US20090321067A1 - Releasing slips for oil well tool - Google Patents
Releasing slips for oil well tool Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090321067A1 US20090321067A1 US12/163,591 US16359108A US2009321067A1 US 20090321067 A1 US20090321067 A1 US 20090321067A1 US 16359108 A US16359108 A US 16359108A US 2009321067 A1 US2009321067 A1 US 2009321067A1
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- Prior art keywords
- slips
- tool
- releasing
- biting
- low friction
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- Abandoned
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- 239000003129 oil well Substances 0.000 title description 2
- 230000000669 biting effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 description 10
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 210000003739 neck Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000003319 supportive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
- E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
- E21B33/129—Packers; Plugs with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
- E21B33/13—Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
- E21B33/134—Bridging plugs
Definitions
- the invention relates to an improved releasing slip for use with a hold down tool/bridge plug/packer for lowering into a wellbore.
- the releasing slip of the invention has a low friction face to facilitate ease of release.
- a production packer is a standard component of completion hardware in oil and gas wells. Production packers are used to provide a seal between the outside of production tubing and the inside of a casing, liner, or wellbore wall. When recovering oil and gas from a well, in many geological formations it is necessary to isolate the zone containing the oil and gas producing formation from the remainder of the underground structure so as to prevent contamination of the oil and gas producing zone from salt water or other undesirable contaminants.
- Packers may be lowered into the well and expanded to isolate the oil and gas producing zone.
- Packers may be placed above and below the producing zone, or, if the producing zone is near the bottom of the well, a single packer may be placed above the producing zone.
- Packers are typically provided with slips for providing gripping engagement with the wall of a wellbore. Once a packer is set, the packer may experience forces that could displace the packer in the casing. One example of such a force is pressure from the formation.
- a hold down tool or bridge plug typically includes a plurality of slips that may be selectively forced into tight engagement with a wall of the well bore.
- slips or gripping members One difficulty associated with the use of conventional slips or gripping members is that the slips that are engaged with the wellbore can be extremely difficult to release when it is desired to release the tool.
- This present invention replaces the releasing slips with a part or parts that have no biting effect on the casing.
- the surface of the releasing slip of the present invention is entirely smooth.
- the releasing slips of the present invention move up much more easily, allowing the tool to move laterally, thereby partially unloading the remaining slips, and thus allowing the remaining slips to more easily release.
- the releasing slips in this case are, in practice, used as a wedge, which allow the remaining slips to function normally.
- the releasing slips of the invention are not required to provide biting capability for the hold down tool to perform its function.
- the releasing slips of the invention allow the tool to release much more easily, especially in severe applications.
- a second embodiment of the present invention utilizes one or more hardened carbide pieces or other suitable material on the contacting face of the releasing slip of the invention.
- the smooth surface of the hardened piece or pieces are preferably configured such that the piece or pieces lay flat against a wall, thereby providing greatly reduced resistance to release.
- the carbide pieces are harder than any standard grade of casing, which greatly reduces wear on the part.
- more than one releasing slip may be used in the circumferential arrangement of the upper slips.
- the releasing slips cover somewhat less than half the circumference of the tool so that the tool can move laterally in the wellbore when the releasing slips are released or disengaged from the wellbore wall.
- the biting slips preferably also encompass less than half the circumference.
- a hold down tool of the present invention may use two releasing slips and four biting slips, although other numbers of slips and ratios of releasing slips to biting slips may be functional.
- the releasing slips are wider than the biting slips and the biting slips encompass less than 180 degrees of tool circumference.
- a tool utilizing the inventive slips significantly reduces the problems described above with respect to removal of the tool.
- the monetary benefit associated with the tool includes the relatively smaller benefits associated with improved service life of the releasing slips and also the substantially larger benefits associated with avoiding an inability to release the tool.
- FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned elevation view of a packer being placed in a hole, attached to a hold down tool, in which the invention is embodied.
- FIG. 2 is the structure of FIG. 1 attached at a desired position within a well bore.
- FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a slip housing base of the hold down tool of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the slip housing of FIG. 3 shown with slips installed therein.
- FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a biting slip for installation into the slip housing of FIG. 4 ,
- FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a releasing slip for installation into the slip housing of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a releasing slip of FIG. 4 with carbide pieces on a wall engaging face of the releasing slip.
- FIG. 8 is a partial cut-away view of a retrievable bridge plug in which the invention is embodied.
- FIG. 9 is a partial cut-away view of a packer in which the invention is embodied.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 shown is well bore 10 having a wall 12 .
- a packer 14 is shown lowered into well bore 10 .
- Packer 14 includes an expansible element such as packer slips 15 for selectively engaging wall 12 .
- a hold down tool 16 is connected to packer 14 .
- Hold down tool 16 includes a cone assembly 18 .
- Cone assembly 18 has an upwardly facing cone 20 and an outer casing 22 .
- Outer casing 22 defines a j-slot 24 having a long vertical section 26 and a short horizontal section 28 .
- Cone assembly 18 further defines an internal abutment 30 .
- a coupling member 32 is attached to an upper end of hold down tool 16 .
- a tubing string 34 is connected to coupling member 32 for supporting hold down tool 16 and packer 14 within well bore 10 .
- a spring 36 is located above hold down tool 16 .
- Spring 36 has an upper end in abutment with coupling member 32 .
- a cylindrical mandrel 38 extends downwardly inside cone assembly 18 .
- Mandrel 38 defines a protuberance 40 and has a lower end 42 .
- Mandrel 38 further has a pin 44 protruding from an outer surface. Pin 44 is provided for extending into j-slot 24 .
- Mandrel 38 and cone assembly 18 are releasably connected together via pin 44 and j-slot 24 .
- pin 44 When pin 44 is positioned in long vertical section 26 of j-slot 24 , mandrel 38 may be moved downwardly (as shown in FIG. 2 ) until lower end 42 of mandrel 38 seats on internal abutment 30 of cone assembly 18 .
- Slip housing 46 is located above cone assembly 18 .
- Slip housing 46 is made up of a slip housing cover 48 ( FIGS. 1 , 2 , 4 ) and a slip housing base 50 ( FIGS. 3 , 4 ).
- Slip housing base 50 is slidably mounted on mandrel 38 .
- Slip housing cover 48 and slip housing base 50 define an annular space therebetween.
- Slip housing base 50 has an upper end in engagement with a lower end of spring 36 .
- Spring 36 urges slip housing base 50 against protuberance 40 on mandrel 38 .
- Slip housing base 50 has a lower end defining a flange portion 52 .
- Flange portion 52 defines a plurality of downwardly facing openings 54 ( FIG. 3 ).
- a plurality of slips 56 are carried within slip housing 46 and are sized to be received within openings 54 of slip housing base 50 .
- Slips 56 each have an extension 58 ( FIGS. 4-7 ) on an upper end for locating in the annular space between the slip housing cover 48 and the slip housing base 50 .
- Slips also have a wall engaging face 60 ( FIGS. 4-7 ).
- Slips 56 further define a slip neck 61 ( FIGS. 5-7 ). Slips 56 are loosely received within openings 54 of slip housing base 50 wherein flange portions 52 of slip housing base 50 that are located between openings 54 provide supportive engagement with slip necks 61 .
- Slips 56 are comprised of biting slips 62 ( FIGS. 4 , 5 ) and releasing slips 66 ( FIGS. 4 , 6 , 7 ). Faces 60 of biting slips 62 have a plurality of wickers or teeth 64 to facilitate gripping engagement with wall 12 of bore 10 . Faces 60 of releasing slips 66 have smooth surface 68 to facilitate ease of release. In an alternative embodiment, smooth surface 68 of releasing slip 66 may be impregnated with one or more hardened carbide pieces 70 to reduce wear on face 60 of releasing slips 66 .
- Slip housing base 50 functions to selectively urge slips 56 downwardly when mandrel 38 is moved downwardly.
