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US 10,895,123 B2Granted
Hydrostatically actuable downhole piston
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorMichael Dale Ezell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydrostatically actuable downhole piston apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising glide spacers disposed in the primary chamber, capable of mitigating the deflection of the piston and other hydrostatic components at elevated wellbore hydrostatic pressures. The disclosed apparatus is suited for, among other applications, the hydrostatic setting of a downhole tool, such as a packer, in a wellbore. A method and system for hydrostatically setting a downhole tool using glide spacers disposed in the primary chamber of the downhole tool.
Claims22
A hydrostatically actuable downhole piston apparatus comprising:
- a mandrel having an internal bore;
- a hydrostatic piston slidably disposed about the mandrel and forming a sealed chamber between the mandrel and the hydrostatic piston, the chamber having a predetermined length;
- and
- at least one glide spacer disposed within the chamber and positioned substantially equidistant along the predetermined length so as to provide for a shorter unsupported portion or portions of the chamber along the predetermined length, the at least one glide spacer having a thickness sufficient to resist deflection of the hydrostatic piston toward the mandrel for at least a portion of the radial thickness of the chamber,
- wherein the hydrostatic piston has a first fixed configuration which responsive to an increase in pressure external to the chamber shifts longitudinally relative to the mandrel, and
- wherein the at least one glide spacer is operable to move longitudinally within the chamber when the piston shifts longitudinally.
3 more elements
A method of hydrostatically setting a downhole tool in a wellbore, comprising:
- running the downhole tool into the wellbore to a setting depth, wherein the downhole tool comprises:
- at least one mandrel having an internal bore;
- a hydrostatic piston slidably disposed about the mandrel and forming a sealed chamber between the mandrel and the hydrostatic piston, the chamber having a predetermined length and containing at least one glide spacer disposed within the chamber and positioned substantially equidistant along the predetermined length so as to provide for a shorter unsupported portion or portions of the chamber along the predetermined length, the at least one glide spacer having a thickness sufficient to resist deflection of the hydrostatic piston toward the mandrel for at least a portion of the radial thickness of the chamber, wherein the hydrostatic piston has a first fixed configuration;
- and
- a slip assembly disposed on the mandrel having a radially extendible surface, and
- wherein
- responsive to an increase in hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore external to the chamber, the hydrostatic piston shifts longitudinally from its fixed configuration actuating the slip assembly to extend the extendible surface, thereby setting the downhole tool within the wellbore,
- wherein the at least one glide spacer is operable to move longitudinally within the chamber when the piston shifts longitudinally.
5 more elements
A hydrostatic pressure setting system comprising:
- a downhole tool provided within a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising:
- at least one mandrel having an internal bore;
- a hydrostatic piston slidably disposed about the mandrel and forming a sealed chamber between the mandrel and the hydrostatic piston, the chamber having a predetermined length and containing at least one glide spacer disposed within the chamber and positioned substantially equidistant along the predetermined length so as to provide for a shorter unsupported portion or portions of the chamber along the predetermined length, the at least one glide spacer having a thickness sufficient to resist deflection of the hydrostatic piston toward the mandrel for at least a portion of the radial thickness of the chamber, wherein the hydrostatic piston has a first fixed configuration which responsive to an increase in pressure external to the chamber shifts longitudinally relative to the mandrel;
- and
- a slip assembly disposed on the mandrel having a surface which radially extends in response to the longitudinal shift of the hydrostatic piston thereby setting the downhole tool within the wellbore,
- wherein the at least one glide spacer is operable to move longitudinally within the chamber when the piston shifts longitudinally.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.