Systems and methods for sealing a wellbore

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024035353-A1
Application number	US-202318377083-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 5, 2023
Priority date	Oct 6, 2017
Publication date	Feb 1, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A plug for sealing a wellbore includes a mandrel extending between an uphole end defining an uphole end of the plug, and a downhole end opposite the uphole end of the mandrel, a slip assembly extending around the mandrel and including a plurality of arcuate slip segments, a nose coupled to the downhole end of the mandrel and defining a downhole end of the plug, wherein the nose includes an uphole end coupled to the downhole end of the mandrel and a downhole end opposite the uphole end of the nose and defining a downhole end of the plug, and a packer extending around the mandrel and including a first configuration configured to permit fluid flow across the plug when the plug is received in the wellbore, and a second configuration configured to seal the wellbore when the plug is positioned in the wellbore.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A plug for sealing a wellbore, comprising:
a mandrel extending between an uphole end defining an uphole end of the plug, and a downhole end opposite the uphole end of the mandrel; a slip assembly extending around the mandrel and comprising a plurality of arcuate slip segments; a nose coupled to the downhole end of the mandrel and defining a downhole end of the plug, wherein the nose comprises an uphole end coupled to the downhole end of the mandrel and a downhole end opposite the uphole end of the nose and defining a downhole end of the plug; and a packer extending around the mandrel and comprising a first configuration configured to permit fluid flow across the plug when the plug is received in the wellbore, and a second configuration configured to seal the wellbore when the plug is positioned in the wellbore; wherein one of the downhole end of the nose and the uphole end of the mandrel comprises a plurality of axially extending protrusions circumferentially spaced about a central axis of the plug; wherein the other of the downhole end of the nose and the uphole end of the mandrel comprises which does not comprise the plurality of protrusions comprises a plurality of axially extending recesses circumferentially spaced about the central axis of the plug.

2 . The plug of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are each arcuate in shape, and wherein the plurality of recesses are each arcuate in shape.

3 . The plug of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of recesses are positioned along a common diameter extending around the central axis of the plug.

4 . The plug of claim 1 , wherein one of the uphole end of the nose and a downhole end of the slip assembly comprises a plurality of notches circumferentially spaced about the central axis of the plug while the other of the uphole end of the nose and the downhole end of the slip assembly comprises a plurality of pockets circumferentially spaced about the central axis of the plug and configured to interlockingly receive the plurality of notches to restrict relative rotation between the nose and the slip assembly.

5 . The plug of claim 1 , wherein relative rotation about the central axis of the plug is restricted between the nose and the packer.

6 . A system for completing a wellbore, comprising:
a first plug, comprising:
a first mandrel extending between an uphole end defining an uphole end of the first plug, and a downhole end opposite the uphole end of the first mandrel;
a first slip assembly extending around the first mandrel and comprising a plurality of arcuate first slip segments;
a first nose coupled to the downhole end of the first mandrel and defining a downhole end of the first plug, wherein the first nose comprises an uphole end coupled to the downhole end of the first mandrel and a downhole end opposite the uphole end of the first nose and defining a downhole end of the first plug; and
a first packer extending around the first mandrel and comprising a first configuration configured to permit fluid flow across the first plug when the first plug is received in the wellbore, and a second configuration configured to seal the wellbore when the first plug is positioned in the wellbore;
a second plug, comprising:
a second mandrel extending between an uphole end defining an uphole end of the second plug, and a downhole end opposite the uphole end of the second mandrel;
a second slip assembly extending around the second mandrel and comprising a plurality of arcuate second slip segments;
a second nose coupled to the downhole end of the second mandrel and defining a downhole end of the second plug, wherein the second nose comprises an uphole end coupled to the downhole end of the second mandrel and a downhole end opposite the uphole end of the second nose and defining a downhole end of the second plug; and
a second packer extending around the second mandrel and comprising a first configuration configured to permit fluid flow across the second plug when the second plug is received in the wellbore, and a second configuration configured to seal the wellbore when the second plug is positioned in the wellbore;
wherein one of the downhole end of the second nose and the uphole end of the first mandrel comprises a plurality of axially extending notches circumferentially spaced about a central axis of the plug; and wherein the other of the downhole end of the second nose and the uphole end of the first mandrel comprises which does not comprise the plurality of notches comprises a plurality of axially extending recesses circumferentially spaced about the central axis of the plug configured to interlockingly receive the plurality of notches to restrict relative rotation between the second nose and the first mandrel.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of notches are each arcuate in shape, and wherein the plurality of recesses are each arcuate in shape.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of notches and the plurality of recesses are positioned along a common diameter extending around the central axis of the plug.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein one of the uphole end of the first nose and a downhole end of the first slip assembly comprises a plurality of notches circumferentially spaced about the central axis of the first plug while the other of the uphole end of the first nose and the downhole end of the first slip assembly comprises a plurality of pockets circumferentially spaced about the central axis of the first plug and configured to interlockingly receive the plurality of notches to restrict relative rotation between the first nose and the first slip assembly.

10 . The system of claim 6 , wherein relative rotation about the central axis of the first plug is restricted between the first nose and the first packer.

11 . A method for completing a wellbore, comprising:
(a) positioning a first plug at a first location within the wellbore; (b) setting the first plug to lock the first plug at the first location to a casing string extending through wellbore and to seal the wellbore at the first location; (c) positioning a second plug at a second location within the wellbore that is uphole from the first location; (d) setting the second plug to lock the second plug at the second location to the casing string and to seal the wellbore at the second location; (e) releasing a nose of the second plug from the casing string permitting the nose of the second plug to travel through the wellbore, wherein a downhole end of the nose defines a downhole end of the second plug; and (f) interlocking the downhole end of nose of the second plug with an uphole end of a mandrel of the first plug to restrict relative rotation between the nose of the second plug and the mandrel of the first plug.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein (e) comprises drilling into an uphole end of the second plug with a drill positioned in the wellbore to release the nose of the second plug from a slip assembly of the second plug.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein (f) comprises interlockingly receiving a plurality of circumferentially spaced protrusions of one of the nose of the second plug and the mandrel of the first plug in a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses of the other of the nose of the second plug and the mandrel of the first plug.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are each arcuate in shape, and wherein the plurality of recesses are each arcuate in shape.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of protrusions and the plur

Assignees

• G&H Diversified Mfg Lp

Inventors

• Lee Timmothy Alain
• Magill Joshua

Classifications

• E21B33/1293 Primary

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

• E21B23/06

  for setting packers · CPC title

• E21B33/128

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

• E21B43/26

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title