# US 10,480,262 B2 · Downhole slip apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,262 B2 - Document ID: US10480262B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/459,311 - Filed: 2017-03-15 - Published: 2017-09-21 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-15 - Assignees: Weatherford U.K. Limited - Applicants: Weatherford U.K. Limited - Inventors: Santiago Galvez Porta; Stephen Reid; Philip CG Egleton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480262B2 ## CPC - E21B 19/10: Slips; Spiders {; Catching devices (rotary tables with master bushing or kelly bushing E21B3/04)} - E21B 33/128: with a member expanded radially by axial pressure (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) - E21B 33/129: with mechanical slips for hooking into the casing (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A downhole slip apparatus that includes a radially extendable slip assembly. The radially extendable slip assembly including a primary slip arrangement and a secondary slip arrangement. The downhole slip apparatus is arranged such that during a first phase of operation the primary and secondary slip arrangements are radially extendable simultaneously from a retracted configuration towards and/or into a first extended configuration. The downhole slip apparatus is also arranged such that during a subsequent second phase of operation the secondary slip arrangement is radially extendable relative to the primary slip arrangement towards and/or into a second extended configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A downhole slip apparatus, comprising: a radially extendable slip assembly comprising a primary slip defining a first wall engaging surface, a secondary slip defining a second wall engaging surface, and a selective coupling or clutch that is operable or configured such that: during a first phase of operation the primary and secondary slips are radially extendable simultaneously from a retracted configuration towards and/or into a first extended configuration, and during a subsequent second phase of operation the secondary slip is radially extendable relative to the primary slip towards and/or into a second extended configuration, wherein the first and second wall engaging surfaces comprise piercing features and interference features. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in the retracted configuration, the first and second engaging wall surfaces are flush, coplanar, aligned, and/or in register and remain flush, coplanar, aligned, and/or in register during or throughout the first phase of operation and/or in the first extended configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein during the second phase of operation and/or in the second extended configuration, the secondary slip extends beyond the primary slip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the slip apparatus is configured such that, if the slip apparatus is in the first extended configuration and/or extended to its maximum extension, and the first and second wall engaging surfaces have not contacted the borehole wall, then the second phase of operation begins and only the secondary slip continues extending radially until the second wall engaging surface makes contact with the borehole wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selective coupling or clutch is operable or switchable according to an operating parameter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the operating parameter is or comprises a force applied to the selective coupling or clutch using a slip actuator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the selective coupling or clutch is configured to require a greater force for the second phase of operation than for the first phase of operation and the selective coupling or clutch is configured to selectively couple, fix, or otherwise hold the primary and secondary slips together when the operating parameter is in a first range or lower than a threshold and configured to permit the primary and secondary slips to be radially extended or extendable relative to each other when the operating parameter is in a second range or greater than the threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selective coupling or clutch comprises an interference fit mechanism. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the interference fit mechanism comprises a hollow receiving member defining an elongated cavity and an interfering member that comprises an engaging part that engages an inner wall of the cavity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the selective coupling or clutch is configured such that local elastic deformations are present at the contact area between the engaging part and the inner wall of the cavity, the selective coupling or clutch being configured such that, as the engaging part moves, the cavity wall at the back of the engaging part deforms at least partially back towards its previous or undeformed position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the downhole slip apparatus comprises or is configured to receive a slip actuator, wherein, in use, the slip assembly is radially extended or extendable towards the bore or other receptacle by operation of the slip actuator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary slip is mounted on the primary slip. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the slip actuator comprises a primary slip displacement mechanism that moves the primary and secondary slips radially during the first phase of operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the slip apparatus comprises a secondary slip displacement mechanism that moves the secondary slip radially during the second phase of operation only. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the primary slip displacement mechanism comprises a driving surface, comprised in and/or defined by the slip actuator, wherein the driving surface cooperatively engages a surface defined by and/or comprised in the primary slip to push the primary slip radially. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the secondary slip displacement mechanism comprises a driving surface that is comprised in and/or defined by the primary slip or the slip actuator, wherein the driving surface of the secondary slip displacement mechanism is configured to cooperatively engage a surface defined by the secondary slip to push the secondary slip radially. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the driving surfaces of the primary slip displacement mechanism define smaller angles with respect to the first wall engaging surface than the angles defined by the driving surfaces of the secondary slip displacement mechanism with respect to the second wall engaging surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An assembly comprising a pipe or tubular fitted with a downhole slip apparatus according to claim 1. ### Claim 19 A method of operating a downhole slip apparatus, the downhole slip apparatus comprising a radially extendable slip assembly comprising a primary slip defining a first wall engaging surface, a secondary slip defining a second wall engaging surface, and a selective coupling or clutch, the clutch or selective coupling being configured or operable such that during a first phase of operation the primary and secondary slips are radially extendable simultaneously from a retracted configuration towards and/or into a first extended configuration, and during a subsequent second phase of operation the secondary slip is radially extendable relative to the primary slip towards and/or into a second extended configuration, wherein the first and second wall engaging surfaces comprise piercing features and interference features, wherein the downhole slip apparatus comprises or is configured to receive a slip actuator, wherein the method comprises: operating the slip actuator such that, during the first phase of operation, the primary and secondary slips are radially extended simultaneously from the retracted configuration towards and/or into the first extended configuration; operating or reconfiguring the clutch or selective coupling; and operating the slip actuator such that, during the subsequent second phase of operation, the secondary slip radially extends relative to the primary slip towards and/or into the second extended configuration. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein, in the retracted configuration, the first and second engaging wall surfaces are flush, coplanar, aligned and/or in register and remain flush, coplanar, aligned and/or in register during or throughout the first phase of operation and/or in the first extended configuration and during the second phase of operation and/or in the second extended configuration, the secondary slip extends beyond the primary slip. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the slip apparatus is configured such that, if the slip apparatus is in the first extended configuration and/or extended to its maximum extension, and the first and second wall engaging surfaces have not contacted the borehole wall, then the second phase of operation begins and only the secondary slip continues extending radially until the second wall engaging surface makes contact with the borehole wall. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the selective coupling or clutch is operable or switchable according to an operating parameter. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the operating parameter is or comprises a force applied to the selective coupling or clutch; and wherein the method comprises using the slip actuator to apply a force to operate or switch the selective coupling or clutch.