U.S. patent application number 15/121939 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-22 for rotating grip arms.
The applicant listed for this patent is SCHLIMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Derek Ingraham, Matthew McCarthy.
Application Number | 20170175483 15/121939 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54009640 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170175483 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McCarthy; Matthew ; et
al. |
June 22, 2017 |
ROTATING GRIP ARMS
Abstract
A packer and apparatus for engaging the packer within a bore.
The apparatus comprises a central body and a cone secured to the
central body having an inclined surface oriented towards the second
end and a collar translatable along the central body, the collar
being located between the cone and the second end of the central
body and a plurality of arms, each arm pivotally located relative
to the collar around a periphery of the central body, arms
extending between first and second ends and having gripping
surfaces around an exterior surface thereof proximate to the first
ends. The method comprises translating the central member of the
body relative to a collar therearound so as to frictionally drag
the collet arms against a well bore and engaging the cone upon the
plurality of arms to pivot the plurality of anus into contact with
a well bore wall.
Inventors: |
McCarthy; Matthew; (Sugar
Land, TX) ; Ingraham; Derek; (Sugar Land,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SCHLIMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION |
Sugar Land |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54009640 |
Appl. No.: |
15/121939 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
February 27, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2015/017906 |
371 Date: |
August 26, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61946389 |
Feb 28, 2014 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 33/1291 20130101;
E21B 43/14 20130101; E21B 23/01 20130101; E21B 33/128 20130101;
E21B 23/006 20130101; E21B 34/14 20130101; E21B 33/1294
20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 33/129 20060101
E21B033/129; E21B 33/128 20060101 E21B033/128; E21B 34/14 20060101
E21B034/14; E21B 23/01 20060101 E21B023/01 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for engaging a body within a bore, the apparatus
comprising: a central body extending between first and second ends;
a cone secured to said central body having an inclined surface
oriented towards said second end; a collar translatable along the
central body, said collar being located between said cone and said
second end of said central body; and a plurality of arms, each arm
pivotally located relative to said collar around a periphery of
said central body, arms extending between first and second ends and
having gripping surfaces around an exterior surface thereof
proximate to said first ends.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said collar includes a
plurality of longitudinal grooves around an exterior surface
thereof each sized to receive an arm therein.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a cage surrounding
said collar and said arms adapted to retain said arms within said
grooves.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cage extends between first
and second ends and includes a plurality of apertures each at a
location corresponding to said arms wherein each arm pivots about a
portion of said cage between said aperture and said first end of
said cage.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said arms and said collar form
a void under each arm within each longitudinal groove.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said cage includes bore
therethrough in fluidic communication with said void between said
arms and said collar.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said collar further includes a
plurality of longitudinally extending collet arms radially
outwardly biased to engage upon a well bore and cause drag
therebetween.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central body includes a
profiled groove therein adapted receive a pin extending from said
collar wherein said slot includes alternating long and short
parallel slots extending longitudinally therealong and angled
surface to advance said pin to successive long and short parallel
slots as said central body is reciprocated relative to said collar
so as to position said collar at to permit said arms to extend from
said central body when said pin is in said long slots and limit
extension of said arms when pin is in said short slots.
9. A packer comprising: a central tubular member having a central
bore therethrough extending between first and second ends; a
sealing element extending around said central tubular member
adapted to be longitudinally compressed so as to axially expand
said sealing element into contact with a surface of a well bore; a
cone secured to said tubular member having an inclined surface
oriented towards said second end; a collar translatable along the
tubular body between said cone and said second end of said central
body; and a plurality of arms, each arm pivotally located relative
to said collar around a periphery of said tubular member, arms
extending between first and second ends and having gripping
surfaces around an exterior surface thereof proximate to said first
ends.
10. The packer of claim 9 wherein said collar includes a plurality
of longitudinal grooves around an exterior surface thereof each
sized to receive a arm therein.
11. The packer of claim 10 further comprising a cage surrounding
said collar and said arms adapted to retain said arms within said
grooves.
12. The packer of claim 11 wherein said cage extends between first
and second ends and includes a plurality of apertures each at a
location corresponding to said arms wherein each arm pivots about a
portion of said cage between said aperture and said first end of
said cage.
13. The packer of claim 10 wherein said arms and said collar form a
void under each arm within each longitudinal groove.
14. The packer of claim 11 wherein said cage includes bore
therethrough in fluidic communication with said void between said
arms and said collar.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said collar further includes a
plurality of longitudinally extending collet arms radially
outwardly biased to engage upon a well bore and cause drag
therebetween.
