Well plug anchor tool

An anchor tool for a plug, comprising:

• a body defining a bore therethrough, an annulus around the bore, and a pressure port extending radially in the body, between the bore and the annulus;
• slips that are radially expandable;
• a piston disposed in the annulus, wherein a pressure in the bore forces the piston toward the slips, causing the slips to expand;
• engaging members coupled with the body and configured to expand outward from the body;
• a sliding sleeve positioned at least partially around the body, wherein, when the sliding sleeve is in a first position, the sliding sleeve at least partially covers the engaging members and restrains the engaging members from expanding, and when the sliding sleeve is in a second position, the sliding sleeve uncovers the engaging members and permits the engaging members to expand;
• a friction-inducing member positioned at least partially around the body;
• and
• a shearable member coupled with the friction-inducing member and the body, wherein the shearable member restrains the friction-inducing member, causing the friction-inducing member to maintain the sliding sleeve in the first position, until the shearable member is sheared.

A plug assembly, comprising:

• a plug having an expandable sealing element;
• and
• an anchor tool coupled to the plug, the anchor tool comprising:
• a body;
• engaging members coupled with the body and configured to move in a radial direction outward with respect to the body;
• a sliding sleeve positioned at least partially around the body, wherein, in a first position, the sliding sleeve at least partially covers the engaging members and restrains the engaging members radially inward, and in a second position, the sliding sleeve uncovers the engaging members;
• a friction-inducing member positioned at least partially around the body;
• and
• a shearable member coupled with the friction-inducing member and the body, wherein the shearable member restrains the friction-inducing member, causing the friction-inducing member to maintain the sliding sleeve in the first position, until the shearable member is sheared,
• wherein the anchor tool is coupled to a lower end of the plug, and wherein a bore of the anchor tool is in communication with a bore of the plug, such that fluid communication is permitted axially through the assembly,
• wherein the anchor tool is configured to be disposed partially in a lower casing section when the sliding sleeve is in the second position and the engaging members are expanded, thereby preventing the plug from moving into the lower casing section, and
• wherein the anchor tool comprises slips that are configured to expand into engagement with the lower casing section, to prevent the anchor tool from moving uphole in a well.

A method for deploying a plug in a well, comprising:

• positioning a plug assembly comprising the plug and an anchor tool in an upper casing section, wherein the anchor tool comprises:
• a body;
• engaging members coupled with the body and configured to expand outward from the body;
• a sliding sleeve positioned at least partially around the body, wherein, when the sliding sleeve is in a first position, the sliding sleeve at least partially covers the engaging members and restrains the engaging members from expanding, and when the sliding sleeve is in a second position, the sliding sleeve uncovers the engaging members and permits the engaging members to expand;
• a friction-inducing member positioned at least partially around the body;
• a shearable member coupled with the friction-inducing member and the body, wherein the shearable member restrains the friction-inducing member, causing the friction-inducing member to maintain the sliding sleeve in the first position, until the shearable member is sheared;
• and
• a biasing member engaging the body and the sliding sleeve, wherein the sliding sleeve is biased toward the second position by the biasing member
• running the plug assembly through the upper casing section, such that the anchor tool exits the upper casing section and enters an open section downhole of the upper casing and uphole of a lower casing section, wherein a drag force generated by the friction-inducing member engaging the upper casing section is relieved when the anchor tool exits the upper casing section, the sliding sleeve moves to the second position in response to the drag force being relieved, and the engaging members expand in response to the sliding sleeve moving to the second position;
• and
• running the anchor tool through the open section until the engaging members land on the lower casing section.