- Slips 56 are oriented vertically and are positioned circumferentially above upwardly facing cone 20 of hold down tool 16 . Therefore, when slips 56 are moved downwardly with mandrel 38 , slips 56 engage the upwardly facing cone 20 . Upwardly facing cone 20 then forces engagement faces 60 proximate the lower ends of slips 56 outwardly into engagement with wall 12 of well bore 10 .
- slip housing base 50 When it is desired to release the slips 56 , mandrel 38 is moved upwards. The force of the mandrel moving upward is first transmitted through slip housing base 50 . Flange portion 52 of slip housing base 50 lifts slips 56 upwards. Slip necks 61 may be of different lengths, so that flange portion 52 does not engage slips simultaneously.
- Bridge plug 100 includes a tubular housing 102 .
- Tubular housing 102 is made up of lower mandrel 104 , connecting rod 106 that is threadably received on an upper rod of lower mandrel 104 , and an upper mandrel 108 that is threadably received on an upper end of connecting rod 106 .
- a pulling head cap 110 is threadably received on an upper end of upper mandrel 108 .
- a control body 112 surrounds lower mandrel 104 .
- a plurality of drag blocks 114 are supported by control body 112 . Drag blocks 114 are biased outwardly by drag block springs 116 .
- a lower cone member 118 surrounds lower mandrel 104 .
- Lower cone member 118 has a cone section 120 and a lower cylindrical section 122 .
- a plurality of lower slips 124 surround lower cylindrical section 122 of lower cone member 118 .
- Plurality of lower slips 124 are located below cone section 120 of lower cone member 118 .
- An element retainer 126 is threadably received on an upper end of lower cone member 118 .
- Packing and seal sleeve 128 and attached packing element 130 are adjacent to connecting rod 106 in an abutment with element retainer 126 .
- An upper cone member 132 is threadably received on an upper end of packing and seal sleeve 128 .
- a slip sleeve 134 is provided above upper cone member 132 .
- a plurality of upper slips 136 surrounds slip sleeve 134 .
- Upper slips 136 are made up of releasing slips 138 and biting slips 140 .
- a thrust spring 142 is provided having a lower end in engagement with slip sleeve 134 .
- a spring ring 144 is affixed to upper mandrel 108 . Spring ring 144 is in engagement with an upper end of thrust spring 142 .
- packing element 130 engages a wall of a wellbore
- packing element 130 moves upwardly with regard to tubular housing 102 with attached upper cone member 132 .
- Upper cone member 132 contacts upper slips 136 and forces slips 136 into engagement with a wall of the wellbore.
- a lower slip sleeve 212 is threadably attached to an upper end of control body 206 .
- a lower cone member 214 surrounds lower slip sleeve 212 .
- a plurality of lower slips 216 surround lower slip sleeve 212 . The plurality of lower slips 216 are located below lower cone member 214 .
- An element retainer 218 is threadably received on an upper end of lower cone member 214 .
- a packing and seal sleeve 220 as well as a packing element 222 are in threaded communication with element retainer 218 .
- packing element 222 engages a wall of the wellbore
- packing element 222 moves upwardly with regard to mandrel 202 .
- Attached upper cone member 224 moves upwards as well.
- Upper cone member 224 contacts upper slips 228 and forces slips 228 into engagement with a wall of the wellbore.
- releasing slips 66 FIGS. 4 , 6 , 7 ), 138 ( FIG. 8 ), 230 ( FIG. 9 ) are easily lifted and disengaged from wall 12 since releasing slips 66 , 138 , 230 have a low friction wall engaging face, as can best be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 .
- tool 16 , 100 , 200 is able to move laterally, thereby partially unloading the remaining biting slips 62 ( FIGS. 4 , 5 ), 140 (FIG, 8 ), 232 ( FIG. 9 ), which allows biting slips 62 , 140 , 232 to more easily release.
- releasing slips 66 , 138 , 230 function as a wedge to force biting slips 62 , 140 , 232 to securely engage wall 12 .
- Releasing slips 66 , 138 , 230 are not required to provide biting capability for tool 16 , 100 , 200 to perform its function.
