Patent Application
20180163492
A downhole plug is designed to provide zonal isolation in a wellbore (i.e., to isolate a portion of the wellbore above the plug from a portion of the wellbore below the plug). One type of plug includes a mandrel having a bore formed therethrough, which may be plugged by an obstruction such as a ball, or may have a permanent obstruction or “bridge” therein.
The plug is typically secured in place (or “set”) in the wellbore by actuating a setting assembly. For example, a slip, a cone, and a sealing element are positioned around the mandrel. When the plug is in the desired position in the wellbore, a setting tool may apply opposing axial forces on the plug that cause the slip to slide along an inclined outer surface of the cone, which pushes the slip radially-outward. As the slip moves radially-outward, teeth on the outer surface of the slip may engage a surrounding tubular (e.g., a liner, a casing, a wall of the wellbore, etc.) to secure the plug in place in the wellbore. The opposing axial forces generated by the setting tool may also cause the sealing element to expand radially-outward to contact the surrounding tubular. When in contact with the surrounding tubular, the sealing element may prevent fluid from flowing axially through an annulus formed between the mandrel and the surrounding tubular.
A downhole tool is disclosed. The downhole tool includes an upper wedge member and a lower wedge member. The upper and lower wedge members each have a circumferential width that decreases proceeding from an outer axial end thereof to an inner axial end thereof. As the downhole tool actuates from a first state to a second state, the upper and lower wedge members move axially with respect to a central longitudinal axis through the downhole tool, the upper and lower wedge members move radially-outward with respect to the central longitudinal axis, and the upper and lower wedge members remain coupled to one another as the upper and lower wedge members move.
In another embodiment, the downhole tool includes a plurality of upper wedge members and a plurality of lower wedge members. Each of the upper wedge members is positioned circumferentially-between two of the lower wedge members. Each of the upper and lower wedge members has a circumferential width that decreases proceeding from an outer axial end thereof to an inner axial end thereof. As the downhole tool actuates from a first state to a second state, the upper and lower wedge members move axially with respect to a central longitudinal axis through the downhole tool such that a length of the downhole tool decreases, the upper and lower wedge members move radially-outward with respect to the central longitudinal axis such that a diameter of the downhole tool increases, and the upper and lower wedge members remain coupled to one another one another as the upper and lower wedge members move.
A method for actuating a downhole tool in a wellbore is also disclosed. The method includes running the downhole tool into the wellbore in a first state. The downhole tool includes a plurality of upper wedge members and a plurality of lower wedge members. Each of the upper wedge members is positioned circumferentially-between two of the lower wedge members. Each of the upper and lower wedge members has a circumferential width that decreases proceeding from an outer axial end thereof to an inner axial end thereof. The method also includes actuating the downhole tool from a first state into a second state by exerting a downward axial force on the upper wedge members and an upward axial force on the lower wedge members. As the downhole tool actuates from the first state to the second state, the upper and lower wedge members move axially with respect to a central longitudinal axis through the downhole tool such that a length of the downhole tool decreases, the upper and lower wedge members move radially-outward with respect to the central longitudinal axis such that a diameter of the downhole tool increases, and the upper and lower wedge members remain coupled to one another one another as the upper and lower wedge members move.
The present disclosure may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings that are used to illustrate embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:
The following disclosure describes several embodiments for implementing different features, structures, or functions of the invention. Embodiments of components, arrangements, and configurations are described below to simplify the present disclosure; however, these embodiments are provided merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, the present disclosure may repeat reference characters (e.g., numerals) and/or letters in the various embodiments and across the Figures provided herein. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed in the Figures. Moreover, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. Finally, the embodiments presented below may be combined in any combination of ways, e.g., any element from one exemplary embodiment may be used in any other exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Additionally, certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, various entities may refer to the same component by different names, and as such, the naming convention for the elements described herein is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, unless otherwise specifically defined herein. Further, the naming convention used herein is not intended to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. Additionally, in the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to.” All numerical values in this disclosure may be exact or approximate values unless otherwise specifically stated. Accordingly, various embodiments of the disclosure may deviate from the numbers, values, and ranges disclosed herein without departing from the intended scope. In addition, unless otherwise provided herein, “or” statements are intended to be non-exclusive; for example, the statement “A or B” should be considered to mean “A, B, or both A and B.”
