing component contacts a sealing surface of the support ring.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the rotatable sealing component comprises a flapper.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the flapper is rotatably connected to the uphole end of support ring via a hinge, wherein the hinge comprises the pivot axis, and upon rotation of the flapper via the hinge the flapper contacts the sealing surface of the support ring, thereby forming a seal that provides the closed position.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the flapper is biased in at least a partially closed position by contact an end of the flapper opposite the hinged end with the sealing element during and/or after actuation of the zonal isolation device.

8. The device of claim 5 , wherein downhole fluid flow through the inner bore provides a further closing force on the flapper such that the flapper transitions to or remains in a fully closed position and blocks further fluid flow through the zonal isolation device.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable sealing component rotates around a pivot axis that is about perpendicular with and about intersects the central axis and wherein a contact surface of the rotatable sealing component contacts a sealing surface of the support ring.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the rotatable sealing component comprises a ball having a bore passing through the ball, and wherein a central axis of the bore is about coaxial with the central axis when the zonal isolation device in an open position and wherein the central axis of the bore is about perpendicular with and about intersects the central axis when the zonal isolation device is in the closed position.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable sealing component rotates around a pivot axis that is parallel to and about coaxial with the central axis.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the rotatable sealing component comprises an iris diaphragm, wherein the iris diaphragm rotates clock-wise or counter-clockwise about the pivot axis to transition between the open and closed positions.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the iris diaphragm further comprises a plurality of blades connected to a base plate by a corresponding plurality of actuating arms.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable sealing component is biased to the closed position by application of a closing force by a biasing mechanism.

15. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
the wedge engaged with the downhole end surface of the sealing element;
the anchoring assembly engaged with the wedge;
an end element adjacent the anchoring assembly; and
wherein the anchoring assembly is located between the wedge and the end element.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sealing element, the wedge, the support ring, or the rotatable sealing component is made of dissolvable material.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable sealing component is axially translated during actuation of the zonal isolation tool by a setting tool adapter kit.

18. A method comprising:
inserting into a wellbore a zonal isolation device having a central axis and disposed on a setting tool adapter kit comprising a mandrel, wherein the zonal isolation device comprises:
a sealing element comprising a deformable material and an inner bore and configured to radially expand outwards with respect to the central axis and into sealing engagement with an inner surface of the wellbore, wherein a portion of the inner bore directly contacts the mandrel of the setting tool adapter kit;
a support ring movably disposed within the inner bore of the sealing element configured to radially expand the sealing element, wherein an inner surface of the support ring directly contacts the mandrel of the setting tool adapter kit;
a rotatable sealing component coupled to an uphole end of the support ring, wherein the rotatable sealing component blocks fluid flow through the zonal isolation device in a closed position and allows fluid flow through the zonal isolation device in an open position and wherein the rotatable sealing component is releasably held in the open position while the zonal isolation device is inserted into the wellbore;
a wedge with an uphole end surface in direct contact with a downhole end surface of the sealing element and a downhole outer surface comprising a frustoconical surface or a plurality of planar tapered outer surfaces, wherein an inner surface of the wedge directly contacts the mandrel of the setting tool adapter kit;
an anchoring assembly with an uphole inner surface configured to slidably engage with the downhole outer surface of the wedge, wherein the wedge is between the sealing element and the anchoring assembly, and wherein the support ring disposed within the inner bore of the sealing element is uphole of the wedge; and
an end element adjacent the anchoring assembly, and wherein the anchoring assembly is between the wedge and the end element.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
pulling upwardly on the mandrel to actuate the zonal isolation device, wherein the upward movement of the mandrel

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Nichols Matthew Taylor
• Nguyen Nin M
• Walton Zachary William
• Fripp Michael Linley

Classifications

• E21B2200/05

  Flapper valves · CPC title

• E21B33/128

  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

• E21B34/12 Primary

  operated by movement of casings or tubings · CPC title

• E21B2200/04

  Ball valves · CPC title