- Releasing slips 66 , 138 , 230 of the invention allow tool 16 ( FIGS. 1 , 2 ), 100 ( FIG. 8 ), 200 ( FIG. 9 ) to release much more easily, especially in severe applications.
- hardened pieces 70 such as hardened carbide disks or pieces of other suitable material protrude from contacting face 60 of releasing slip 66 , or from a contact face of releasing slips 138 , 230 .
- Smooth surface 68 of a hardened piece 70 or pieces 70 are preferably configured such that the piece or pieces 70 lay flat against wall 12 , thereby providing greatly reduced resistance to release.
- the carbide pieces 70 are harder than any standard grade of casing, which greatly reduces wear on releasing slip or slips 66 , 138 , 230 .
- more than one releasing slip 66 , 138 , 230 may be used in the circumferential arrangement of the slips 56 .
- releasing slips 66 , 138 , 230 cover somewhat less than half the circumference of tool 16 , 100 , 200 , so that tool 16 , 100 , 200 can move laterally in wellbore 10 when releasing slips 66 , 138 , 230 are released or disengaged from wall 12 . Consequently, biting slips 62 , 140 , 232 preferably encompass more than half the circumference of tool 16 , 100 , 200 .
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Abstract
Releasing slips for use with a downhole tool, a tool for deploying downhole in a well utilizing the releasing slips and a well in which a downhole tool is deployed utilizing the releasing slips of the invention is described herein. The tool has a plurality of slips for selective engagement with a wall of a wellbore. The slips include releasing slips and biting slips. The releasing slips have a low friction surface, e.g., a substantially smooth surface for engaging the wall of the wellbore. The smooth wall engaging face of the releasing slips facilitate easy release of the slips, thereby facilitating easy removal of the downhole tool. The slips may include a plurality of hardened members that protrude from the wall engaging face of the releasing slips to reduce wear on the face of the releasing slip.
Description
- The invention relates to an improved releasing slip for use with a hold down tool/bridge plug/packer for lowering into a wellbore. In particular, the releasing slip of the invention has a low friction face to facilitate ease of release.
- A production packer is a standard component of completion hardware in oil and gas wells. Production packers are used to provide a seal between the outside of production tubing and the inside of a casing, liner, or wellbore wall. When recovering oil and gas from a well, in many geological formations it is necessary to isolate the zone containing the oil and gas producing formation from the remainder of the underground structure so as to prevent contamination of the oil and gas producing zone from salt water or other undesirable contaminants.
- Packers may be lowered into the well and expanded to isolate the oil and gas producing zone. Packers may be placed above and below the producing zone, or, if the producing zone is near the bottom of the well, a single packer may be placed above the producing zone. Packers are typically provided with slips for providing gripping engagement with the wall of a wellbore. Once a packer is set, the packer may experience forces that could displace the packer in the casing. One example of such a force is pressure from the formation.
- In some circumstances, it may be desirable to utilize a hold down tool or bridge plug in the well to assist in keeping a packer in position. A hold down tool/bridge plug typically includes a plurality of slips that may be selectively forced into tight engagement with a wall of the well bore.
- One difficulty associated with the use of conventional slips or gripping members is that the slips that are engaged with the wellbore can be extremely difficult to release when it is desired to release the tool.
- An innovative oil well hold down tool is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,356,141 to Albert K. Kline (the '141 patent). The system taught in the '141 patent provided for one or more slips to be released prior to release of all the loaded slips, depending on the circumference of the tool used. The early releasing slips have become known as “releasing slips”. When the releasing slip or slips are released, normally by pulling up against them or their mounting device, the tool as a whole is then free to move laterally in the well slightly. The lateral movement of the tool is enough to lessen or remove entirely the bite of the remaining slips. The tool can then be moved up the well, or relatched and then moved further down the well and reset, or removed entirely.
- There are numerous uses of the releasing slip principle taught by the '141 patent. Applicant's company manufactures several tools utilizing the teachings of the '141 patent. For example, one tool addressed improvements to the invention of the '141 patent related to the releasing slips. The device was used to assist in the release of hold down tools that have mechanically, as opposed to hydraulically, loaded slips above the pack-off portion of the tool.