In general, the present disclosure provides a downhole tool. The downhole tool may include a plurality of upper wedge members and a plurality of lower wedge members. The upper and lower wedge members each have a circumferential width that decreases proceeding from an outer axial end thereof to an inner axial end thereof. The downhole tool is configured to actuate from a first (e.g., unset) state to a second (e.g., set) state. When actuating, the upper and lower wedge members move axially with respect to one another along a central longitudinal axis through the downhole tool, the upper and lower wedge members move radially-outward with respect to the central longitudinal axis, and the upper and lower wedge members remain coupled to one another as the upper and lower wedge members move.
The upper and/or lower wedge members 110, 130 may each generally be shaped as an tapered, arcuate segment. For example, a width W of the upper and/or lower wedge members 110, 130 may decrease proceeding from the outer axial ends 112, 132 thereof toward the inner axial ends 114, 134 thereof. The width W may also be referred to as the circumferential width W (e.g., with respect to a central longitudinal axis 102 through the downhole tool 100). An angle α between the sides of the upper and/or lower wedge members 110, 130 may be from about 4° to about 40°, about 6° to about 30°, or about 8° to about 20° (e.g., about 14°).
The upper wedge members 110 may be circumferentially-offset from one another about the central longitudinal axis 102. Similarly, the lower wedge members 130 may be circumferentially-offset from one another about the central longitudinal axis 102. As shown, the upper and lower wedge members 110, 130 may be circumferentially-alternating with one another about the central longitudinal axis 102. More particularly, each upper wedge member 110 may be positioned circumferentially-between two adjacent lower wedge members 130, and each lower wedge member 130 may be positioned circumferentially-between two adjacent upper wedge members 110.
When the downhole tool 100 is in the first (e.g., unset) state, the upper wedge members 110 may be axially-aligned with one another, and the lower wedge members 130 may be axially-aligned with one another, with respect to the central longitudinal axis 102. In addition, when the downhole tool 100 is in the first (e.g., unset) state, the upper wedge members 110 may be axially-offset from the lower wedge members 130, but the upper and lower wedge members 110, 130 may include axially-overlapping portions 150.
Due to the shape and positioning of the upper and/or lower wedge members 110, 130 when the downhole tool 100 is in the first (e.g., unset) state, a tapered gap may be defined by the sides of each adjacent pair of upper wedge members 110 and the inner axial end 132 of the lower wedge member 130 positioned circumferentially-between them. Similarly, a tapered gap may be defined by the sides of each adjacent pair of lower wedge members 130 and the inner axial end 112 of the upper wedge member 110 positioned circumferentially-between them.
Outer surfaces 116, 136 of the upper and/or lower wedge members 110, 130 may include a gripping feature 154 that is configured to create a high-friction engagement with (e.g., grip) the surrounding tubular. The gripping feature 154 may be or include teeth, wickers, grit, buttons, a high-friction coating, or a combination thereof.
The downhole tool 100 may also include a containment member 156 that holds the downhole tool 100 in the first (e.g., unset) state. As shown, the containment member 156 may be a rupture band that is positioned at least partially around the axially-overlapping portions 150 of the upper and lower wedge members 110, 130. In such an embodiment, the containment member 156 may be configured to rupture when exposed to a predetermined radially-outward force, which may be applied to initiate the setting process. In at least one embodiment, the outer surfaces 116 of the upper wedge members 110 may include a portion of a circumferential groove 117 (shown in
The sides of the lower wedge members 130 may also include coupling features 140, 142. More particularly, a first side of each lower wedge member 130 may include a first coupling feature 140, and a second side of each lower wedge member 130 may include a second coupling feature 142. As shown, the first coupling features 140 are recesses, and the second coupling features 142 are protrusions.
