# US 11,111,745 B2 · Downhole anchor with strengthened slips for well tool

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- Number: US 11,111,745 B2
- Document ID: US11111745B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/509,643
- Filed: 2019-07-12
- Published: 2021-01-14
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-07-12
- Assignees: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
- Applicants: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
- Inventors: Justin R. Scruggs
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111745B2

## CPC

- E21B 23/01: for anchoring the tools or the like (E21B23/02 - E21B23/06 take precedence; anchoring of drives in the borehole E21B4/18)
- E21B 33/1293: {with means for anchoring against downward and upward movement (E21B33/1291, E21B33/1295 take precedence)}
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A well tool can include a downhole anchor with at least one outwardly extendable slip including longitudinally spaced apart grip structures, and a longitudinally extending beam which connects the grip structures to each other. The beam has a radial thickness which is greater than a lateral width of the beam. A slip retainer retains the slip, and a spring inwardly biases the slip relative to the slip retainer. The spring surrounds the slip and the slip retainer. An area moment of inertia of the beam with respect to a lateral axis through a centroid of the beam is greater than an area moment of inertia of the beam with respect to a radial axis through the centroid of the beam.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A well tool, comprising:
a downhole anchor including at least one outwardly extendable slip configured to grip a well surface,
the slip comprising longitudinally spaced apart grip structures, and a longitudinally extending beam which connects the grip structures to each other, and
the beam having a radial thickness which is greater than a lateral width of the beam.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The well tool of claim 1, in which each of the grip structures comprises a grip surface, and a lateral width of the grip surfaces is greater than the lateral width of the beam.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The well tool of claim 1, in which a spring retainer recess is formed in the slip longitudinally between the beam and at least one of the grip structures.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The well tool of claim 3, in which a spring is received in the spring retainer recess, and the spring surrounds the slip.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The well tool of claim 3, in which a garter spring is received in the spring retainer recess.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The well tool of claim 1, in which the beam is received in a radially extending slot formed in a slip retainer, a spring biases the slip radially inward relative to the slip retainer, and the spring surrounds the slip and the slip retainer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The well tool of claim 1, in which a first area moment of inertia of the beam with respect to a lateral axis through a centroid of the beam is greater than a second area moment of inertia of the beam with respect to a radial axis through the centroid of the beam, each of the lateral axis and the radial axis being perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the well tool.

### Claim 8

A well tool, comprising:
a downhole anchor including at least one outwardly extendable slip configured to grip a well surface, a slip retainer that circumferentially positions the slip in the anchor, and a spring that inwardly biases the slip relative to the slip retainer,
in which the slip comprises longitudinally spaced apart grip structures, and a longitudinally extending beam which connects the grip structures to each other,
in which the beam has a radial thickness which is greater than a lateral width of the beam,
in which the spring surrounds the slip and the slip retainer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The well tool of claim 8, in which the spring comprises a garter spring.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The well tool of claim 8, in which a first area moment of inertia of the beam with respect to a lateral axis through a centroid of the beam is greater than a second area moment of inertia of the beam with respect to a radial axis through the centroid of the beam, each of the lateral axis and the radial axis being perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the well tool.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The well tool of claim 8, in which the beam is received in a radially extending slot formed in the slip retainer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The well tool of claim 8, in which a spring retainer recess is formed in the slip longitudinally between the beam and at least one of the grip structures.

### Claim 13

A well tool, comprising:
a central longitudinal axis; and
a downhole anchor including at least one outwardly extendable slip configured to grip a well surface, the slip comprising longitudinally spaced apart grip structures, and a longitudinally extending beam which connects the grip structures to each other, and
in which an area moment of inertia of the beam with respect to a lateral axis through a centroid of the beam is greater than an area moment of inertia of the beam with respect to a radial axis through the centroid of the beam, each of the lateral axis and the radial axis being perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The well tool of claim 13, in which each of the grip structures comprises a grip surface, and a lateral width of the grip surfaces is greater than the lateral width of the beam.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The well tool of claim 13, in which a spring retainer recess is formed in the slip longitudinally between the beam and at least one of the grip structures.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The well tool of claim 15, in which a spring is received in the spring retainer recess, and the spring surrounds the slip.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The well tool of claim 13, in which the beam is received in a radially extending slot formed in a slip retainer, a spring biases the slip radially inward relative to the slip retainer, and the spring surrounds the slip and the slip retainer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The well tool of claim 17, further comprising at least one longitudinal retainer having first and second opposite ends, the first opposite end being secured to the slip retainer, the second opposite end being reciprocably received in a wedge that outwardly deflects the slip, and relative longitudinal displacement between the longitudinal retainer and the wedge being limited.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The well tool of claim 13, in which the beam has a minimum radial thickness which is greater than a minimum lateral width of the beam.