- One drawback of hold down tools utilizing prior art designs is that, when engaged, the slips bite into the casing wall while the hold down tool is performing its functions. Therefore, during release, even the releasing slips provide resistance, which causes problems including that the biting surfaces of the releasing slips become worn fairly quickly, requiring their replacement. An additional difficulty is that during higher pressure operations, the releasing slips can provide sufficient resistance that release becomes difficult and may also cause other problems. These problems may include overstressing the pulling unit topside, parting of the tubing that is used to transfer the tension from the pulling unit to the tool, rupture or permanent deformation of the mounting device for the slips, and ultimately, an inability to remove the tool at all.
- This present invention replaces the releasing slips with a part or parts that have no biting effect on the casing. In one embodiment, the surface of the releasing slip of the present invention is entirely smooth. When pulled upwards, the releasing slips of the present invention move up much more easily, allowing the tool to move laterally, thereby partially unloading the remaining slips, and thus allowing the remaining slips to more easily release. The releasing slips in this case are, in practice, used as a wedge, which allow the remaining slips to function normally. The releasing slips of the invention are not required to provide biting capability for the hold down tool to perform its function. The releasing slips of the invention allow the tool to release much more easily, especially in severe applications.
- A second embodiment of the present invention utilizes one or more hardened carbide pieces or other suitable material on the contacting face of the releasing slip of the invention. The smooth surface of the hardened piece or pieces are preferably configured such that the piece or pieces lay flat against a wall, thereby providing greatly reduced resistance to release. The carbide pieces are harder than any standard grade of casing, which greatly reduces wear on the part.
- In the case of larger diameter tools, more than one releasing slip may be used in the circumferential arrangement of the upper slips. Preferably, the releasing slips cover somewhat less than half the circumference of the tool so that the tool can move laterally in the wellbore when the releasing slips are released or disengaged from the wellbore wall. The biting slips preferably also encompass less than half the circumference. As an example, a hold down tool of the present invention may use two releasing slips and four biting slips, although other numbers of slips and ratios of releasing slips to biting slips may be functional. In a preferred embodiment, the releasing slips are wider than the biting slips and the biting slips encompass less than 180 degrees of tool circumference.
- There are several advantages of the present invention. Most importantly, a tool utilizing the inventive slips significantly reduces the problems described above with respect to removal of the tool. The monetary benefit associated with the tool includes the relatively smaller benefits associated with improved service life of the releasing slips and also the substantially larger benefits associated with avoiding an inability to release the tool.
-
FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned elevation view of a packer being placed in a hole, attached to a hold down tool, in which the invention is embodied. -
FIG. 2 is the structure ofFIG. 1 attached at a desired position within a well bore. -
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a slip housing base of the hold down tool ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the slip housing ofFIG. 3 shown with slips installed therein. -
FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a biting slip for installation into the slip housing ofFIG. 4 , -
FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a releasing slip for installation into the slip housing ofFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a releasing slip ofFIG. 4 with carbide pieces on a wall engaging face of the releasing slip. -
FIG. 8 is a partial cut-away view of a retrievable bridge plug in which the invention is embodied. -