As shown, the first coupling feature (e.g., protrusion) 120 of each upper wedge member 110 may be coupled with (e.g., positioned within) the corresponding first coupling feature (e.g., recess) 140 of the adjacent lower wedge member 130. Similarly, the second coupling feature (e.g., recess) 122 of each upper wedge member 110 may be coupled with (e.g., receive) the corresponding second coupling feature (e.g., protrusion) 142 of the adjacent lower wedge member 130. The coupling features 120, 122, 140, 142 may allow the upper and lower wedge members 110, 130 to move axially and radially with respect to the central longitudinal axis 102 while still remaining coupled with one another.
Although not shown, in at least one embodiment, the first and second coupling features 120, 122 of the upper wedge members 110 may both be protrusions, and the first and second coupling features 140, 142 of the lower wedge members 130 may both be recesses, or vice versa. Although not shown, in at least one embodiment, the protrusions and the recesses may be dovetail-shaped.
Inner surfaces of the upper wedge members 110 may include seat features 126 that extend radially-inward therefrom. Together, the seat features 126 may define a circumferential seat that is configured to receive an obstructing member 160, as described in greater detail below.
The obstructing member 160 may be a ball that is received at least partially in the downhole tool 100 when the downhole tool 100 is in the second (e.g., set) state. More particularly, the obstructing member 160 may seat on the seat features 126 of the upper wedge members 110. When the obstructing member 160 is seated on the seat features 126 of the upper wedge members 110, the obstructing member 160 may form a seal with the inner surfaces of the upper and/or lower wedge members 110, 130. The seal may prevent fluid flow through the bore of the downhole tool 100 in a downward direction (e.g., to the right in
When the pressure above the obstructing member 160 is increased, the obstructing member 160 may exert an increased downward force on the seat features 126 of the upper wedge members 110. This may cause the upper wedge members 110 to move downward with respect to the lower wedge members 130, thereby potentially further decreasing the overall length of the downhole tool 100, and increasing the length of the axially-overlapping portion 150 as the upper and/or lower wedge members 110, 130 are driven outwards, further into engagement with a surrounding tubular. This may increase the radially-outward gripping force exerted by the upper and lower wedge members 110, 130 on the surrounding tubular, such that the increased pressure serves to more securely anchor the downhole tool 100 in place in the surrounding tubular.
The method 1000 may begin by running the downhole tool 100 into a wellbore in the first (e.g., unset) state, as at 1002. This is shown in
When the downhole tool 100 is in the desired location in the wellbore, the method 1000 may include actuating the downhole tool 100 from the first (e.g., unset) state into the second (e.g., set) state using the setting tool 200, as at 1004. The downhole tool 100 is shown in the second (e.g., set) state in
The method 1000 may then include withdrawing the setting tool 200 from the downhole tool 100 after the downhole tool 100 is in the second (e.g., set) state, as at 1006. After the downhole tool 100 is set, the user may increase the axial force exerted on the lower wedge members 130 in the first (e.g., upward) axial direction. This may cause the inner portion 210 of the setting tool 200 to bend/deflect radially-inward. The inner portion 210 of the setting tool 200 is beginning to bend/deflect radially-inward in
The downhole tool 100 remains in the wellbore in the second (e.g., set) state. This is shown in
The method 1000 may then include introducing the obstructing member 160 into the downhole tool 100 when the downhole tool 100 is in the second (e.g., set) state in the wellbore, as at 1008. This is shown in
As used herein, the terms “inner” and “outer”; “up” and “down”; “upper” and “lower”; “upward” and “downward”; “above” and “below”; “inward” and “outward”; “uphole” and “downhole”; and other like terms as used herein refer to relative positions to one another and are not intended to denote a particular direction or spatial orientation. The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “connect,” “connection,” “connected,” “in connection with,” and “connecting” refer to “in direct connection with” or “in connection with via one or more intermediate elements or members.”
The foregoing has outlined features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
