Frac plug with retention mechanism
AssigneePetroQuip Energy Services, LLC
InventorsRoddie R. Smith, Robert Joe Coon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A slip for a downhole tool is provided. The slip may include an annular body having a first axial end, a second axial end, an inner surface, an outer surface, and an axial length. The annular embody further includes a taper on the inner surface that extends along the axial length of the annular body, and a left-hand thread pattern defined by the outer surface and extending from the first axial end along a portion of the axial length, each thread of the left-hand thread pattern having a crest that is angled toward the first axial end.
Claims14
A frac plug, comprising:
- a plug body having a taper extending along a portion of an outer surface thereof;
- a sealing element circumferentially disposed about the plug body that, when actuated, seals an annulus between the frac plug and a tubular section;
- a slip circumferentially disposed about the taper of the outer surface of the plug body that, when actuated, engages the tubular section, the slip comprising:
- an annular body having a first axial end, a second axial end, an inner surface, an outer surface, and an axial length, the annular body comprising:
- a taper on the inner surface that extends along the axial length of the annular body, and
- a thread pattern defined by the outer surface of the annular body and extending from the first axial end along a portion of the axial length, each thread of the thread pattern having a crest that is angled toward the first axial end;
- and
- a back-up ring having at least one thread, wherein the back-up ring is circumferentially disposed about the taper of the outer surface of the plug body and positioned adjacent to the slip.
A method for setting and removing a frac plug from a tubular section, the method comprising:
- disposing the frac plug on a running tool, the frac plug defining a thread pattern in an outer surface of a slip of the frac plug;
- positioning the frac plug within the tubular section using the running tool;
- compressing the frac plug with the running tool such that the slip expands along a tapered portion of an outer surface of the frac plug and the thread pattern engages with the tubular section;
- and
- milling the frac plug in a clockwise direction such that the thread pattern defined in the outer surface of the slip further engages with the tubular section and prevents movement of the frac plug away from a milling tool as the frac plug is milled,
- wherein the frac plug further comprises a back-up ring having at least one thread, wherein the back-up ring is circumferentially disposed about the tapered portion of the outer surface of the frac plug, and compressing the frac plug with the running tool further comprises causing the back-up ring to expand along the tapered portion of the outer surface of the frac plug and engage with the tubular section to prevent extrusion of a sealing element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.