FIG. 9 is a partial cut-away view of a packer in which the invention is embodied. - Referring first primarily to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , shown is well bore 10 having awall 12. Apacker 14 is shown lowered into wellbore 10.Packer 14 includes an expansible element such aspacker slips 15 for selectivelyengaging wall 12. A hold downtool 16 is connected topacker 14. Hold downtool 16 includes acone assembly 18.Cone assembly 18 has an upwardly facingcone 20 and anouter casing 22.Outer casing 22 defines a j-slot 24 having a longvertical section 26 and a shorthorizontal section 28.Cone assembly 18 further defines aninternal abutment 30. - A
coupling member 32 is attached to an upper end of hold downtool 16. Atubing string 34 is connected to couplingmember 32 for supporting hold downtool 16 andpacker 14 within well bore 10. - A
spring 36 is located above hold downtool 16.Spring 36 has an upper end in abutment withcoupling member 32. Acylindrical mandrel 38 extends downwardly insidecone assembly 18.Mandrel 38 defines aprotuberance 40 and has alower end 42.Mandrel 38 further has apin 44 protruding from an outer surface.Pin 44 is provided for extending into j-slot 24. -
Mandrel 38 andcone assembly 18 are releasably connected together viapin 44 and j-slot 24. Whenpin 44 is positioned in longvertical section 26 of j-slot 24,mandrel 38 may be moved downwardly (as shown inFIG. 2 ) untillower end 42 ofmandrel 38 seats oninternal abutment 30 ofcone assembly 18. - Slip
housing 46 is located abovecone assembly 18. Sliphousing 46 is made up of a slip housing cover 48 (FIGS. 1 , 2, 4) and a slip housing base 50 (FIGS. 3 , 4). Sliphousing base 50 is slidably mounted onmandrel 38. Sliphousing cover 48 and sliphousing base 50 define an annular space therebetween. Sliphousing base 50 has an upper end in engagement with a lower end ofspring 36.Spring 36 urges sliphousing base 50 againstprotuberance 40 onmandrel 38. Sliphousing base 50 has a lower end defining aflange portion 52.Flange portion 52 defines a plurality of downwardly facing openings 54 (FIG. 3 ). - A plurality of
slips 56 are carried withinslip housing 46 and are sized to be received withinopenings 54 ofslip housing base 50.Slips 56 each have an extension 58 (FIGS. 4-7 ) on an upper end for locating in the annular space between theslip housing cover 48 and theslip housing base 50. Slips also have a wall engaging face 60 (FIGS. 4-7 ).Slips 56 further define a slip neck 61 (FIGS. 5-7 ).Slips 56 are loosely received withinopenings 54 ofslip housing base 50 whereinflange portions 52 ofslip housing base 50 that are located betweenopenings 54 provide supportive engagement withslip necks 61. -
Slips 56 are comprised of biting slips 62 (FIGS. 4 , 5) and releasing slips 66 (FIGS. 4 , 6, 7).Faces 60 of biting slips 62 have a plurality of wickers orteeth 64 to facilitate gripping engagement withwall 12 ofbore 10.Faces 60 of releasing slips 66 have smooth surface 68 to facilitate ease of release. In an alternative embodiment, smooth surface 68 of releasing slip 66 may be impregnated with one or morehardened carbide pieces 70 to reduce wear onface 60 of releasing slips 66. - Slip
housing base 50 functions to selectively urge slips 56 downwardly whenmandrel 38 is moved downwardly.Slips 56 are oriented vertically and are positioned circumferentially above upwardly facingcone 20 of hold downtool 16. Therefore, when slips 56 are moved downwardly withmandrel 38, slips 56 engage the upwardly facingcone 20. Upwardly facingcone 20 then forces engagement faces 60 proximate the lower ends ofslips 56 outwardly into engagement withwall 12 of well bore 10. - When it is desired to release the
slips 56,mandrel 38 is moved upwards. The force of the mandrel moving upward is first transmitted throughslip housing base 50.Flange portion 52 ofslip housing base 50 lifts slips 56 upwards. Slipnecks 61 may be of different lengths, so thatflange portion 52 does not engage slips simultaneously. - Referring now to
FIG. 8 , abridge plug 100 is shown utilizing the slips of the invention.Bridge plug 100 includes atubular housing 102.Tubular housing 102 is made up oflower mandrel 104, connectingrod 106 that is threadably received on an upper rod oflower mandrel 104, and anupper mandrel 108 that is threadably received on an upper end of connectingrod 106. A pullinghead cap 110 is threadably received on an upper end ofupper mandrel 108. - A
control body 112 surroundslower mandrel 104. A plurality of drag blocks 114 are supported bycontrol body 112. Drag blocks 114 are biased outwardly by drag block springs 116. - A
