Non-metallic slips having inserts oriented normal to cone face

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9725981-B2
Application number	US-201314039032-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2013
Priority date	Oct 1, 2012
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A slip assembly for a downhole tool, such as a composite plug, has a slip body and at least one insert. The slip body has an incline at one end that interfaces with an inclined surface of a cone. As this occurs, the slip body is pushed away from the tool's mandrel against a surrounding casing wall. The insert is disposed in the slip body with the axis of the insert angled away from the cone. In particular, the insert's axis is preferably angled normal to the slip body's incline and the inclined surface of the cone.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A downhole apparatus, comprising:
a first slip body having inner and outer surfaces, first and second ends, and a body axis from the first end to the second end, the first end tapered with a first incline on the inner surface, the first incline defining a first angle relative to the body axis, the first slip body disposed with the inner surface adjacent the downhole apparatus and movable away from the downhole apparatus through interaction of the first incline with a portion of the downhole apparatus; and
at least one first insert having a first axis of orientation and being exposed in the outer surface of the first slip body, the first axis of orientation being oriented at a first obtuse angle relative to the body axis from the first end of the first slip body,
wherein the at least one first insert has a top end exposed in the outer surface, the top end defining a lead face toward the first end of the first slip body, the lead face defining a second angle relative to the first axis of orientation, the second angle being acute relative to the first axis of orientation and being selected based on the first angle of the first incline such that the lead face defines a second obtuse angle relative to the body axis from the first end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first slip body comprises one of a plurality of segments of a slip assembly, one of a plurality of independent segments of a slip assembly, one of a plurality of integrated segments of a slip assembly, or at least a portion of a cylindrical slip assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first insert comprises a cylindrical shape disposed endwise in the first slip body, a cylindrical shape disposed lengthwise in the first slip body, a rectilinear shape disposed endwise in the first slip body, or a strip shape disposed laterally across the outer surface of the first slip body.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first slip body further comprises a second insert exposed in the outer surface of the first slip body and disposed with a second axis of orientation being at an acute angle relative to body axis from the first end.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the first slip body defines a curvature laterally across the first slip body, and wherein the first axis of orientation of the at least one first insert is substantially perpendicular to the curvature.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first slip body is composed of a first material; and wherein the at least one first insert is composed of a second material.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first material comprises a cast iron, a metallic material, a non-metallic material, a composite, a millable material, a molded phenolic, a laminated non-metallic composite, an epoxy resin polymer with a glass fiber reinforcement, thermoplastic material, injection-molded plastic material, or a combination thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second material comprises a metallic material, a non-metallic material, a composite, a millable material, a carbide, a metallic-ceramic composite material, a cast iron, a ceramic, a cermet, a composite composed of ceramic and metallic materials, a powdered metal, or a combination thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top end comprises a tail face toward the second end of the first slip body, the tail face defining a third angle relative to the first axis of orientation.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the third angle is equal to or greater than orthogonal to the first axis of orientation.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the lead face encompasses more of the top end than the tail face.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second obtuse angle is approximately a sum of 90-degrees plus the first angle of the first incline plus the second angle of the lead face.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first slip body comprises a plurality of the at least one first insert exposed in the outer surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein at least two of the first inserts are disposed along the body axis of the first slip body and have different axial lengths.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first insert comprises a bottom end embedded in the first slip body or adhered in a hole in the first slip body.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first axis is substantially normal to the first incline.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first insert has a bottom end disposed in the first slip body, the bottom end being substantially parallel to the first incline.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a cone disposed on the apparatus as the portion of the downhole apparatus, the cone having a first surface adapted to interface with the first incline of the first slip body.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises:
a mandrel adjacent which the inner surface of the first slip body is disposed;
a packing element disposed on the mandrel; and
a cone disposed on the mandrel, the cone being the portion of the downhole tool interacting with the first incline of the first slip body.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the apparatus comprises a composite plug, a bridge plug, a fracture plug, a packer, a liner hanger, or an anchoring device.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first slip body comprises a plurality of first slip segments of a slip assembly; and wherein one or more of the first slip segments comprises one or more of the at least one first insert.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first slip body comprises a plurality of first slip segments of a slip assembly having at least proximal ends connected to one another.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second slip body having inner and outer surfaces and having third and fourth ends, the third end tapered with a second incline on the inner surface, the second slip body disposed with the inner surface adjacent the downhole apparatus and movable away from the downhole apparatus through interaction of the second incline with another portion of the downhole tool.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the first and second slip bodies are arranged opposite one another on the downhole apparatus.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 , further comprising at least one second insert exposed in the outer surface of the second slip body.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the at least one second insert is disposed with a second axis of orientation being substantially normal to the second incline.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the first and second slip bodies are different with respect to an arrangement of the first and second inserts.

28. A downhole apparatus, comprising:
a first slip body having inner and outer surfaces, first and second ends, and a body axis from the first end to the second end, the first end tapered with a first incline on the inner surface, the first incline defining a first angle relative to the body axis, the first slip body disposed with the inner surface adjacent the downhole apparatus and movable away from the downhole apparatus through interaction of the first incline with a portion of the downhole apparatus; and
at least one first insert having a first axis of orientation and being exp

Assignees

• Weatherford Lamb Inc
• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Young Jonathan
• Wiese Stephen
• Rochen James Alan

Classifications

• E21B33/129 Primary

  with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 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

• E21B33/1291

  anchor set by wedge or cam in combination with frictional effect, using so-called drag-blocks (E21B33/1295 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B23/0411

  specially adapted for anchoring tools or the like to the borehole wall or to well tube · CPC title