16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said central body includes a
profiled groove therein adapted receive a pin extending from said
collar wherein said slot includes alternating long and short
parallel slots extending longitudinally therealong and angled
surface to advance said pin to successive long and short parallel
slots as said central body is reciprocated relative to said collar
so as to position said collar at to permit said arms to extend from
said central body when said pin is in said long slots and limit
extension of said arms when pin is in said short slots.
18. The packer of claim 9 wherein said sealing elements comprises a
plurality of tubular elements disposed annularly around said
central member.
19. The packer of claim 18 wherein said tubular elements include
annular springs encased therein.
20. The packer of claim 9 further including top and bottom
extrusion blocks disposed annularly around said tubular member to
opposed sides of said sealing element.
21. The packer of claim 20 wherein said bottom extrusion block is
at a fixed location relative to said cone wherein said top
extrusion block is longitudinally slidable along said tubular
member so as to compress said sealing elements therebetween.
22. A method for engaging a body within a bore, the apparatus
comprising: locating said body having a central body central member
and a cone located around said cone, said central body having a
central bore therethrough extending between first and second ends
within a well bore at a desired location; translating said central
member of said body relative to a collar therearound so as to
frictionally drag radially outwardly biased collet arms against a
well bore; engaging a cone secured to said central body upon said
plurality of arms to pivot said plurality of arms into contact with
a well bore wall.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for
isolating zones in a subterranean formation in general and in
particular to methods and apparatus for engaging a sealing element
within a well bore.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] In hydrocarbon production, it is frequently desired to seal
or isolate one or more zones of an oil well from adjacent zones. In
such situations, a sealing element is frequently used to seal and
isolate the production string to the main bore or to seal adjacent
zones from each other. Such sealing elements may be components of a
production packer, an open hole production packer, seal adapter,
pressure chamber seal adapter (with charged high pressure chamber
on board), a liner hanger packer, a full bore liner top packer, a
straddle type stimulation tool, a hybrid type stimulation tools
(hydroelement and mechanical packer), a hydroelement made from
swellable rubber compounds, an open hole seal or a cased hole seal
all of which may be mechanically, hydraulically, hydrostatically or
pressure chamber operated.
[0005] Production packers are designed to be located between the
casing or liner and a working or production tubing in a well. In
such conventional production packers, one difficulty that exists is
that the packer may be difficult to remove or retrieve after they
are set. One of the reasons for this is that such packers are
designed to isolate one zone from another and will therefore in
practice include a pressure differential across the packer. Such
pressure differential is known to impair the ability of the packer
to be removed.
SUMMARY
[0006] According to embodiments there is disclosed an apparatus for
engaging a body within a bore. The apparatus comprises a central
body extending between first and second ends and a cone secured to
the central body having an inclined surface oriented towards the
second end. The apparatus further comprises a collar translatable
along the central body, the collar being located between the cone
and the second end of the central body and a plurality of arms,
each arm pivotally located relative to the collar around a
periphery of the central body, arms extending between first and
second ends and having gripping surfaces around an exterior surface
thereof proximate to the first ends.
[0007] The collar may include a plurality of longitudinal grooves
around an exterior surface thereof each sized to receive an arm
therein. The apparatus may further comprise a cage surrounding the
collar and the arms adapted to retain the arms within the grooves.
The cage may extend between first and second ends and includes a
plurality of apertures . each at a location corresponding to the
arms wherein each arm pivots about a portion of the cage between
the aperture and the first end of the cage.
[0008] The arms and the collar may form a void under each arm
within each longitudinal groove. The cage may include bore
therethrough in fluidic communication with the void between the
arms and the collar. The collar may further include a plurality of
longitudinally extending collet arms radially outwardly biased to
engage upon a well bore and cause drag therebetween.
[0009] The central body may include a profiled groove therein
adapted receive a pin extending from the collar wherein the slot
includes alternating long and short parallel slots extending
longitudinally therealong and angled surface to advance the pin to
successive long and short parallel slots as the central body is
reciprocated relative to the collar so as to position the collar at
to permit the arms to extend from the central body when the pin is
in the long slots and limit extension of the arms when pin is in
the short slots.
[0010] According to embodiments there is disclosed a packer
comprising a central tubular member having a central bore
therethrough extending between first and second ends and a sealing
element extending around the central tubular member adapted to be
longitudinally compressed so as to axially expand the sealing
element into contact with a surface of a well bore. The packer
further comprises a cone secured to the tubular member having an
inclined surface oriented towards the second end, a collar
translatable along the tubular body between the cone and the second
end of the central body and a plurality of arms, each arm pivotally
located relative to the collar around a periphery of the tubular
member, arms extending between first and second ends and having
gripping surfaces around an exterior surface thereof proximate to
the first ends.