lower cone member 118 surroundslower mandrel 104.Lower cone member 118 has acone section 120 and a lowercylindrical section 122. A plurality oflower slips 124 surround lowercylindrical section 122 oflower cone member 118. Plurality oflower slips 124 are located belowcone section 120 oflower cone member 118. - An
element retainer 126 is threadably received on an upper end oflower cone member 118. Packing and sealsleeve 128 and attachedpacking element 130 are adjacent to connectingrod 106 in an abutment withelement retainer 126. Anupper cone member 132 is threadably received on an upper end of packing andseal sleeve 128. - A
slip sleeve 134 is provided aboveupper cone member 132. A plurality of upper slips 136 surroundsslip sleeve 134. Upper slips 136 are made up of releasing slips 138 and biting slips 140. Athrust spring 142 is provided having a lower end in engagement withslip sleeve 134. Aspring ring 144 is affixed toupper mandrel 108.Spring ring 144 is in engagement with an upper end ofthrust spring 142. - In practice, when packing
element 130 engages a wall of a wellbore, packingelement 130 moves upwardly with regard totubular housing 102 with attachedupper cone member 132.Upper cone member 132 contacts upper slips 136 and forces slips 136 into engagement with a wall of the wellbore. - Referring now to
FIG. 9 , shown is apacker 200 utilizing the releasing slips of the invention.Packer 200 includes amandrel 202. Atop sub 204 is threadably attached to an upper end ofmandrel 202. Acontrol body 206 surroundsmandrel 202. A plurality of drag blocks 208 are supported bycontrol body 206. Drag blocks 208 are biased outwardly by drag block springs 210. - A
lower slip sleeve 212 is threadably attached to an upper end ofcontrol body 206. Alower cone member 214 surroundslower slip sleeve 212. A plurality oflower slips 216 surroundlower slip sleeve 212. The plurality oflower slips 216 are located belowlower cone member 214. - An
element retainer 218 is threadably received on an upper end oflower cone member 214. A packing andseal sleeve 220 as well as apacking element 222 are in threaded communication withelement retainer 218. - An
upper cone member 224 is threadably received on an upper end of packing andseal sleeve 220. Anupper slip support 226 is located aboveupper cone member 224. A plurality of upper slips 228 surroundupper slip support 226. Upper slips 228 are made up of releasing slips 230 and biting slips 232. Aslip spring 234 is provided for biasing each of upper slips 228 outwardly. An upperslip housing assembly 236 is located above upper slips 228. - In practice, when packing
element 222 engages a wall of the wellbore, packingelement 222 moves upwardly with regard tomandrel 202. Attachedupper cone member 224 moves upwards as well.Upper cone member 224 contacts upper slips 228 and forces slips 228 into engagement with a wall of the wellbore. - When pulled against for release, as described above, releasing slips 66 (
FIGS. 4 , 6, 7), 138 (FIG. 8 ), 230 (FIG. 9 ) are easily lifted and disengaged fromwall 12 since releasing slips 66, 138, 230 have a low friction wall engaging face, as can best be seen inFIGS. 6 and 7 . Once releasing slips 66, 138, 230 are lifted,tool FIGS. 4 , 5), 140 (FIG, 8), 232 (FIG. 9 ), which allows biting slips 62, 140, 232 to more easily release. Therefore, releasing slips 66, 138, 230 function as a wedge to force biting slips 62, 140, 232 to securely engagewall 12. Releasing slips 66, 138, 230 are not required to provide biting capability fortool FIGS. 1 , 2), 100 (FIG. 8 ), 200 (FIG. 9 ) to release much more easily, especially in severe applications. - In one embodiment, hardened pieces 70 (
FIG. 7 ), such as hardened carbide disks or pieces of other suitable material protrude from contactingface 60 of releasing slip 66, or from a contact face of releasing slips 138, 230. Smooth surface 68 of ahardened piece 70 orpieces 70 are preferably configured such that the piece orpieces 70 lay flat againstwall 12, thereby providing greatly reduced resistance to release. Thecarbide pieces 70 are harder than any standard grade of casing, which greatly reduces wear on releasing slip or slips 66, 138, 230. - In the case of
larger diameter tools slips 56. Preferably, releasing slips 66, 138, 230 cover somewhat less than half the circumference oftool tool wellbore 10 when releasing slips 66, 138, 230 are released or disengaged fromwall 12. Consequently, biting slips 62, 140, 232 preferably encompass more than half the circumference oftool - Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the claims.
