Ball energized frac plug
AssigneeForum US, Inc.
InventorRobert Dirocco
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A frac plug that is energized by a ball member, the frac plug comprising an upper mandrel having a tapered outer surface, a seal member coupled to the upper mandrel, and a lower mandrel coupled to the upper mandrel. A button ring having one or more buttons is disposed about the upper mandrel. The lower mandrel is movable relative to the upper mandrel to move the button ring along the tapered outer surface and force the buttons into gripping contact with a surrounding wellbore. The seal member is movable into sealing contact with the surrounding wellbore by the ball member.
Claims19
A frac plug that is energized by a ball member, comprising;
- an upper mandrel having a tapered outer surface and an upper end portion, the upper end portion forming a seal support section;
- a seal member formed about the seal support section of the upper mandrel to at least partially contain extrusion of the seal member when the seal member moves, wherein the seal member is coupled to the seal support section such that the seal member extends above and is at least partially disposed on an inner surface and an outer surface of the seal support section;
- a lower mandrel coupled to the upper mandrel;
- and
- a button ring having one or more buttons disposed about the upper mandrel, wherein the lower mandrel is movable relative to the upper mandrel to move the button ring along the tapered outer surface and force the buttons into gripping contact with an inner surface of a surrounding wellbore, and wherein the seal member is movable into sealing contact with the inner surface of the surrounding wellbore by the ball member.
A method of setting a frac plug, comprising:
- lowering the frac plug into a wellbore while in an unset position, the frac plug having an upper mandrel, the upper mandrel having a seal support section;
- moving the frac plug into a set position by applying a pull force to the frac plug to move a button ring having one or more buttons radially outward into gripping contact with an inner surface of the wellbore, wherein in the set position the one or more buttons are in gripping contact with the inner surface of the wellbore, and wherein in the set position a gap is disposed between a seal member and the inner surface of the wellbore, wherein the seal member is coupled to the seal support section such that the seal member extends above and is at least partially disposed on an inner surface and an outer surface of the seal support section;
- and
- moving the frac plug into a set and sealed position by dropping a ball member into the frac plug to move the seal member radially outward into sealing contact with the inner surface of the wellbore to seal the gap between the seal member and the inner surface of the wellbore.
A frac plug mandrel, comprising:
- an upper end portion having a seal support section and a seal member formed about the seal support section, wherein the seal member is coupled to the seal support section such that the seal member extends above and is at least partially disposed on an inner surface and an outer surface of the seal support section, and the seal support section is movable to bend radially outward;
- a middle portion having a tapered outer surface, and a ball seat formed about an inner circumference of the frac plug mandrel and configured to receive a ball member;
- and
- a lower end portion comprising one or more ratchet members having teeth formed on an outer surface of the frac plug mandrel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.