[0011] The collar may include a plurality of longitudinal grooves
around an exterior surface thereof each sized to receive an arm
therein. The packer may further comprise a cage surrounding the
collar and the arms adapted to retain the arms within the grooves.
The cage may extend between first and second ends and includes a
plurality of apertures each at a location corresponding to the arms
wherein each arm pivots about a portion of the cage between the
aperture and the first end of the cage.
[0012] The arms and the collar may form a void under each arm
within each longitudinal groove. The cage may include bore
therethrough in fluidic communication with the void between the
arms and the collar. The collar may further include a plurality of
longitudinally extending collet arms radially outwardly biased to
engage upon a well bore and cause drag therebetween.
[0013] The central body may include a profiled groove therein
adapted receive a pin extending from the collar wherein the slot
includes alternating long and short parallel slots extending
longitudinally therealong and angled surface to advance the pin to
successive long and short parallel slots as the central body is
reciprocated relative to the collar so as to position the collar at
to permit the arms to extend from the central body when the pin is
in the long slots and limit extension of the arms when pin is in
the short slots.
[0014] The sealing elements may comprise a plurality of tubular
elements disposed annularly around the central member. The tubular
elements may include annular springs encased therein.
[0015] The packer may further include top and bottom extrusion
blocks disposed annularly around the tubular member to opposed
sides of the sealing element. The bottom extrusion block may be at
a fixed location relative to the cone wherein the top extrusion
block is longitudinally slidable along the tubular member so as to
compress the sealing elements therebetween.
[0016] According to embodiments there are disclosed methods for
engaging a body within a bore comprising locating the body having a
central body central member and a cone located around the cone, the
central body having a central bore therethrough extending between
first and second ends within a well bore at a desired location. The
methods further comprise translating the central member of the body
relative to a collar therearound so as to frictionally drag
radially outwardly biased collet arms against a well bore and
engaging a cone secured to the central body upon the plurality of
arms to pivot the plurality of arms into contact with a well bore
wall.
[0017] Other aspects and features will become apparent to those
ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following
description of specific embodiments in conjunction with the
accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] In drawings which illustrate embodiments wherein similar
characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each
view,
[0019] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a wellbore having a
liner hanger according to a first embodiment located
therealong.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the packer according to a
first embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the packer of FIG.
2.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a detailed cross view of the extending arms of the
packer of FIG. 2 at a first position.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a detailed exploded view of arms of the packer of
FIG. 2 at a second position.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a detailed plan view of the indexing slots of FIG.
2.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a detailed layout of the indexing slots of FIG.
2.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a detailed cross view of the extending arms of the
packer of FIG. 2 at a second position.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a detailed perspective view of first end of the
packer of FIG. 2 at a first position.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a detailed perspective view of first end of the
packer of FIG. 2 at a second position.
[0029] FIG. 11 is a detailed perspective view of first end of the
packer of FIG. 2 at a third position.
[0030] FIG. 12 is a side view of the packer of FIG. 2 located
within a well at an expanded position.
[0031] FIG. 13 is a detailed cross sectional view of the first and
second unloader stage according to a further embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 14 is a detailed perspective view of the collet arms
according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0033] FIG. 15 is a detailed perspective view of the sealing
elements according to a further embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, a wellbore 10 is drilled into the
ground 8 to a production zone 6 by known methods. The production
zone 6 may contain a horizontally extending hydrocarbon bearing
rock formation or may span a plurality of hydrocarbon bearing rock
formations such that the wellbore 10 has a path designed to cross
or intersect each formation. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the wellbore
includes a vertical section 12 having a valve assembly or Christmas
tree 14 at a top end thereof and a bottom or production section 16
which may be horizontal or angularly oriented relative to the
horizontal located within the production zone 6. After the wellbore
10 is drilled a production string 18 is located therein with at a
packer 20 to isolate a zone 19 within the well.
[0035] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a packer according to a
first embodiment is illustrated generally at 20. The packer 20
extends between first and second ends, 22 and 24, respectively, and
is formed around a central tubular member or mandrel 26. The
central mandrel 26 includes the second end 24 which is operable to
have a production string 18 connected thereto according to known
methods such as threading and the like. As illustrated the packer
20 includes gripping arm slips 40 proximate to the second end 24, a
release section 100 proximate to the first end 22 and at least one
seal element 90 between top and bottom extrusion blocks, 92 and
94.
[0036] Turning now to FIG. 3, a cross sectional view of the packer
20 is illustrated. The packer 20 includes an elongate central
mandrel 26 extending between first and second ends, 28 and 30,
respectively. The second end 30 of the mandrel forms the second end
24 of the packer. The mandrel 26 rotatably supports a collet arms
72 and the gripping arm slips 40 therearound as will be more fully
described below.
[0037] Turning now to FIG. 4, a detailed cross sectional view of
the slip 40 is illustrated. The slip 40 comprises a plurality of
longitudinally extending arms 42 extending in a direction generally
towards the first end 22 of the packer.
[0038] The arms 42 have proximate 43 and distal ends 44 wherein the
distal ends have outwardly oriented bore engaging surfaces 48 as
are commonly known and an inner angled surface 46. The arms 42
include a notch 41 on the outside surface thereof for receiving a
portion of the cage therein as will be more fully described below.
As illustrated, the arms 42 extend substantially parallel to the
mandrel 26. With reference to FIG. 5, the arms 42 may be located
within slots 50 of a slip cage 52 so as maintain a relative
position and alignment of the arms 42 around the mandrel 26. The
arms 42 may be retained within the slip cage 54 by locating a
portion 56 of the slip cage between the slots 50 and the top end of
the slip cage. As illustrated. The arms 42 are also maintained
proximate to the slip cage 54 with a slip housing 58 extending
therearound. The slip housing 58 includes bores therethrough to
permit the removal of debris from between the arms and the
mandrel.
[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 4, each arm includes at least one
bore 64 in a bottom thereof sized to receive a biasing pin 66 with
a corresponding spring 68. The bores 64 are located with the
inwardly oriented surface of the arms between the notch 41 and the
proximate ends 43. The biasing pins 66 extend from the bores 64 to
engage upon the slip housing so as to bias the arms to a retraced
position.
[0040] The slip 40 includes a cone 60 associated therewith
comprising a tubular body slidably located around the mandrel 26.
The cone 60 includes an angled trailing surface 62 corresponding to
the bottom surface 46 of the arms 42.
[0041] The slip 40 further includes a drive housing 70 located
towards the second end 24 of the packer 20. The drive housing 70
comprises a tubular body engaging with and abutting against the
slip housing 58 and the slip cage 52 so as to be operable to move
the slip housing, slip cage and arms longitudinally along the
mandrel. The drive housing further includes a plurality of
longitudinally extending collet arms 72 extending in a direction
towards the second end 24 of the packer. The collet arms include a
radially extended contact surface 74 and are radially flared from
the packer as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 so as to cause the
contact surface 74 to engage upon the liner of the wellbore and
cause drag therewith. The contact surfaces 74 may be substantially
the same width as the collet arms 72 or may optionally have tapered
edges as illustrated in FIG. 14 to provide additional space for
fluid flow therepast.
[0042] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the drive housing includes a
plurality of pins 76 extending radially inwardly therefrom which
are received with in a profiled groove 78 on the outside surface of
the mandrel. With reference to FIG. 6 a perspective view of the
mandrel 26 is illustrated. The profiled groove 78 extends around
the mandrel 26 and includes a plurality of indexing notches 80
located along the edge towards the second end 24 of the packer. The
profiled groove 78 further includes alternating long and short
slots, 82 and 84, respectively along the edge towards the first end
22 of the packer. The indexing notches 80 are arranged to be
located intermediate the long and short 82 and 84 slots with angled
walls 86 and 88 on one side thereof each so as to cause the pins 76
to be alternatingly advanced between the long and short slots as
the mandrel is cycled forwards and backwards relative to the drive
housing as illustrated in FIG. 7. When the pins 76 are located
within the short slots, the drive housing will be prevented from
moving towards the first end 22 of the packer thereby preventing
the arms 42 from being extended. When the pins 76 are located
within the long slots 84, the drive housing 70 will be permitted to
move towards the first end 22 thereby extending the arms 42.
[0043] With reference to FIG. 3, the packer 20 includes seal
elements 90 located around the mandrel 26 at a position towards the
first end 22 from the arms 42 between the top and bottom extrusion
blocks 92 and 94. The bottom extrusion block is secured to the cone
60 and the top extrusion block is secured to the mandrel 26. As
illustrated in FIG. 8, when the pins 76 are located within the long
slots 84 and the mandrel pressed toward the second end 24, the arms
42 will extend engaging the well bore wall. Further pressure
applied to the mandrel 26 toward the second end 24 will press
compress the mandrel 26, seal elements 90 and top extrusion block
towards the second end 24 of the packer so as to compress the seal
elements 90 between the top and bottom extrusion blocks 92 and 94
thereby expanding the seal into contact with the well bore wall as
illustrated in FIG. 12. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the seal
elements may include at least one annular spring element 95 therein
providing a radially non-compressible core in each seal element so
as to prevent the seal element 90 from extruding past the top or
bottom extrusion block. The seal elements 90 may also include a
spacer therebetween 93. As illustrated in FIGS. 3, the packer may
include 3 seal elements 90 however it will be appreciated that more
or less than 3 may also be utilized.
[0044] Turning now to FIG. 9, the release section 100 located
proximate to the first end 22 of the packer 20 is illustrated. The
release section includes a top collar 102 forming the first end 22
of the packer. The top collar 102 may include a threaded bore 104
into the end thereof for connection to the production string as is
commonly known. The release section 100 includes a bypass mandrel
106 secured to the top collar 102 with first and second bypass
plugs, 108 and 110 respectively. The first and second bypass plugs
108 and 110 are adapted to sequentially permit an increasing amount
of material past the packer as will be more fully described
below.
[0045] As illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11, the bypass mandrel 106
is secured to the top collar 102 at a first end 112 of thereof. The
first bypass plug 108 is secured with within a bore 114 at a second
end 116 of the bypass mandrel by fasteners 118 or the like. The
first bypass plug 108 comprises a body having a cylindrical seal
section 120 with at least one seal 122 extending therearound which
is sized to be sealably received within a corresponding bore 130 of
the second bypass plug 110. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the first
bypass plug 108 may include two seals, however it will be
appreciated that one or three or more seals 122 may also be
utilized as illustrated in FIG. 13. The second bypass plug 110
comprises a tubular body extending between first and second ends,
132 and 134 respectively and having a central bore 130 extending
therethrough. The second bypass plug 110 includes a cylindrical
seal section 136 extending from the second end 134 with at least
one seal 138 extending therearound. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the
second bypass plug 110 may include two seals, however it will be
appreciated that one or three or more seals may also be utilized.
The central mandrel 26 includes a central bore 140 sized to
sealably receive the seal section 136 of the second bypass plug 110
therein. The second bypass plug 110 may include a centralizing
extension 142 extending therefrom for maintaining the second bypass
plug 110 in axial alignment with the central mandrel 26 when the
second bypass plug 110 is removed therefrom as illustrated in FIG.
11. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the first bypass plug 108 may also
include a radiued annular flange 115 sized and shaped to be
sealably received against a corresponding filleted recession 117 in
the first end 132 of the second bypass plug 110 around the central
bore 130 thereof. When the first bypass plug 108 is engaged within
the central bore 130 of the second bypass plug 110, it will be
appreciated that the annular flange 115 will bear against the
recession to provide an additional seal therebetween.
[0046] With reference to FIG. 10, when a user wishes to release the
packer, the top collar 102 is drawn in a direction generally
indicated at 160 away from the second end 24 of the packer. The top
collar 102 pulls the bypass mandrel 106 with it drawing the first
bypass plug 108 so as to disengage it from the central bore 130 of
the second bypass plug 110 thereby permitting full flow of material
therethrough in a direction generally indicated at 170. The bypass
mandrel 106 includes an extension sleeve 144 with a distal interior
ridge 146. The interior ridge 146 is adapted to engage a
corresponding exterior ridge 148 on the first end 132 of the second
bypass plug 110. When the travel of the top collar 102 and bypass
mandrel 106 engages the interior ridge 146 upon the exterior ridge
148. As illustrated in FIG. 11, subsequent movement of the top
collar 102 and bypass mandrel 106 will also draw the second bypass
plug 110 so as to disengage it from the central bore 140 of the
central mandrel 26 thereby permitting full flow of material
therethrough in a direction generally indicated at 172.
[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the central mandrel 26 includes
and extension sheath 150 extending from the first end 28 thereof.
The extension sheath includes an interior ridge 152 at a distal end
156 thereof adapted to engage an exterior ridge 154 on the bypass
mandrel 106. When the top cap 102 and bypass mandrel 106 reaches a
sufficient distance for the interior and exterior ridges 152 and
154 to engage each other, the extension sheath 150 and thereby the
central mandrel 26 will be drawn in the retraction direction as
well. It will be appreciated that movement of the central mandrel
26 will cause the cone 60 to be pulled away from the arms 42
thereby permitting the arms to disengage from the well bore wall as
well as decompressing the sealing elements. Thereafter the entire
packer 20 may be removed or repositioned as desired. If the packer
20 is desired to be repositioned, it may be positioned at the
desired location in the well and a downward force applied
[0048] While specific embodiments have been described and
illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative
only and not as limiting the disclosure as construed in accordance
with the accompanying claims.
* * * * *