Claims (21)
1. A well comprising:
a wellbore having a wall;
a tool adapted for lowering into said wellbore, said tool having a plurality of slips for selective engagement with said wall;
wherein said slips include releasing and biting slips; and
wherein said releasing slips have a low friction wall engaging surface for engaging said wall.
2. The well according to claim 1 wherein:
said low friction wall engaging surface is substantially smooth.
3. The well according to claim 1 wherein:
said low friction wall engaging surface is comprised of a plurality of hardened members for engaging said wall.
4. The well according to claim 1 wherein:
said tool is a hold down tool.
5. The well according to claim 1 wherein:
said tool is a packer.
6. The well according to claim 1 wherein:
said tool is a bridge plug.
7. The well according to claim 1 wherein:
said releasing slips are located over less than half of a circumference of said tool.
8. The well according to claim 1 wherein:
said slips comprise two releasing slips and four biting slips.
9. The well according to claim 1 wherein:
said releasing slips are wider than said biting slips.
10. A tool for lowering into a wellbore, said tool comprising:
a body;
a cone member slidable in a longitudinal direction along a length of said tool body for selective engagement with said plurality of slips for forcing slips outwards;
a plurality of slips affixed to said body;
wherein said slips include releasing and biting slips;
wherein said biting slips have a gripping surface; and
wherein said releasing slips have a low friction wall engaging surface.
11. The tool according to claim 10 wherein:
said low friction wall engaging surface is substantially smooth.
12. The tool according to claim 10 wherein:
said low friction wall engaging surface comprises a plurality of hardened members for engaging said wall.
13. The tool according to claim 10 wherein:
said tool is a hold down tool.
14. The tool according to claim 10 wherein:
said tool is a packer.
15. The tool according to claim 10 wherein:
said tool is a bridge plug.
16. The tool according to claim 10 wherein:
said releasing slips are located over less than half of a circumference of said tool.
17. The tool according to claim 10 wherein:
said slips comprise two releasing slips and four biting slips.
18. The tool according to claim 10 wherein:
said releasing slips are wider than said biting slips.
19. A releasing slip for use in a tool for lowering into a wellbore, said slip comprising:
a body;
an extension extending upwardly from said body; and
a low friction wall engaging face on said body to facilitate easy release.
20. The releasing slip according to claim 19 wherein:
said low friction wall engaging face is substantially smooth.
21. The releasing slip according to claim 19 wherein:
said low friction well engaging face further comprises a hardened member protruding from said face for reducing wear of said low friction wall engaging face.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/163,591 US20090321067A1 (en) | 2008-06-27 | 2008-06-27 | Releasing slips for oil well tool |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/163,591 US20090321067A1 (en) | 2008-06-27 | 2008-06-27 | Releasing slips for oil well tool |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090321067A1 true US20090321067A1 (en) | 2009-12-31 |
Family
ID=41446014
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/163,591 Abandoned US20090321067A1 (en) | 2008-06-27 | 2008-06-27 | Releasing slips for oil well tool |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20090321067A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150292283A1 (en) * | 2014-04-10 | 2015-10-15 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Relatively Movable Slip Body and Wicker for Enhanced Release Capability |
CN115030685A (en) * | 2021-03-08 | 2022-09-09 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司 | Pipe packer |
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Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150292283A1 (en) * | 2014-04-10 | 2015-10-15 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Relatively Movable Slip Body and Wicker for Enhanced Release Capability |
US9719316B2 (en) * | 2014-04-10 | 2017-08-01 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Relatively movable slip body and wicker for enhanced release capability |
CN115030685A (en) * | 2021-03-08 | 2022-09-09 | 中国石油化工股份有限公司 | Pipe packer |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |